Arlo James

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

Arlo lent easily back against that tree, wiping the back of his hand across his lips to wipe what was left of that rabbit blood from them, the young vampire taking several moments to catch his breath again. It wasn't as if he needed to breath exactly, but breathing was far more comfortable than not, his body simply responding as it had if he'd been alive to just throwing up his guts in a bush in the middle of a night. Not exactly a new experience either and yet damn, it had been years since he'd done that last. He'd almost forgotten just how uncomfortable that was- and just how much worse that blood tasted the second time around. Those words falling from his lips then almost in defeat, Arlo mumbling about that blood and how it never worked and that this was a damn bad idea from the beginning. His ardent blue gaze glancing upward to regard Malek then, asking just how he'd know human blood didn't really do it for him. How long had he suspected that? How long had he known and not said anything? Arlo eyeing him a moment then before the other vampire just shrugged and claimed it was an educated guess. Educated? Did he know something about this? Curiosity touching his features now, Malek biting into that rabbit before Arlo could ask any more questions, the younger vampire merely watching as the elder drained that rabbit dry before dropping the body. Arlo's lip turning upward in disdain.

"Yeah, sure."

He waved his hand easily, leaving Malek to take off and find whatever it was he was looking for, the other vampire disappearing abruptly to fish what looked like a...fox out of the bush? Arlo making another face at even the thought of it before that body was dropped beside the rabbit. Was he supposed to feel bad for this little creatures? Surely vampires didn't normally feel guilty did they? Arlo unable to shake the feeling of displeasure at seeing those little animals so cold and dead. Still, it was better for Malek to feed off animals then people, surely. Arlo unable to argue with that logic, the man berating himself for his soft-heart. Maybe he wasn't cut out for this vampire business at all. The man looking away from those bodies and back to Malek again as he spoke. That realisation that the other man had seen vampires like him before readily grabbing his attention, that blue gaze finding Malek's own.

"You found vampires like me? Where were they?"

He knew there had to be more, that was only logical right? Yet he'd only ever known Patrick. His Maker never having mentioned any other others. Arlo half inclined to wonder if they were anywhere within this country and yet the way the other man spoke hardly seemed to fill him with hope. Malek continuing then to explain just those things he'd seen during his time with these other vampires. These ones he called Crusniks. The word seeing Arlo's features frown slightly. He knew that word. At least, he'd heard it before without ever truly understanding what in the hell it was. After all, people called him a lot of things. Cannibal, drainer, loser, bastard....really the list went on, this just another one of those words he'd assumed meant much the same. Hmm, it looked like the old one really did know a few things. Then again Arlo supposed when he was that old he might too. Still, the idea of these vampires like him managed to catch his attention all the same. After all, how many nights had he simply been left wondering if he was the only one? Although really this idea seemed to pose more questions than it did answers. Where were these other vampires now? Was he some sort of different vampire species? How did those other vampires survive? Did they just feed off each other over and over? Arlo's features readily shifting into a look of bemusement as Malek announced, rather deadpan as if he was announcing the weather, that Crusnik was surely what he was. He didn't sugar coat anything did he?

One hand reached upward, fingers raking through his dark hair in some consideration of this- of everything really. Arlo inclined to find he had a hell of a lot more questions for the older vampire now. Was this why he'd wanted to see if he could eat the rabbit? Was this why human blood never really seemed to do it for him? Why hadn't Patrick ever mentioned any of this?! Then again, he supposed, maybe his own maker had never known. The realisation of that seeming to dawn on him then. Malek almost forgotten entirely as Arlo found himself tanged in his own thoughts before that sudden, potent scent of blood seemed to see him respond almost instantly- his head snapping readily upward to eye those two little symmetrical wounds the elder vampire had made in his own skin. Clever, really, removing that need for Arlo to bite and any chance or Malek succumbing to that venom in turn. Then again, Malek seemed to know a lot more than ever said. The elder vampire's words saw the younger man pause, if only momentarily, his gaze upon that willingly offered blood. Willing victims were few and far between in every sense, Arlo entirely taken with that blood in that moment. Malek was so old....how rich that blood would be! Richer than anything he had surely ever had before. Arlo almost entirely mesmerized by those wounds and the blood that beaded to the surface, the man hardly needing any further encouragement. While he had hesitated at that rabbit and ignored those humans they passed Arlo so seemed to respond to this more strongly than anything else. Saliva readily bathing his teeth and tongue at the scent alone as Malek stepped into his space and Arlo, for once, hardly minded.

His hand reached easily for Malek's own, fingers encircling the other vampires wrist to keep him still before lowering his lips to those wounds, drawing that blood into his mouth, that taste assaulting his senses! A groan of satisfaction he could hardly prevent seemed to rumble within his throat, fingers tightening on Malek's wrist as his saliva coaxed that blood to flow now. Arlo drinking rather greedily from those wounds, savouring that rich, glorious taste.....