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Humming as he kissed the other man, Kai finally broke after after a moment. The vampire grinned as he watched Lux take one of his hands and slide it along his backside, sliding it underneath the waistband of his pants. The alpha's eyes glowed with delight as he felt the slickness of the other man, and his body was naturally drawn to pleasure the other. "So wet already," he cooed as he let his fingers push and press against Lux's hole. "You should have some something sooner. We wouldn't want you getting your clothes all dirty," Kai teased.

With his arm wrapped around Lux's waist, the vampire guided the weredeer over to the couch. He laid him down on the cushions, sliding his hand away from the wet hole. Gazing up at him with hungry eyes, Kai knelt down between his legs, quickly pulling down the other man's pants and underwear in one fluid motion. "So beautiful..." he breathed, his eyes enjoying the view of the half-undressed man before him. The vampire began peppering kisses along the inside of Lux's thighs, moving higher along the other man's body. His fangs gently nicked and pinched at the other's skin as he practically nuzzled his face against the smooth skin.

"Y-yeah," Lux agreed, his voice not much more than a whisper. He closed his eyes, relaxing into the kiss, following Kai's lead. He didn't even hesitate, so quick to let go and give somebody else complete control. Maybe it was desperation. Desperate for connection with someone else. As his body relaxed, his brain tried once more to remind himself that he didn't know anything about this person who was kissing him, and touching him. But Lux couldn't find it in him to care just yet. Not when Kai was making him feel nice.

Lux nodded, one of his hands reaching to take Kai's and lead it back to his ass. This time, though, he helped the other to get underneath the waistband of his pants, an easy feat now that they were unzipped anyway. "This feels good," he said, smirking as he guided Kai's hand to feel how slick he already was.

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With Lux up close and against him, Kai took a moment to breathe in the scent of the other man. The vampire smiled at him, a soft purr of delight rumbling from his chest as he felt the other nuzzle at his neck. "Is that so? Seems like we should do something about that then. It would be bad to leave you hot and bothered for long," he chuckled. The alpha smiled at the other offering to take them off, shaking his head in response. Instead, Kai leaned in to kiss Lux firmly on the lips, letting his tongue probe and their lips linger together for a moment before he separated.

"You've already done so much today. I would be a bad host if I had you undress yourself too. Allow me to take care of you tonight," Kai murmured lowly, his fingers already flicking at the button and zippers of Lux's pants. "A beautiful, sexy man like yourself deserves to be properly serviced. All you have to do is let me know what feels good to you."

Lux only grinned as his personal space was invaded, easily obeying the tug at his belt loops. He was pliant, practically melting into Kai's touch, content to have their bodies pressed together and hands groping his ass through his pants. Sighing, he let his arms drape over Kai's shoulders, his face going to nuzzle at the other's neck as he made a sound somewhere between a whimper and a hum. "You won't have to try much harder, I'm already pretty hot," he admitted, laughing breathily. He lifted his head to nod at Kai's suggestion, cheeks pink, feeling his boxers growing damp already. "Do you want me to take them off?" He asked, cocking his head to the side as he looked at Kai's face again.

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Kai certainly enjoyed hovering behind Lux, even more so when it meant that he got to feel up the other's as sthrough his jeans. He was only cupping it lightly through his clothes when the man pulled away to wash his hands at the kitchen sink. The vampire waited paitenly, only smiling when Lux returned and requested for his touch. Stepping up close into the other's personal space, Kai reached down to hook his fingers in Lux's belt loops to tug him closer. "And what if I want you all hot and bothered? I think I'd like to see you like that," he murmured softly. His probing hands reached around to grope and squeeze at the other's ass through his jeans, pulling the other man up against his chest. "I think there are much more interesting things we could do than admire the decorations in here. As proud as I am of my interior decorating skills..." Kai teased, leaning in to whisper softly against his ear. "For instance, I think appreciating an ass like this is better when there aren't jeans in the way. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Right, yeah, I am," he was quick to reply, though he didn't move right away. And as Kai sidled up behind him, he found less reason to leave the area in order to wash up. "I just never had a place to decorate before I came here, it's all interesting-" he started, though quickly shut up at the feeling of hands on his ass. Sighing contentedly, he pushed back into the hands, looking over his shoulder again to smirk. "Keep that up and you're going to get me all hot and bothered," he teased, reluctantly pulling away to follow Kai's previous path to the kitchen so he could wash his hands. After drying them, he turned to face Kai properly, looking the other over. "Touch me again," he demanded, though his tone was gentle.

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As he let Lux into his apartment, Kai stepped aside to the kitchen to wash his hands. He had just finished drying off his hands as he returned to the living room, seeing Lux looking about the space. The vampire grinned at the sight, only sliding up to the other man to hover right behind him. "Aren't you going to go wash your hands? The restroom's down the hall, or you can use the kitchen sink," he said softly. The vampire peered over Lux's shoulder, wondering just what was capturing the other man's attention. "Is it that much more interesting than me?" he purred. "Should I be paying attention to something else too then?" he said with a hum as he moved his hands over the shape of Lux's ass through his jeans.

Blushing, Lux took Kai's arm again finally. If the other was sure he didn't mind getting dirty, then Lux would get him dirty. He didn't know why he was overthinking everything right now, except that maybe he was still a little sensitive after being called desperate for affection. "I don't mind being dirty," he agreed with a nod and a short laugh. He only let go of Kai's arm when they reached the apartment, stepping inside and immediately wandering around, inspecting decor and color schemes as if he knew anything about them. Mostly he was just curious, and a little bit nosey. Glancing over his shoulder at Kai, he smirked. "No, can't let me wander out there all alone when you can have me in here all alone with you, right? I don't mind. I like it when my ass is appreciated," he said, shrugging and turning back to look at something on the wall.

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Holding his arm out despite Lux not taking it, Kai gestured for the other man that it was available. "Well, provided that I've spent the better part of today digging in the dirt with you for a corpse, I wouldn't mind getting a bit dirty with you," he said with a toothy grin. "Besides, I quite like being a bit dirty. And something tells me you do too." He guided the two of them back to his apartment, heading up the stairs and opening the front door for Lux. "I'd have to be an idiot to let a handsome man like yourself wander around out there all alone. Besides, after showing off your ass like that, it'd be rude to not appreciate it fully. You know, outside of funerals and grave digging," he teased.

Lux blushed a bit, smiling and ducking his chin before realizing he was acting without thinking. So he stuck his chin out again, taking Kai's offered arm with only a little bit of hesitation, looking down at where his hand touched the other and frowning. "I'll get you all dirty, too," he said, letting go after a moment and beginning to walk. "What other matters do we have to attend to?" He asked, cocking his head to the side as he looked at Kai, making sure to continue following the other. No questions asked, Lux was willing to follow the other home, which maybe was a problem but Lux didn't seem to think so. Things tended to work out for him, he was a bit naive because of it.

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The vampire was enjoying the growing banter between them. It was certainly much more entertaining than the conversation of a dead creature in the ground, and he was far more interested in seeing what sort of person Lux was. It was quite intriguing, the way the other man seemed to open up and be more assertive. Kai was hooked either way, but this was just an added bonus. He raised his hand up in a mock salute as a gesture to the other man that he would stay put and watch him.

Kai was more than happy to watch the little show that Lux put on for him. His eyes followed the man's every move, taking in the sway of his hips, the perkiness of his bottom, and the showy bend-over that was certainly meant for his eyes and less for the actual burial. The alpha grinned toothily, his gaze never leaving the other man as he returned from the quick burial. "Of course. But seeing you dirty is a lovely sight as well," he teased, before holding his arm out for Lux to take so they could walk back to his together. "Shall we get you all washed up then? It's getting late, and we have some more pressing matters to attend to than the burial of some rodents."

Lux couldn't help but smirk in return, noticing the way Kai looked at him. He felt like people were often surprised when he made such blunt comments, but he didn't know why. He'd never thought of himself as looking innocent, and sometimes it was funny to him that others seemed to see someone different than he did when he looked in the mirror. "Maybe I wouldn't mind you taking me home," he pointed out, raising his brow as he looked the other over, pausing in his task for just a brief second. But then he was back to his dead animal, and his need to bury it properly.

"How about you stay here, and watch?" He offered, laughing a bit as he stood and wandered a little ways away, making sure to shift his weight between each leg a little more dramatically than necessary as he walked, showing off his assets. Lux used his hooves to dig a deeper hole, faster than he'd dug up the poor creature. In very little time, the hole was deep enough for him to deposit the deceased rodent, and then he was quickly dragging the dirt back over it. Pleased with himself, he stood from where he'd been deliberately bent over for Kai, wiped his hands on his jeans, and then turned to head back over to the individual who had helped him. "Your home has a sink, right? I'd like to wash my hands," he said, grimacing.

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Pausing at the other's remark, Kai paused to sit back and look at Lux with an amused expression on his face. "Well, you have to turn around to prove it then," he said with a grin. "I wouldn't want you to be a liar, after all." The teasing talk completely distracted the alpha from the task at hand, more so amused at the man in front of him. Kai did all but lick his lips as he leaned in a bit more, uncaring of the dead body that sat in the dirt between them. "Careful, tease me anymore like that and I'll take you home myself," he purred.

He glanced down at the dead creature, half annoyed that this was still occupying the other man's mind. It was already dead, after all. What was the harm in leaving it around? But Kai only agreed, albeit with some internal reluctance. "Shall we hurry then? I wouldn't want it to get in any worse condition. And I'm far more invested in that ass you're so proud of."

"I don't need people to be turned on by desperate and crazy. I have a good ass for that," he said without thinking, the joke rolling off his tongue before he could stop it. Then he glanced at the alpha in front of him, smirking to show he was only teasing, before getting back to the task in front of him. "But if desperate and crazy happens to be a turn-on for you, obviously I can provide that for you. It seems to be my thing." He didn't love the descriptors, but Kai was actually making him feel a bit better about it all.

Lux nodded. "We should. Maybe away from where people are walking, though, so he isn't stepped on all day long. And a little bit deeper, where his scent isn't so strong." Or at least wouldn't be strong to anyone else with a keen sense of smell.

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Kai had never really bothered with museums; the vampire found that they were rather boring and stuffy. It didn't help that most museums he had been to were full of art and guards that prevented him from getting too close. What was the point of displaying all these items if he couldn't get his hands on them? Wasn't the whole point to be all close and personal, so one could feel connected to it? When the vampire heard of the Magick museum though, Kai couldn't help but have a rather devious idea of acquiring a few items here or there for himself.

He was making his way through the exhibits when he caught sight of a rather fascinating object. There was only one other person there, examining it through the glass. Stepping up close to the other person, the vampire made no attempt to hide his movements, nor did he bother moving away when the other man turned to look at him. "Oh, not at all. I'm enjoying the view," he said with a toothy grin. "I thought the museum was only showcasing exhibits, but it looks like I've found something far more interesting."

Location: Museum Of Magick

For: Anyone

Keegan had, had the day off from his private practice. Sometimes he gave himself random days off throughout the month so that he could take a day for self care. His version of self care was to day drink and flirt with eligible males at the bar. But today was different. He wanted to take a trip to the museum of Magick. He wanted to understand the town of New Haven more and brush up on his knowledge of his own lineage. Keegan was studying one of the exhibits when he felt another’s presence near him. “I’m sorry, am I in your way?” He asked as he looked up at the other with apologetic eyes.

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Following along next to Tao, he enjoyed the feeling of the other man's hoodie on his bare skin. The vampire was content with the scent of the mysterious stranger, savoring the feeling he got in his chest as he walked with him. This hoodie was now his to keep, and Kai would be happy to fight anyone who tried to take it from him.

His fixation on the smell was drawn away by his curiosity at the other man's former business. The vague questions only made the vampire all the more invested though, his eyes glittering as he moved a bit closer. "All the more reason to leave dead bodies around. If you tell me their names, I'm more than happy to pay your enemies a visit. And then you have no more business problems. And no more grudges." Kai did his best not to linger on being called a darling, although he'd be lying if he said he was surprised at that nickname. No one had ever called him that. In fact, it was rare for him to find someone that tolerated him long enough.

While Tao stopped to look at him, Kai didn't even realize his request would be so troublesome and continued onwards in content bliss. He only paused and looked over his shoulder when he realized the other man had stopped. The alpha vampire walked back, still maintaining his rather wide-eyed and innocent-like aura. "Well, it's more so that you're my leash. If we come across someone new walking around these woods, I can't say that I won't get hungry again." He licked his lips, strolling up to Tao's side once more. "But if I held your hand, I wouldn't feel the need to do such things."

Kai was surprised that the other man relented, only eagerly taking it in his own. The vampire opted to just hug the other's arm instead, letting his head rest of Tao's shoulder. "I'll always insist. It's so warm..." he purred happily as his eyes fluttered shut. Satisfied with the extra bit of boidly contact, he opened his eyes after a moment, peeking up at Tao with a eager gaze. "...Is a piggyback ride off the table too?" Kai teased, a gleeful expression finding itself on his face. "Are we heading back to your home? Are we finding someone else to hunt? Do you always smell this good?"

Tao kept his gaze forward, affecting a nonchalant air as they walked. He found the vampire's disappointment almost... endearing. So eager to please, he thought, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement. It was rather like watching a puppy try to earn a treat.

He caught the way Kai inhaled, drawing in the scent of Tao’s hoodie like a lifeline. It was a small, almost involuntary gesture, but it told Tao everything he needed to know. The vampire was hooked.

Tao didn't bother replying to the question about walks in the woods. The mere thought of a leisurely stroll with a vampire, even one as seemingly harmless as Kai, was absurd.

"It's not what I do now that's the problem, darling," Tao drawled, his tone light, "it's what I used to do. Let's just say I've made a few enemies over the years, and they tend to hold a grudge."

"Can I hold your hand?"

Tao stopped walking, turning to face the vampire with a raised eyebrow. "I beg your pardon?"

Still playing the innocent, is he? Tao's lips twitched, fighting back a smile. He'd seen this act before—the wide-eyed vulnerability, the subtle tremor in the voice. It was almost convincing, if you didn’t know any better.

"Darling," Tao drawled, his voice dripping with mock sympathy, "you seem to forget. I know you tore that poor sod limb from limb not an hour ago. I rather doubt a little stroll in the dark is going to frighten you."

He paused, letting the words sink in before extending his hand, palm up, towards Kai. "But if you insist…" He told himself it was merely to keep the vampire from causing a scene, nothing more. Certainly not because he found Kai's antics oddly endearing.

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The alpha's eyes followed along with the other's movements, almost like a cat determining its newest prey. He didn't know why the other man seemed so disinterested or cold when they had just had such exhilirating experience together. Kai tucked his head down, only lifting the hoodie up a bit to sniff at it and enjoy more of the other man's scent. Well, even if they didn't end up having fun, it wasn't like he was going to give this back. It was his newest souvenir now.

Kai's expression melted into a soft, pleading face, stepping forward after Tao stepped back. "We can't go on walks in the woods together anymore? How come? You could bring your book and tea, and I'd just bring my happy, hungry self! It'd be cute; the woods are where we met, after all," he teased, enjoying the way they were playing with each other again.

"What sort of business do you do?" he asked curiously, tilting his head to the side. "If dead bodies laying around is bad for your business, then I could just leave it outside rival businesses instead? It's sure to help your business at least," Kai asked innocently. At least in this case, the vampire was being the most genuine in his request. It only made sense from a business perspective, so surely Tao wouldn't have any objections to that?

Padding after Tao once the man began walking away, the vampire chased up to walk by his side. "Can I hold your hand?" he asked with a grin, pacing his stride to match the other's. "I was the victim of such a scary and dangerous attack. I wouldn't feel safe walking home alone by myself," he hummed. He was eager to follow along after Tao; why stop having fun with the chase?

Tao fought the urge to roll his eyes at Kai's blatant flirtation. The vampire's words dripped with honey, but Tao knew better than to trust their sweetness. He'd encountered plenty of Alphas like Kai before - all charm on the surface, but selfish and demanding underneath.

Still, he couldn't deny it had been a long time since anyone had challenged him quite like this. Most Alphas took one look at him and assumed he'd be an easy conquest. Kai, at least, seemed to recognize there was more to Tao than met the eye.

Tao kept his expression neutral as he considered his next move. He could shut this down now, and make it clear he wasn't interested in whatever game Kai was playing. But a part of him, usually tightly controlled, was curious to see how far the vampire would push things.

"Fun?" Tao repeated, his tone dry. "I'm afraid my idea of fun is rather tame compared to yours. A good book, a cup of tea. Perhaps a nice walk in the woods." His lips quirked. "Though I suppose that last one might be off the table for you at the moment."

He took a step back, putting some distance between them. Kai's proximity was...distracting, in ways Tao wasn't entirely comfortable with. The vampire's scent lingered in his nostrils, a heady mix of blood and something uniquely Kai. It made his head spin.

"As for repayment," Tao continued, his voice cool and controlled, "that won't be necessary. Consider it a public service. Can't have bodies turning up all over town, can we? Bad for business."

He turned away, pretending to survey their surroundings. In truth, he needed a moment to collect himself. Kai's presence affected him, stirring up feelings and desires he'd long since buried. It was...unsettling.

"Speaking of which," Tao said, glancing back at Kai, "we should probably get moving. I'd rather not be here if anyone decides to investigate."

He started walking, not bothering to check if Kai was following. He knew the vampire would. Alphas like him couldn't resist a challenge, and Tao had just presented him with a rather intriguing one.

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Kai watched as Tao's fingers roamed over his skin. The vampire made no indication of discomfort, only leaning into the touch a bit more as though he were starved for the physical contact. The alpha let out a slow purr of content, enjoying the feeling. His eyes only opened slightly at the other man's words, an amused expression and a raised brow dancing on his facial expressions.

"Is that all you think this is? You must put a lot of weight on being an alpha or an omega then," Kai noted. It wasn't something he was unfamiliar with, but the vampire find those restrictions to be boring. In his eyes, his value derived from just how accepting another person could be when he showed his true colors. "If you were an alpha, or if I was an omega, I'd pursue you all the same," he mused, only tilting his head to place a small kiss on the palm of the other's hand.

"Of course, you being an attractive omega is certainly a plus. But I'm more intrigued about my bloodlust not being a bother for you. I've seen plenty of omegas and alphas turn away in disgust. But you didn't. And that's enough for me," Kai hummed, stepping even closer to the other man. If he would, he would pull him in and never let him go, not after such a fascinating display before. Part of him wondered if he should have just done that instead.

"Well, what sort of things do you think are fun? Perhaps we'll do something tonight that makes you enjoy your time with me. After all, you did just help me with my problems. Isn't it fair that I repay you someway?" he mused. Dark eyes remained fixated on Tao, eager to see how the other man would react to him.

Tao’s fingers hovered over Kai’s skin, but the touch wasn’t delicate, nor was it particularly gentle. He knew this was a game—could practically smell it on the air, like ozone before a storm.

Kai was an Alpha, after all. And what did Alphas love more than a good chase? The thrill of pursuit, the hunt of something—or someone—who wasn’t easily caught.

Tao couldn’t help the corner of his mouth twitching upward, though whether it was amusement or derision, even he wasn’t entirely sure.

“Is that how it works with you Alphas, then? First attractive Omega you see, and suddenly it’s all about the ‘fun’?” His tone was almost dismissive, bordering on mocking, though his eyes stayed locked on Kai’s, watching for any hint of reaction.

He didn’t pull away, didn’t back down. He’d seen Alphas like Kai before—confident, dominant, always in control. They all thought they could just walk in and take whatever they wanted. And maybe most of them could, but Tao was not like most Omegas.

"What kind of fun did you have in mind, then?" Tao asked, his tone casual, almost dismissive. But there was an edge to it, a sharpness that betrayed his genuine curiosity.

He wasn't about to let Kai get the upper hand that easily, nor was he about to be led around like some doe-eyed Omega who'd just been swept off his feet.

No, if Kai wanted to play, Tao would make damn sure it was on his terms.

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Enjoying the presence of another man who was so captivating and enticing, Kai just wanted to know so much more about him. He grinned as he felt man's finger brushing along his jawline. The vampire thought the question so funny, only tilting his head in a mixture of amusement and confusion. "Is smell that important?" Kai hummed, pretending to think of a nursery rhyme or tune to go along with his thoughts.

"Why would that bother me? For a man like yourself, what would be so wrong about carrying your scent? It just means I've had a lovely time with you, yet again. And I already look forward to it," Kai purred, letting his head be tilted about to expose different spots of skin and veins. "And if they mistake me as an omega, even better. It means they'll truly have no idea who I am."

He shuddered with delight as he felt Tao lean in, the breath of the other man tingling his skin. Kai only hummed in anticipation, his head leaning slightly into the quick lick beneath his ear. "I think, if people see me this close to you, they won't really care what I'm walking around like." A soft mewl slipped from his pink lips as he felt the light, teasing bite on his ear. It was a tasteful nip, but it only made the vampire want so much more.

"I pass your test then?" he teased back, only reaching to take Tao's hands in his own so he could bring them close to his own nose and lips. Kai gave it a tentative sniff, before kissing and lick along the other man's knuckles. "If I'm yours, then I don't have any intent of sharing you when you're mine. With all the fun I'd have with you, I wouldn't need to look anywhere else. As long as you can keep on providing me that fun."

Tao let his eyes drift over Kai, taking his time as though inspecting a piece of art that demanded his undivided attention. There was a certain satisfaction in watching the vampire’s posture shift from mock obedience to something far more primal, the way a cat might stretch lazily after a long nap before preparing to pounce.

He allowed the silence to stretch, his gaze lingering on Kai's face before he slowly raised a single finger, brushing it lightly against the vampire’s jawline.

“Tell me, Kai,” Tao murmured, voice low and measured, “does it not bother you to smell like an omega?” The finger slid under Kai’s chin, tipping his head slightly to the side, exposing the pale column of his neck. “You’ll have my scent all over you for quite a while, you know. People might get the wrong idea.”

His eyes caught a faint smear of blood just below Kai's ear, a small remnant missed in the vampire's earlier feast. Without breaking eye contact, Tao leaned in, his breath ghosting over Kai’s skin. “Can’t have you walking around with that, now can we?” His tongue darted out, warm and wet, as it traced over the smear, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

Tao allowed himself a moment to enjoy the taste before he nipped at Kai's ear, the bite teasing and deliberate, just enough pressure to send a clear message. He drew back, a smug, prideful smirk curling his lips as he met Kai’s gaze, his own filled with a lazy, predatory satisfaction.

“Now you look presentable,” Tao remarked, his voice dripping with feigned innocence. He brushed his hands together as though cleaning away the remnants of their little interaction. “But I do wonder—how do you feel about carrying around smelling like you're mine. Well, between us, you're the alpha. I suppose They'll think I'm part of your harem."

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Watching as the other man took away his blood-stained shirt, the vampire let out a low whistle of amusement as the shirt burst into flames. It quickly burned away into ash and was scattered over the grass. Kai had to admit that for his own past time activities, that would certainly be a handy skill to have. "That's a neat trick. Sure makes covering things up a lot easier. And it'll keep me nice and warm at night too," he teased, his dark eyes turning away from the flame to look up at the man once more.

The alpha vampire sat there patiently as he watched the stranger pull off his hoodie. Taking the offered clothing, Kai slowly stood up, like a cat stretching itself after a long nap. He had finished lapping up any last stray droplets of blood on his arms, as even he knew it would have ruined the point of this clean-up if he got more blood on his new outfit. Kai slipped on the hoodie, but not before he took his time to breath in the dragonblood's scent on his clothes. It was a satisfying smell to him, and Kai was more than happy to slip on the other man's clothes.

As sharp as Tao's tone was, Kai didn't mind being reprimanded by someone as handsome as this. For one thing, he never really took the reprimands to heart, but he was always happy to pretend to listen to someone who looked like that. "Sir yes sir!" he said with a grin as he gave the other man a mock salute. "If you know so much then, perhaps my knight in shining armor wouldn't mind.... teaching me a few things about how to perfect this craft?" Kai took a step forward, his eyes glittering with a newfound hunger to learn so much more about this man. "It seems I have lots of things to learn from you. And of course, I wouldn't mind spending some more time with you, my handsome mystery man." Body disposal, refining his performance, what were the chances he'd find someone like this in another life?

He regarded the vampire with cool amusement, one eyebrow arched. "I'm not exactly squeamish, darling. But it's terribly rude to leave such a mess lying about. You can play with your food all you like, but be a lad and clean up afterwards."

His gaze travelled slowly over Kai's body, taking in the lean muscles and blood-spattered skin without trying to hide his appraisal. The vampire was undoubtedly easy on the eyes, even covered in gore. Or, perhaps, especially so.

"As for getting cleaned up..." He plucked the stained shirt from Kai's hands, holding it at arm's length. "Allow me."

With a deep inhale, he opened his mouth and breathed out a gout of flame. The shirt ignited instantly, crumbling to ash in seconds. A breeze caught the remnants, scattering them to the wind.

"There we are. Much tidier." He dusted off his hands. "Now, about that body of yours. I'd suggest finding a nice, out-of-the-way spot for the local wildlife to take care of things. Animals are marvellous at explaining away any unusual marks, don't you think? Burned bodies draw too much attention."

The vampire's theatrics had worn thin, though Kai's antics had a certain charm—like watching a child play pretend. He reached up and tugged at the collar of his hoodie, pulling it off with smooth precision. The fabric slipped over his head, revealing a simple black T-shirt underneath that clung to his frame. He crumpled the hoodie in his hands, holding it out to the bloodstained vampire before him.

"Let's get one thing clear," Tao began, his tone conversational yet edged with something sharper. "If you insist on this... dramatic flair, you might want to work on the finer points. You're trying to sell the role of a victim, but your eyes give you away. Too calculating, too aware. And that trembling? Far too controlled."

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Grinning at the sight of his friend, Kai waved a couple of boxes he had been hiding behind his back. "Oh, well, nothing quite as innocent as that. You know, I've never had the pleasure of setting off fireworks before. But with all those pretty lights and colors, I wonder what they'd look like on a much bigger, grander stage. Know anything flammable around town?" he asked with a cheshire cat-like grin. "And the best part is it sounds it just like gunfire without actually using a gun. If nothing else, it could give people a scare."

Nolan was just checking to see if his stock of products was full for the next week, and luckily it was, so after finishing filling out his entire inventory clipboard he's about to close the pharmacy and go home, probably spending the rest of the night watching television. Hearing the vampire's familiar voice coming from behind instantly made a smile appear on the fairy's face, who turned with a satisfied look at the other man. “not really, what do you suggest?” he asked crossing his arms, usually when the two hung out this usually included doing things that were at the very least morally unethical, but that wasn't the case this time, what harm was there in setting off some fireworks anyway? “I’m in, we can go now.”

[triple-fanged-threat]

Keeping his gaze fixated on the man in front of him, Kai listened to the way he said his words, the fluctuation in his tone, and even his slow and careful approach towards him. The alpha vampire figured he wasn't going to get a second meal out of someone so cautious, but it wasn't like he was particularly hungry anymore. And as his intuition would have it, this man seemed to see past his little facade. A pity, Kai was hoping he could have just a little bit more fun with it.

The vampire broke his pitiful, pleading expression, his mouth forming a wide, toothy grin instead. "Well, you could've let me play along just a little bit longer. I went through all that effort just to get your attention." Tapping his cheeks as if in thought, Kai held the other man's gaze. He held his bloody hands up, only lapping up the blood like a cat cleaning off its paws. "Cleaning up is such a bore. I always like hearing people scream whenever they find the body. But, I guess I'll try it your way."

Clapping his hands together, Kai carefully tugged off his blood-stained shirt. "Any ideas on getting cleaned up then? Although I have to ask, why would a handsome stranger like yourself be so willing to help someone like me? Surely there are no other strings attached to your offer to help me?"

Tao paused, taking in the scene before him with cool detachment. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, a familiar perfume that tickled his nose. His gaze swept over the crimson-spattered white shirt, tracing the wild pattern of droplets with clinical precision.

No wounds. No tears in the fabric.

His eyes narrowed, picking out the subtle details others might miss. A faint trail of blood droplets led away from the scene, barely visible in the dim light. If you're going to play the victim, at least do a proper job of it. Tao's lips quirked in a small, sardonic smile.

The man's breathing was too controlled, his trembling too precise. A performance, and a rather ham-fisted one at that.

How droll, Tao thought. He fancies himself quite the actor.

He stepped forward, nearly kneeling, and carefully kept his movements slow and non-threatening. No need to spook the predator playing at being prey. "Are you alright?" Tao asked, injecting just the right amount of concern into his voice.

Tao's lips quirked in a small, humourless smile. "I wouldn't worry about that," he said mildly. "I'm sure your attacker is long gone by now."

He stood, brushing imaginary dirt from his knees, and fixed Kai with a steady gaze. "Though I must say, you've made quite a mess of your shirt. Blood's a devil to get out, you know. Might I suggest a good dry cleaner? I know one that doesn't ask too many questions."

"You seem to have had quite the night," Tao continued conversationally. "I hope you've taken care of any... loose ends? It would be a shame if someone stumbled upon something they shouldn't."

His almond eyes glanced pointedly at the blood trail leading further away.

Tao crouched down again, bringing himself to eye level with the man. "So, shall we dispense with the theatrics? I'm far more interested in hearing about your disposal methods. It's been a while since such... techniques were part of my job description." He paused, gaze sweeping over the stranger's blood-spattered form. "Though perhaps we should get you cleaned up first. Blood has a nasty habit of leaving stains, and that's a nice shirt."

[triple-fanged-threat]

He continued to dig alongside Lux, although he wasn't as vigorous in his digging as the other man. Instead, Kai's attention was drawn towards the man in front of him, rather intrigued at how determined he was to have a burial for something he didn't bury himself. The vampire couldn't stop the smile forming on his lips at Lux's words though. "Well, being desperate and crazy isn't always such a bad thing. For some people, that could even be a turn-on."

Once it appeared like they had dug up what the weredeer had been smelling, Kai sat back and let the other man complete his dig. The alpha eyed the dead rat curiously, tilting his head as though he were interested in inspecting it. But since it was dead and there wasn't any blood in it that interested him, Kai didn't really care how or why the rat was dead. "Maybe someone had it as a pet? Or they saw it on the side of the road and felt bad?" Frankly, he didn't really understand the point of burials or the funeral process. But if it was what Lux wanted, then he was happy to indulge. "Should we bury it properly then? Make a tombstone for our little friend?"

Lux couldn't imagine anyone treasuring something dead, but he didn't say anything about it. He was trying to listen more, and speak less. It was difficult, but he was managing. "This isn't where the dead things are supposed to be buried," he said simply, continuing to dig, though a little less enthusiastically than before. "It's here by mistake. And all dead things deserve a proper burial, don't they? And a funeral," he sniffed once more, nose scrunching up when he realized just how close they were to unearthing whatever it was he was smelling.

"I'm apparently desperate, and I look crazy," he said softly, shrugging. "I guess I was looking for affection. Or that's how it came across, because I'm affectionate. And that makes me seem crazy and desperate," Lux sighed, finally seeing something other than dirt under his stone. "I would be your friend. Everyone deserves friends," he added.

Dropping the rock he'd been using as a shovel, his used his bare hands to scrape more dirt away and then wiggled his fingers underneath the object to pull it up. It was a rat, couldn't have been dead more than a couple of weeks. He looked at it, frowning, and then held it out to Kai. "Who do you think could have buried him?"

[triple-fanged-threat]

"Well, in some ways, even dead things could be someone's treasure," Kai said curiously. The vampire nodded, giving the other man a salute before beginning to dig on his end of the hole. He scraped away at the ground, attempting to make the hole wider per the request. "You must have a good sense of smell if you could tell something dead was buried here. Although I wonder why you'd want to dig it up. Should dead things be buried?" the vampire asked, wondering what the other man would have done if he passed by a cemetary.

The vampire couldn't stop the sly smile forming on his lips as he listened to the other man speak. "Who wouldn't want to be friends with you though? You seem friendly enough. Would you want to be friends with me?" Kai asked, pausing in his digging to glance up at the other man. "Friend circles are overrated anyways. As long as you have one or two good friends, I like to think that that's enough."

Lux shook his head, pursing his lips and sniffing. "It's not treasure," he said. "It smells dead. Like it was alive, but it's not now," he said, frowning. It almost made him sad. "It's small, though." And then he continued to dig, deciding this other wasn't here to tell him to stop, or to chase him off. He hesitated when Kai got down with him, eyeing the stick and then nodding. "Okay. You dig, too. A few inches that way," he said pointing in Kai's direction. "The hole needs to be a little bit wider, I think."

In any other situation, Lux very likely would have been the one asking questions. He tended to be curious, and talkative, but all he could focus on now was the smell of the dead thing underground. So he was slow to answer the questions Kai asked, slow to comprehend them. After a few moments of thought, he looked at Kai again. "I don't know that I've ever dug anything up, either," he admitted. "But I didn't have anything else to do. I haven't got many friends, yet. I don't know that I've found my circle," Lux sighed and resumed digging. "We're almost there," he said, sniffing again.