Arlo James

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

In retrospect it probably hadn't been the best idea he'd ever had to veritably challenge an unknown vampire to this sort of game. She was older then him, he knew that, older so often meaning stronger even if only in the physical sense. After all, those affinities his kind possessed could be potent at any strength, rather, an advanced age merely tended to give those vampires more of that magic at their fingertips and truly Arlo had learned that lesson the hard way- more then once. If he didn't managed to get his fangs into them the first time and let the sedative off his venom bring them to their knees he tended to flee. Arlo the coward. Maybe it was cowardly to attack and disappear the moment they turned the tables on him, but sometimes, cowards lived to fight another day. At least, that was what Patrick had always said. If he'd learned anything from his Maker then maybe it was that sense of self-preservation the man had possessed. It had saved him enough times before and yet, this time, for a reason he wasn't entirely sure he'd been inclined to...stay after that initial attack had failed. The girl was strange, different, alluring in her own weird way. Arlo intrigued by her if only because some part of him, maybe, found something entirely curious in the way she seemed so....guarded. He'd made her laugh, so something else existed beneath that, well, cold and strange exterior. Maybe he just wanted to know what it was. Arlo perhaps a distinctly atypical vampire in his own relatively good nature. Sure it went a little wonky sometimes when he was hungry but for the most part he lacked several of those more common vampiric traits. Maybe it was because he wasn't one. Well- not a normal one. This was probably why Crusniks were a dying breed.

He hadn't exactly anticipated her illusions to be either that strong or capable of real damage. Illusions after all were, well, illusions right? Not real. These ones however seemed to be a damn sight more realistic then any he'd seen or felt before. Even despite the way that snake wrapped around him, veritably restraining him in place he was hardly oblivious to the way it moved. It's head tilted and turned with her own. Arlo half wondering which one of them was the illusion. It was like it was part of her in a way. Not just a projected image but....connected to her. It would have been unsettling if he'd had the chance to consider it further. His mind in those moments fixated entirely upon attempting to get himself out of that snake. Even with all his vampiric strength it was doing nothing. This was how he was going to die- it was a little more dramatic then he'd ever pictured but at least it was something. Although, really, did he truly believe she was going to kill him? Harm him maybe, but kill? A part of him, at least, didn't truly think she would. It was just a game after all, right?

That single and all-consuming scent of blood readily derailed even his own thoughts. His relative youth as a vampire displaying itself potently now in that inability to control the hunger the swept over him like a wave. That predatory edge working its way into his features and the near black colour to his own striking azure gaze. God, what he wouldn't do for a taste of that! The woman, unbelievably, taunting him with that scent then, allowing her finger to drag along his lip and leave that delicious bloodied trail in its wake. Arlo could hardly help the way his tongue followed that trail, sweeping up those fine, sweeps red droplets. He hardly had the sense to be ashamed of himself or how easily he played into her hands when that blood was there. Maybe later tonight he'd bemoan his own lack of control all over again as he did most evenings. For now the very realisation she intended to take that blood away was enough to awaken that decidedly cunning part of himself. His own affinity lashing out to seize them both now before she could lift her finger away and catapult them both free of that snake and that street.

The pair of them were all but spat out and onto that grass in the park across the street. Arlo's lack of control in that moment surely represented in that lack of ability to control his own affinity and landing as he tumbled across that grass. The man unable to prevent that near whoop of delight and easy laughter that followed. Arlo vaguely aware of the woman's own chuckle. Strange woman. He could have almost sworn she was an illusion goddess of the underworld one moment, contemplating his demise only to be transformed back into that rather likeable being whom laughed at his own notable ridiculousness like she had over seeing those pictures of his Panda. Her query as to what on earth had just happened saw that grin find its way to his lips once more, Arlo running his fingers through the black off his hair to remove that debris and grass before easing himself up and onto his feet, one hand held out toward the woman now to help her to her own.

"That was my teleportation efforts. Normally I'm a little cleaner then that but I was distracted by the blood. Still, seemed I managed alright at least. I only learned recently I can teleport others when I'm touching them. If I had a better grip on you the landing wouldn't have been so rough- sorry- spur of the moment act."

He grinned easily again before making some effort to declare it a tie, after all, to his mind it surely was. They seemed fairly evenly matched. At least, his ability to outrun things seemed almost equal to her ability to create them and adapt- for now. Arlo had little doubt believing her illusionary talents might surely surpass his ability to counter them sometime in the near future. Especially since she was unlikely to fall for touching him again in any future....games. The woman seeming almost taken aback by the suggestion, her words seeming almost questioning before declaring he had surely bested her fairly. His own head shook lightly then.

"Nah. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't call you 'bested' babe, not by a long shot. I escaped the snake, I didn't beat it. You managed to catch me, but you couldn't hold me. Seems to me we're even- at least for now."

He'd never really had anyone not accept a tie before. Did she want to go again? Arlo hardly sure he had the energy for that. He was readily beginning to progress past hungry and into famished, his ability to focus for another round perhaps questionable. Maybe he should have just told her she lost. Still, he held his hand out once more all the same in that show of sportsmanship he supposed and to seal that agreement to let him feed, Arlo already working to keep hold off his own excitement at the idea of the meal he was about to get. That half-laugh that fell from her lips was hardly missed as her hand slipped into his own. James? Oh, right. Him. His own head shook lightly again.

"It's Arlo. That's my real name. James is just my standard go too. It's actually my last name but don't go around telling people or anything. I'm in enough trouble as it is without to many vampires knowing where I am. Hard as it is to believe most vampires don't welcome my presence. You should probably tell me your name too, if you want anyway."

His words were almost light, teasing, Arlo doing as he always did and make light of a situation that was distinctly more serious then he let it appear. The young vampire was hardly merely 'disliked' by the vast majority of the vampires in this city. He was utterly loathed. He'd lost count of the amount of cities and towns he'd been run out off, the covens who'd tried tracking him down to tear him limb or those he owed money too. His free hand reached easily out then, almost like an afterthought to abruptly pat the woman atop the head as if making sure she was the real one, that hand that still held own felt real in the least. The laugh this managed to draw from her by far the most genuine he was sure he'd gotten from her all night, even her nose wrinkling slightly with the gesture. He knew she could be cute when she tried! For now however, he hardly said anything off it lest he ruin the moment.

"Well played yourself."

The woman assured him she was mostly sure she was real, his head tilting slightly at her own wonderment. Maybe being an illusionist was harder then it seemed. Maybe sometimes she made things without realising it although could you illusion yourself? Those questions on reality seeming far too vast to be answered tonight before she queried his own apparent existence, Arlo momentarily caught off guard by the question. He'd never exactly been asked that before, the man seeming to consider it for several long moments.

"I think I am. I mean, I don't think illusions get hungry or things like that. I still do that, pretty much every night. I think illusions probably don't have emotions either and as much as I pretend I don't I'm pretty sure I still have those. I was always a bad pretender. Besides, I feel real, right?"

That hand that still held her own squeezed gently then, as if this, somehow, proved he was real. Arlo oddly determined to...reassure her off his existence as if it was somehow important she was convinced he was hardly a figment off her own imagination. That smile on his lips slightly softer then before that realisation he was still holding her hand seemed to strike him. He hadn't even noticed. He probably.....should stop doing that. The young man gently releasing his hold upon her now, arms folding across his own chest as he lent back against the nearest tree.

"Alright babe, time to give the blood up. Where do you want it? Neck is probably the easiest for me but I can do the wrist if the neck bothers you, if you've got someone at home whose going to freak out seeing any bites on you I can do the inside of the elbow. The wounds will heal fast anyway, but because they came from another vampire they'll last a little linger then a normal scratch or something. Your gunna want to sit down though, I'm not a normal vampire, my venom is different, it works as a sedative. Don't get me wrong, it'll feel amazing if you can stay awake, some vampires fall asleep though. You probably won't be able to walk for a bit though, might not even be able to stand but I'll stay with you till you're alright then we'll get something for you to eat, yeah?"