Arlo James

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

It was all-too easy to brush off those concerns of love and relationships and even that notion that he was mostly sure he didn't deserve someone better. It was almost atypical of a vampire, he supposed, to have that inner guilt her remained determined to pretend for all the world didn't exist and yet he could hardly deny it did all the same. Maybe he had control off that hunger now, for the most part, yet did that excuse the things he had done before he'd worked out what he was and how to control it? Didn't that same destructive strength still exist within him? The sort of girl he liked never seemed to like him back and maybe that was the better. He'd only end up hurting them, even without meaning too and besides what did he even have to offer them? He had...nothing. Hell, he was considering packaging as furniture, what girl wanted to be invited upstairs to pull up a box to sit in. Well- maybe Little Bear might like it. She liked boxes. Then again Panda's probably didn't count. Still, Arlo made that effort to brush aside those worries as if they were almost a joke, something to laugh at, as if the humour might hide how much it truly did bother him. Sebastian apparently seeing through it with far more ease then Arlo had anticipated. The vampire hardly expecting that sudden sharing of Sebastian's past. Not many things truly surprised him, not anymore- but this did. There were male prostitutes?! For real? That surprise on his face was likely far more clear than even he truly intended it to be. As for what a 'companion' to old women was he had no idea, his lip curling slightly in some measure of discontent at even the thought. Alright, so maybe Seb had picked himself up from a pretty shitty place, Arlo letting his lip quirk upward slightly at that pep talk of sorts. Maybe friends weren't that bad to have. Sebastian better at this then he truly gave himself credit for.

"Well I'm about ready for it to be something better. Thanks, bud."

He let that smile touch his lips more fully then, flashing it briefly toward Sebastian and yet the moment was entirely fleeting. Out-pouring of emotion wasn't exactly his strong suite. In fact, he was notoriously bad at it and yet he hoped that brief thanks at least conveyed....something by way of gratitude. Arlo settled back on that sofa then to hear what existed of Sebastian's song so far. He was basically a wasted talent. The guy really could play and here he was writing love songs in Arlo's crappy apartment? God, they could be great! Sebastian would need a new look of course, something less 'uppity' but they could work on that. The other vampire seeming all too quick to dismiss those desires as Arlo very near demanded he think about it all the same before finally focusing his attention more fully on that music and those emotions he had been left with. He hadn't truly anticipated Sebastian's power might prove this extensive. Realistically he hadn't really thought it would work at all and yet he was left feeling almost...nervous and not in a bad way....exactly. It was more a sense of anticipation, one that so seemed to result in the man momentarily considering his own shirt and whether or not Sebastian approved of the colour, that single thought suddenly seeming so entirely dominating that the words fell from his lips almost absentmindedly. Arlo largely oblivious to just those intentions Sebastian had laced within that song or those memories of those first tentative 'dates' he had held with the man he loved, the result of such merely leaving Arlo distressed about his clothing. Sebastian's assurance that clothes were made to be removed seeing both his eyes lift, Arlo suddenly feeling almost overly warm. Was it hot in here? Maybe he should take off his shirt, just to cool down right? That lack of musical influence seeing sense slowly begin to return to him as the vampire frowned slightly. Had he really been about to take off his shirt? His head shook lightly, attempting to clear those thoughts. Of course Sebastian would think shirts belonged on the floor. Sex God Sebastian. Woman probably just took them off for him when he looked at them. Arlo huffed slightly, attempting to push those thoughts right out of his mind before offering those tweaks.

His pencil paused on that page then as Sebastian decided to test out two version of that song now. That first rendition so managed to bring a simper to Arlo's lips, those feelings almost tumultuous as they turned within him, Arlo so forced to experience the very first inkling of an emotion he never had truly felt before, the vampire upon the very cusp of it before that song ended. Sebastian begun that second piece well before Arlo had a chance to comment, that second piece however, proved to be distinctly more potent. It was curious how those few changes in notes had such an effect on him and yet they had a depth to them, something that seemed to reach within him and bring those emotions to the very surface. He felt...drawn to Sebastian. No, more than drawn. He felt like he needed him, he wanted him ad yet it wasn't just lust it was something so much more. Arlo sure in that moment no one deserved Sebastian, no one could ever be good enough for him, that man the very centre off his universe. It was almost suffocating and wholly eclipsing. Arlo was left almost in awe of that emotion, those after effects lingering even as Sebastian's fingers stilled. It was....amazing.

That single word of awe left his lips, Arlo left attempting to consider it a moment before making some effort to try and explain to Sebastian exactly what he had felt, Arlo struggling to find just the right words. Was this truly what love felt like? Was this what Sebastian felt for that man lucky enough to love him? Someone...not Arlo. The younger vampire momentarily given to that heartache, his emotions not yet fully having come to realise he was not and never had been in love with Sebastian at all and yet that feeling was not let go of easily. Something almost akin to embarrassment at his efforts seeing the man declare his words utterly lame all the same before he glanced up and towards Sebastian at last, a sigh falling from his lips, his gaze glancing briefly down at his notepad only to see Sebastian's name printed across it several times over. Great.

"I don't know how you feel that all the time. I mean its....amazing but exhausting. That sort of care for someone, I just......it's a lot you know?"

It was all consuming and yet that absence of it was worse, far worse. God, was this the price for loving someone? This terrible feeling when it stopped?! Patrick had said, once, that vampires felt emotions...strongly, that they were more heightened. Arlo assured until this moment he'd never truly believed it. The man declaring he needed a few minutes to...breath before Seb played again. Affording him a chance for those emotions to die down. It was a curious thought, the one that struck him then, Arlo speaking softly as Sebastian turned from those keys to eye him once more. The younger vampire asking whether or not this lover Sebastian had was another vampire, surprise touching his features then. He wasn't? He'd found a non-vampire boyfriend?

"I don't think I've ever met a vampire without a vampire partner too. I mean, I just didn't really think anyone else might be accepting of, well, you know, the no sun thing and the wanting to bite them all the time thing."

Well- he wasn't exactly oblivious to the more...objectionable traits of being a vampire, or more so, being with one. Arlo genuinely intrigued by that realisation that, hell, maybe one day he would find a chick that didn't care about the fact he was probably never going to be able to take her outside in the daylight or be able not to bite her at least...once or the fact he was cold a lot of the time. Arlo's arms folded across his chest then, those emotions finally beginning to settle although the idea that e might somehow start taking his clothes off saw his eyes narrow suspiciously all the same, Sebastian assuring him he would make sure he stayed clothed. He better. He really couldn't handle another gay....experience the sort he'd almost had with Malek. Those soft lyrics from Sebastian then saw his gaze meet the other mans own once more, Sebastian seeming assured it was him who didn't deserve that lover he had before declaring Arlo and he were hardly that different. The younger vampire scoffing slightly then.

"I might beg to differ there, bud."

Sebastian, after all, so seemed to have it all! Then again, if the vampires earlier words were true then maybe once he hadn't. Maybe once he hadn't had much more then Arlo himself. How long would it take though? How long did he need to live before he had all these things? Maybe he was just being impatient. Arlo sighing softly again.

"I've added a few more things here, why don't you play it through once more in its entirety, unless you're not happy with the emotions? Although I promise you its working. I need to warn you though I almost thought about making out with you like three times and if I get off this couch I give you permission to like crash tackle me back onto it."

His lip quirked once more, Arlo allowing that faint touch of humour to seep back in to his words then, that grin touching his lips, his senses having returned to him entirely now. Arlo supposing he was happy, overall, with that work. It was a well written piece if nothing else. The vampire leaning upward then to pass Sebastian those new editions before resting his head on his arms as they folded behind his back.

"Getting pretty hungry over here too, just saying, all these emotions are hard work. I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker by the minute, I might waste away to nothing......"

Well- he could be a little overdramatic couldn't he? Arlo assured he deserved that meal the moment Sebastian finished that final play through, the vampire bracing himself for that onslaught of emotion once more. The song itself was, well, damn good and yet so much of that music was almost lost on him beneath that intense onslaught, Arlo attempting to force himself to stay on that couch and yet.....Sebastian was simply the most perfect being he had ever seen. God, why was he even trying to fight this? They were meant to be together! Maybe he'd never considered how attractive another man could be. Arlo abruptly disappearing from that couch only to appear on the dining room table and right beside Sebastian, his legs swinging almost playfully as he lent one elbow on his knee, resting his head in his hand, the other reaching forward to let his fingers ever so lightly brush against Sebastian shoulder.

"Hiiiii."

That Arlo was not totally in control of his emotions was surely evident. He simply wanted to be near him. He needed to be

"Did anyone ever tell you how amazing you are?"