Arlo James

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

He had made girls cry before, hell, he'd been pretty damn good at it in his youngers days and yet this, Abigail crying, was somehow so much....worse than any other time and any other girl before. Who knew an apple could start all of this? He could feel those tears stinging at his own eyes and yet in that moment he was hardly sure just what made him feel worse- the disaster that had been that meeting with his parents or Abigails own clear distress. God that had been....the worst visit ever. He never should have even let her come. He was so fucking bad at this. All of it. He was the worst boyfriend. For several long moments that car was filled with little save for Abbys soft sobs and the sound of his hand wiping at his own eyes, the vampire struggling to grasp control once more as that simple desire to console his girlfriend readily seemed to see the Crusnik attempt to push aside his own emotion, even if only for now. He reached easily into the back of the car to fish one off his old t-shirts from the box and press it gently into her hand to use to wipe those tears away. His efforts to comfort her only seeming to bring about the shake off her own head, Arlo watching her almost quizzically then as her whispered words managed to find him between those stuttered sobs and thickness of emotion so raw he could hear it in her tone itself. Her simple insistence that she had only wanted his parents to like them seeing that lump rise to his throat once more, that near ache in his chest only seeming to tighten. That singular, simple want so terribly....innocent and Abby-like all at once. Why couldn't it have just been that easy?

"Aw, Ab's. It's me their mad at, not you babe, not really. If you hadn't been with me im sure they'd have liked you."

His own words were decidedly soft then, his hand reaching up to gently rest against her cheek. Arlo letting his thumb gently brush those tears away. He'd never been good at comforting people, at least not really and yet this was close to the most sincere effort he'd ever made. He didn't....want to see her sad. Especially not for him. Especially when he was mostly sure he almost deserved the way his parents had treated him. He almost felt guilty about all of it. About daring to believe his family might have welcomed him home, about letting Abby see that fallout, about hiding that complicated past from her to begin with and yet- he wasn't that person any more. Was it so terrible that he didn't want to remember it either? He attempted to find that crooked grin all the same, that very gesture feeling shaky even to him and yet, hiding those emotions was what he did best. Pretending everything was ok might as well have been his true super power even if he was mostly sure that this time, Abby was hardly going to believe it. Still, for her, he was more then willing to try. God, he hated seeing her upset. His very attempts to at least explain that outrage his parents had all but battered them with only seemed to result in Abby's insistence family's weren't like that. Arlo's own blue gaze lifting to meet her own then. Maybe she was right and yet, he hardly had another family to compare it too. Arguing with her over this hardly seemed a terribly good idea, at least, not in that moment. Arlo, for once, simply choosing not to respond to that sentiment. Rather the vampire brushed those final tears away from her cheek instead, the young woman leaning into his hand. That very apple resting in her lap suddenly catching his attention.

Had they really just cried over an apple? Suddenly, somehow, it seemed almost ridiculous. Arlo managed that soft chuckle as he gestured toward that very fruit. Abby surely deserved something of an explanation and yet he could hardly bring himself to tell that story here and now, that very apple something of a weak attempt at distraction and yet it seemed better than dwelling on that sadness all the same. His Little Bear seeming willing enough to take up that distraction with the assurance that at least it looked a good apple. Arlo taking that moment to gesture toward the light that had changed green for the second time above them, Abby gently sending that car forward before raising the apple to her lips as if to test that theory on whether or not it really was as good as it looked. His parents could surely send them off with an apple if nothing else right? His own attention shifted briefly to the window, that town flying passed them now and yet Arlo could hardly bring himself to feel anything short of....relief. They didn't have to come back here again, not ever as far as he was concerned. The very fact that hotel was in the next town suddenly seeming like blessing. The vampires own thoughts shifted then to that hot tub. The mention of that, at last, seeming to bring that ghost of a smile to his girlfriend's lips as the car pulled into that lot.

"C'mon then, let's go. Reckon we could both use it."

Arlo shifted out of that passanger seat then, tucking that fruit bowl under one arm before heading around to lift their bags out of the back and hand Abby her own, his bag tossed over his shoulder as he led the way toward that reception. If that neatly dressed woman behind the counter thought a vampire carrying a bowl of fruit in the middle of the night was unusual she hardly said anything about it. Arlo almost grateful for it really as she handed them that key card, an information packet about that hotel and directions to that rooftop pool and hot tub. The hotel was pretty damn nice really. Arlo easily led the way to those elevators then, the vampire hitting the button for the tenth floor before stepping out into the hall to find their room. The key card was run effortlessly through that censor, the door clicking open a moment later. Those lights came on automatically as they stepped into that comfortable, homely suite. One side of the room was dedicated to a lounge area and tv with its only little kitchenette, the other side holding a large queen bed beside the double doors that led onto the balcony. Arlo readily content that those curtains looked more than thick enough to keep that sun from him. His own bag was easily rested on the end of the bed before Arlo promptly moved to place that fruit ball in the very center of the little dining room table- as if it belonged exactly there right beside that vase of flowers.

"I guess it's B.Y.O fruit but it looks like they put chocolates on our pillows. That's not half bad."

That grin managed to find his lips again, this one more genuine then his earlier attempts. Arlo still making that effort to attempt to squash that emotion that turned around in his stomach and over and over within his thoughts. Those very attempts a little easier now that he hardly had to meet his parents gaze. Arlo wandered back toward the bed then, unzipping his own bag to fish those swim shorts out.

"You brought something to swim in right, Ab's? You can use the bathroom to get changed if you want. I'll wait out here."

It only seemed decent to offer her the bathroom right? After all, it wasn't like they'd done anything other then make out just yet. Abby more often than not inclined to ease away before things went to far. Arlo mostly sure that just came down to inexperience right? If she really was a virgin (and he was pretty sure she was) then maybe she just needed more time. Arlo reached easily for his shirt then, peeling it smoothly way from his own fit figure as Abby hunted for her swim wear, the vampire hooking one finger in his jeans before shucking them effortlessly off to leave little save for his boxer shorts. The vampire pausing just long enough for Abby to duck into that bathroom before ridding himself off those in turn, that simper finding his lips all the same at that...modesty Abby seemed to have. It was almost sweet really. Arlo tugged those black and blue and swim shorts onto his own figure a moment later, a towel thrown over his shoulder as he waited for Abby to finish. The sound of that bathroom door opening again drawing his gaze.

"Hey, do you-."

Those words hardly progressed any further. Arlo's gaze fixating firmly on his girlfriend then. This by far the most off her figure he'd ever seen. That bikini top and swim skirt showed off her slender figure and smooth curves, her flawless, smooth skin only seeming all the more fine against that glorious red hair. God but she looked good. A part of him near instantly...hungry at the sight off her. He had tasted her blood before, just a little off it, Werecreatures not normally a part of his diet and yet her blood had held a sweetness to it that appealed to him all the same. Arlo readily content to wonder just what a real taste might be like. How utterly soft her flesh looked. How easy it would be to bite. That venom already dripping against his tongue. Her very scent seemed suddenly cloying in the room and yet it was hardly just that vampiric side of him that seemed to find appeal in the sight off her. Every single part off him that was decidedly a man readily responding to the decidedly perfect woman that stood in front of him. God how he wanted her. Did she even know how she looked? Arlo readily seemed to realise he had failed to finish his last sentence, his gaze still resting upon her.

"Umm, I mean I.....honestly.... I..... forgot what I was saying. You look- great."

That smile tugged at his lips once more, Arlo readily lifting his gaze to meet her own then, his hand held out towards her to knot his fingers through her own before heading for that door once more to take that elevator up to the rooftop. That night hardly too cold even if the breeze held that faint chill. The vampire readily content to at least attempt to distract himself from Abby's decided appeal by focusing on that large, bubbling hot-tub, the steam rising into the air and those soft lights illuminating it. His towel was tossed readily onto the nearest seat, his hand releasing Abby's own to let her climb into that heated pool after him. God how he loved being warm. Arlo readily sunk into that heat with a contented sigh before resting his head on the rim of the tub, his hand held out again to tug Abby towards him. She couldn't go around looking like that and not at least sit beside him. Arlo suddenly desiring that closeness from her.

"This, I think, is the nicest part of the whole night."

Arlo shifted just enough to let his lips press to her cheek in that stolen moment of affection. His skin, for once, feeling just as hot as her own in that bubbling water. He was going to have to tell her, sooner or later, just what had gone wrong between himself and his family to lead to, well, that. Maybe she'd ask, maybe she wouldn't, Arlo almost ready for it all the same. His blue gaze lingered on her, one wet hand running through his own dark hair to push a few strands aside.

"Thanks for grabbing that extra box tonight. You were right, I think I do want that stuff. Hopefully we grabbed enough of that music for Seb to work with too. It'll have to be enough I guess. God, what did I get myself into with all this? I hope it was worth it."