Arlo James

See what it's like to be a vulture's lunch

Cadence's mention of that 'little black book' readily prompted a grin to Arlo's features. Those pointed fangs flashed readily with the gesture and yet- that simper was nothing short of genuine. Every artist, he was sure, had that exact book. The one they wrote...everything in. Those ideas, those thoughts, those notions and dreams and fears and realities. It was like...a muse book. A place to get everything out of your head. No artist could function without it, he was sure. Cadence's snort of amusement was met with that chuckle of his own as his head nodded in understanding.

"My book is legit black too. I've got way more then one though. I've got like hundreds of them. All the stuff from when I was human is in there. I'm going to have to buy like....an actual book shelf one day."

Arlo's head tilted ever so slightly at the thought of having to buy a piece of furniture he had, until now, never considered he might actually need. His books mostly just sat around in, well, boxes that he kept in the spare room. If Abigail moved in though, like he was, slowly, trying to convince her to do then she probably didn't want boxes of his books around. Would she want to read them? Did he mind if she read them? Most of them, he supposed, he hardly minded if she looked in and yet there were a couple from those more....unpleasant years he wasn't exactly keen to share. He'd never really told her about...that part of him. At least not in any great detail. The thought of Abigail reading some of those...thoughts from that time in his life, especially as a newly turned vampire were less appealing. Shit, but his music had been dark then. Way darker then it tended to be now. Arlo shook that thought away as Cadance queried whether or not it felt weird to have other artists sing the songs he'd written. Hmmm. His features shifted into a look near contemplative as he considered that query before his head shook every so slightly.
"Not really, I mean, sometimes they sing it....just how I meant it to be sung and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they see or hear something in it I never intended but it means something to them and I guess....I can't say that its wrong. It's that uniqueness again and I can't ever be mad about that."

After all, wasn't music all about expression? The way one person sang or read or wrote something was never going to be the same as any others. Who was he to say exactly how something should look or feel to another. Maybe he wasn't that great at, well, life in general- but when it came to music, to understanding that the Crusnik was far, far more capable then he often far too casual demeanor made him appear. Cadence, he was sure, understood exactly what he meant. She knew music, he was sure of it, even if she seemed to be trying to pretend otherwise. Maybe she'd had to give it up for that corporate bar manager life. Still- she had passion, that much was clear. Arlo having already decided he kinda liked her. She was cool. She got it. Well- mostly. Relationships, it seemed, were maybe not exactly her strong point. His mention of Abigail prompted the Crusnik to fish his phone from his pocket before bringing up several of those photographs with him and his 'Little Bear' before displaying that screen near proudly to his new companion. Ab's, after all, was maybe the thing he was the most proud of having achieved. A girl like her was......rare....and amazing. That she had time for him was another damn miracle in itself. He knew exactly how lucky he was to have her. Arlo unable to wipe that grin from his features at even the mention of her. Candace, for her part, seemed almost....well....not that keen on relationships at all. The woman lamenting that for a 'girl like her' they hardly seemed all that possible. A girl like her? What did that even mean? She seemed hot and smart and loved music? What more did guys actually want?

Arlo's query of that very thing prompted an almost dismissive shrug from the young woman's shoulders before insisting that her cat half was probably the reason she struggled with those relationships. Hmmm. He'd never really considered that. Did all Weres struggle with that? Did Abby? Maybe it was only cats and Abby wasn't a cat. At least he was pretty sure a Panda wasn't a species of cat.....was it?

"Do you need to find like....another WereCat? Are there many in the city?"

Maybe it was hard finding them, he hardly knew. Arlo so momentarily given to contemplate the cities Were Cat population before his shoulders offered that loose shrug once more, the Crusnik so instead offering that attempt to, well, comfort her- he supposed. After all, if someone like him could find a partner then he was sure as hell sure that Cadance could as well. Hell, the shit he used to be into was....hardcore. The very kind someone like Abby would never have touched with a ten foot pole. Arlo had hated himself back then, so why should anyone else have thought any more of him. He'd been lucky. Damn lucky he'd been able to change his life around. Abby was merely the reason to keep it that way. Along with the fact stuff really was better when you weren't high off your face. Cadence's near teasing insistence he'd only needed a little love to harden out those edges prompted a soft, playful snort from the vampire as he offered her another bright grin.

"Something like that. Getting off the drugs helped a far bit too though."

His words held nothing but good humour. Arlo hardly ashamed to share that part of his life in the least. Hell, he was willing to tell anyone who'd listen to stay away from that....pit he'd managed to fall into. If it hadn't been for his own Maker he'd hardly have even been alive right now- or as alive as a vampire was. Maybe it was better not to consider that in too much depth. Still, the manner hardly changed. If he could find someone or something in this life then he was pretty damn sure Cadance could too. People like her, people with passion, just needed to find someone who shared that. Even if they were passionate about something entirely different like Abby with her biology. Arlo's soft insistence that maybe Cadance did just need to meet the right person was met with a snort of indignance, the vampire hardly pressing that conversation any further for now as both of them turned their attention toward the menu. Shit. Human food. So much of it. This....wasn't even in English. How was he supposed to now what to order? His efforts to explain exactly what type of vampire he was seemed to spark Cadance's intrigue in those moments that followed, her questions hardly unusual compared to those he'd heard before. The Crusnik making every attempt to explain, well, just what he was. Her query about his venom however coaxed a momentary look of surprise to his features. Most people didn't ask about that, at least, not after he'd offered that basic explanation.

"Oh, it would work on you too. It just works the most effectively on other vampires. Takes them down faster, keeps them down longer than any other species."

Arlo's features shifted into a look near sheepish- as if he felt near....guilty over that admittance of just what he was capable of. He wasn't exactly proud of it he supposed and yet it wasn't like he killed anyone, he never did. He needed to feed though and it was far, far easier when they were sufficiently....sedated. Or unconscious. Still- it hardly made him popular with his own kind. Arlo lamenting those towns he'd been damn near run out off by his own species. Along with the struggles of actually attempting to befriend anyone when his own species seemed to loath him and so many others feared him. Still, things had gotten better, so much better- that positivity still seeming to cling to the young Crusnik as Cadance contemplated her own friends, that small handful she considered close enough to award that title too. Quality over quantity. How well he understood that. That menu drew his attention once more then, those foods would have been tempting once, in his human years. Hell, back then he'd have eaten all of it. Arlo's comment of his once insatiable appetite was met with Cadences assurance it was far more likely to be a guy thing. She was probably right. Choose a dish hey?

He could do that. Maybe. Arlo's head titled ever so slightly, the vampire contemplating those dishes before him before at last choosing what was one of the few he was sure he could pronounce. Christ he hoped it wasn't frogs legs or chicken ass or.....something weird. Cadence seemed pretty sure he'd ordered chicken...something. That seemed mostly safe.

"You know who tells you frogs legs taste like chicken? The French. They make up shit like that all the time to try to make up for the fact they are eating frogs."

Another simper tugged easily at his lips then, his easy demeanor remaining as he contemplated those vampire tastes once more- and how they differed from Weres. Did being part cat make her want....well....cat food? Or raw meat? Could she eat it if she wanted too? He'd never really considered those things before. Cadence seemed to consider them in turn as those appetizers arrived, Arlo reaching for one of those mozza sticks as the young woman across from him insisted she rubbed on people sometimes- and ate more.

"That doesn't seem too bad. I could live with that."

He mused the words lightly as he bit into that cheese stick. This.....did not taste like he remembered in his human years and yet it hardly tasted terrible either it was simply just....odd within his mouth. Arlo rolled that first bite around a moment before swallowing, the vampire gingerly took a second bite as Cadence's phone started to ring- the woman seemingly content to ignore it.

"Ab's would probably love this. Chances are I will bring some home to her anyway. These stick things aren't bad though. I don't hate them at least."

As if on cue those mains seemed to arrive a moment later. The pair greeted with bowls of pasta and chicken. Thank god. Arlo eyed that food warily all the same. His blue gaze judging it before he sniffed lightly at it- as if those vampires' senses could discern more about it through scent then merely what he could see. Cadence's insistence he could go first prompted his gaze to flick from his companion to that food and back again.

"Alright then, I'll accept the dare."

A grin tugged at his features once more as he reached for his fork, the vampire moving to stab a piece of chicken along with several pieces of pasta before lifting it to his lips. His features near instantly grimacing. He'd been able to handle those mozza sticks but this was.....more then he'd anticipated. His senses had gone near....haywire over those tastes. Every part of his mouth demanding he spit it out as his stomach threatened a revolt over what was, he knew, perfectly good food. Arlo, for now, forced himself to swallow it even as Cadance assured him she'd hardly blame him for spitting it out.

"I....don't think im ready for pasta yet, maybe not even chicken. Guess Ab's really is getting a full meal tonight. Don't mind me though, enjo your's, I'll eat the rest of those appetizers. I don't mind them much. For whatever reason they agree with me more. Oh, hey, when were you wanting me to do a set at your bar? I'm booked out for the next couple weeks but I could do something at the end of the month if you want? You'll get to mee-"

His words were abruptly cut off by Cadences phone ringing again. That same number and name appearing on the screen even as the woman reached to shut it off. Who was Darcy? He was ringing an awful lot. Jilted ex maybe? Whatever words Arlo had been about to offer were cut off again as that phone rung a third time.

"It's cool if you want to get that, i don't mind. Whoever it is seems to really want your attention."

Hmm, these sticks really were good.

"Are there any songs you really want me to play? I usually sort of just go with the flow when I get there and play whatever I feel that night but if you have any special requests I can probably do 'em."