Arlo James

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

She wanted to see how he worked? Well. That was an unexpected answer. Then again he was pretty sure someone had said that to him once before in a doctor's office when he was ten and his parents were considering whether or not Ritalin was the answer to his over-active imagination and.....personality in general. He'd always been a little on the impulsive side. It had worked for him for a long time after all, he'd been successful with that band because of it and yet, he supposed, maybe it was to blame for some of the other failings in his life and the exact reason he ended up in situations like this. The moment that women escaped his hold he should have fled and yet he was intrigued by her, the way she moved, those powers she had and her blood. Blood he could smell even through that thick haze of mist she weaved. That part of him that so valued self-preservation at least saw him press cautiously into those murky mists, a part of him almost relishing that game they played. After all it soothed that predatory side of himself, even though he denied it existed at all, that veritable monster relishing that game of chance within the fog while that almost boyish side merely enjoyed the game. It was just a game after all right? Even if he was fairly sure he was going to disappoint her when she found out 'how he worked' was probably the same as just about anyone else in that situation. Arlo wholly oblivious, as he had always been, to all those ways in which he didn't quite fit that vampire mould. His humanity so largely intact and so barely peppered with predator that he was near the direct opposite to most. It was ironic really. His human life had largely considered off finding any substance he could to escape his reality and now, ha, he was forced live it for eternity.

That snake was unexpected, at least to an extent, he could feel that creature sliding over his webs, trigging that early warning system over and over, giving him some indication that he was hardly alone in those clouds and yet that obsidian beast wasn't exactly what he'd intended to find. It was, well, a damn sight larger then he'd been anticipating, Arlo unable to prevent that almost nervous laughter that fell from his lips as one hand ran through those dark locks of hair. His ever-youthful features shifted into a look he was pretty sure was at least mildly concerned. That woman's voice finding him through that maze of mist. This time though, her words hardly served to bring him any comfort. Real? How real was she talking? This was a game right? Maybe she was way more offended at him trying to drain her blood then she'd appeared. His lips parted, those words catching in his throat as that serpent suddenly lunged. Arlo throwing himself to the side in an apparent last moment effort not to call he bluff on that snake. The vampire eyeing the holes in the pavement where the creatures fangs had sliced into the concrete. Huh. That did look awfully real.

He couldn't remember the last time he had run. Really run and yet now seemed as good a time as any to test out that vampiric spread, Arlo making every effort to dodge that creature and find some way out of those mists, the woman all but forgotten as that building served to be the next victim. The younger vampire oblivious to the truth depth and sway of those illusions and just how connected they remained to their creator. His mind filled with desperately little save for escaping it. At least until she tripped that web. It was small, sudden and yet he remained as connected to that web as she did to her illusions. Arlo aware of her suddenly. She was still here then, on the outskirts. Yet he rapidly running out of options. That creature seeming to take up every bit of that space as its fangs launched from the darkness a third time. Arlo afforded only one true option. The man teleporting himself upward near as high as his powers could take him only to have that snake rear out of the darkness and mists beneath him with fangs exposed. Gravity. He hadn't considered that nearly well enough, Arlo attempting to twist in mid-air as he feel back towards that creature. The man utilizing that webbing once more, firing it almost frantically at the creature in an effort to bind its jaws and blind it. God he'd never seen anything like this before. Were vampires supposed to be this powerful? Were illusions supposed to be like this? Didn't this break illusion rules? Did they have rules?

His efforts to defend from that creature and break his fall result in some haphazard blunder onto the rooftop, Arlo gripping that guttering to keep himself hanging while leaving one hand free to keep up the assault on that creature. Could he electrocute something that large? He'd all but covered it in web and web was all he needed for that and yet, god, what if he wasn't fast enough? A fall from this height was hardly going to kill him, but it would hurt, then again maybe falling and hoping that snake missed was a good plan. Arlo struggling to keep that stress from his voice, assured the woman could hear him somehow. Maybe they could call it a draw? He was losing, maybe, but she didn't have to know that right? If he could just get her too-. He was given truly little time to consider that plan further, the snake knocking him from the rooftop then as...something seemed to bind around him. Arlo suddenly unable to move his arms, the vampire effectively restrained. God. This was how it ended. He was going to get eaten by a snake. He hadn't played nearly enough music or slept with nearly enough women yet. Life was so short. That snake wrapping about him then. It's skin felt...weird. Arlo unable to do more than squirm in its hold. Why did these things always happen to him. He could think of something right? Right.

Those mists suddenly seemed to part, his striking azure gaze cast towards the figure that slipped through them, her heels clicking on the ground as she came, stopping before him and just out of reach. The snake almost seemed to respond to her like some sort of pet, Arlo unable to take his eyes away from that creature that seemed to be looking at him...as she did. Her words the only thing that drew his gaze back towards her. Why negotiate when she was winning? Would he? Why he even stopped to give that question actual thought he hardly knew- but he did- if their roles were reversed would he really give up his chance at a meal?

"Probably not I guess."

He was honest. An honest thief. Who ever knew? Arlo attempting some sort of shrug. If he was going to die he was at least going to do it with a tiny bit of humour. That woman slipping even closer until she practically leaned against him, her hand reaching out so close he could almost touch it. What would he have her do? He vaguely heard those words, vaguely seemed to process them as that hunger reared within him at her proximity, Arlo struggling to keep it at bay now as she reached suddenly to her own lips. That sudden, striking scent of blood overwhelming him suddenly, his eyes turning near black in response to it. God. Just a taste. What he'd do for just a taste! The woman suddenly leaning forward as if almost to comply to that desire, Arlo realising just what she intended to do, the man unable to stop that gasp that shifted into something almost a moan at that taste as his tongue almost obediently followed that trail to lap it up in the wake off her thumb. The woman moving to lean away. Arlo hardly willing to let her. That....desperation for that blood seeming to spark something within him. That final act of....impishness perhaps. What would he have her do? In that moment he knew.

"Hold on tight."

Those words were barely free off his lips. Her thumb still touching them and that.....that was all he needed. Even the faintest touch. His affinity flaring in that moment to seize both himself and her in that vortex of teleportation. She had shown her hand and he had seized it. Almost literally. Arlo one off the few capable of teleporting more than himself when he chose. The pair so briefly hurtling through space. Arlo free of that snake and those bonds. The pair abruptly spat out onto the grass in the middle of that park across the street. Arlo tumbling onto his back as Petra surely landed somewhere beside him. He still had a few kinks to work out in that teleportation- he tried ok. His breath coming in uneven gasps then before that almost whoop of joy sounded from him, laughter erupting from him suddenly. He rolled, easing himself up onto his feet before his hand was held suddenly out to the woman on the grass beside him with every intention of helping her up.

"Good game, babe, good game. You're by far one of the best I've seen in a damn long time. You seriously had me there with the blood too. Got a real weakness for that, can't help myself. I still think it's a draw, I mean I got a taste of blood and you got to see how I work- truth is I don't think I work at all. I kinda think of things right in the moment. I do my best thinking under pressure. You got to see it first hand, if you hadn't touched me you would have had me for sure. So, wanna call it even? I get some more blood, I'll find you someone to eat to replace it- and you can watch me work if you want."

He gestured to his hand again, this time so willingly attempting to have the woman take it of her own free will. Arlo content to meet her in the middle tonight. His eyes narrowing suddenly ever so slightly, his other hand reaching out abruptly to tap her on the head. As if to...check. Somehow.

"You're not an illusion too are you?"

Well. The man had spirit if nothing else.