Arlo James

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

His gift of fruit, it seemed, had gone down perhaps overly well. That little bear licking her paws clean with clear delight, making those odd little squeaking sounds that Arlo had come to decide meant she was happy or joyful or....some sort of delighted. She always looked happy when she made them all the same. At least, as happy as a panda could really look with those overly furry features. His attention shifted but a moment later to those newly bought decorations now that he had at least given his little pet an out for the evening. The vampire hardly intending to keep her against her will or through some sort of perceived panda politeness. He appreciated her company, perhaps more than he might have been willing to admit- at least out loud- and yet he hardly wanted her to feel somehow obligated to be here with him tonight when she surely had family or an owner or...something more important than him. She, for her part though, seemed fairly determined to stay and with that assertion made the man was content enough to let it go. That little bear took the opportunity to nearly face plant in their decorations, tumbling over in a style both dramatic and mildly tragic- at least in his opinion- his eyes rolling slightly before he moved to help right her and she dragged that box before him with evident determination.

"Alright, alright."

It was little more than a murmur all the same, the vampire crouching down to go through that collection of things they'd bought, the little creature doing that odd sort of purring thing she seemed to like before nuzzling into his hand in what he could only presume was affection. At least, he was choosing to believe it was affection. This was about the only loving he was going to get this holiday season all the same, why not take it? That small gesture saw his lip quirk upward all the same before he moved to turn to that tree and begin that decoration process, a sudden, soft thud seeing his azure blue gaze glance back and down to the animal now at his feet. The girl evidently having leapt from the table. Honestly he was surprised she'd made it and yet he hardly choose to mention it lest he kill her confidence entirely. She appeared right beside his feet a moment later, the vampire glancing downward again as if anticipating some correction from his new found companion. His Little Bear, for now, looking merely mesmerized with their lopsided tree and his surely less then strategic ornament placing. Well, as long as she was happy. Arlo crouched a moment later, grasping the girl to lift her up and into his arms, careful to avoid his injured shoulder that was truly beginning to ache again from his neglect of it. He would have to do something about that shortly. For now at least he continued to ignore it, asking the panda instead just where she wanted her chosen decoration, that gesture with her paw seeing the vampire comply, placing it towards the top and the centre- holding her towards it to admire before gently putting her down again and stepping back to admire his own work.

God- he could barely remember the last time he decorated a tree. It had been years. Years and years. He'd been a child. His decent into the ranks of the immortal somewhat dampening any desire he'd held most years to celebrate terribly much and yet this year it seemed, that odd little Panda and her tree had summoned some remanet of Christmas spirit. It was with that declaration that it surely looked good that he moved to scoop her up again, teasing her lightly about the theft of that tree before toppling back onto his couch, placing her atop his chest. She turned a circle like some sort of dog before collapsing atop him in much the same way he'd collapsed against the couch. Arlo exclaiming he was, at times, entirely sure she understood him. At least in some fashion before he assured her he was hardly going to sing. The girl apparently taking this as her cue to begin her own sort of loud barking- her attempts to carry a tune perhaps slightly lost upon him, surprise tainting his features as to just why she was making that sound and looking so delighted about it.

"My, that was- energetic."

That was a compliment wasn't it? Arlo grinning toothily towards her all the same before she collapsed down again, one hand lifting absentmindedly to rub just behind her ear as he would were she a cat. His gaze drifting at last to the fruit to ask if she was going to share it- or what was left of it. He waited for her to scamper towards it now, holding one hand out as she returned, letting her choose which piece she might afford him, hardly carrying that she had carried it in her paws or her own mouth. He'd fed off the worst sorts of people before, anything she had likely to be far safer then what lurked on some off his victims. That piece of fruit was slipped into his mouth, the taste entirely sweet and sugary, a look of approval tracing his features as he chewed, the motion seeing him wince slightly once more as he sighed.

"I suppose I better do something about this. Come on, Chicka. This will only take a half hour or so, I'm not about to be picky tonight. Anyone will do."

There was a part of him, tiny though it was, that briefly considered just how his pet might taste and yet the thought was dismissed almost as soon as he'd considered it. Her blood smelled...unusual. Not bad by any means and yet simply different. Arlo still not wholly sure what she was and more then that he was hardly going to ruin this by suggesting she might let him bite her. Chances were his venom would leave her borderline unconscious for the better part of the evening too and he hardly desired to have his company passed out on him. He moved to sit up, rolling lazily back onto his feet before holding one arm out for his companion to clamour up and onto his shoulder. She'd seen him eat before, it hardly mattered if she saw again. He hardly doubted she even understood.

"Soon as I get something to eat my shoulder will heal and we can come back here and be...Christmas-y."

How the hell one was Christmas-y he wasn't sure, he supposed it didn't matter in the end, the man stepping into the hall to close the door behind him with his companion upon his shoulder. He descended the stairs with ease, stepping out onto that frosted sidewalk before crossing the road to that little park. The trees had been decorated with Christmas lights, the pond ahead frozen over with several people skating upon it, the vast majority of people in that park young couples which made his task all the more difficult. Two people was...out of the question. Separating them not worth his effort. Was no one dateless in this city?!

"Guess I'd bring a girl here too if we were on a date, I'd have to pretend I knew how to ice skate of course and then just pray she wouldn't ask me to do it- then proceed to feign a serious and sudden leg injury so she wouldn't see me fall."

They were simple musings merely offered out loud to the panda, Arlo chuckling as he continued to wander forward, at last spying a woman heading up that path alone. Finally. He paused a few moments longer, making sure no boyfriend was following her before falling into step some ways behind to trail after her as she wandered further from the main park and into that tunnel of light strewn trees that was almost...pretty, the lightest snow beginning to fall.

"You know, if I wasn't stalking the girl this would almost be like one of those romantic movie settings with some musical montage playing. I wonder how opposed she would be to just...letting me bite her?"