Arlo James

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

It was that singular inquiry as to whether or not Sebastian was afraid of this Matteo guy that seemed to prompt some actual thought in the otherwise wholly distractible Englishman. Father's were intimidating sort of beings. They always had been and probably always would be. It was like a man changed somehow once he discovered he'd managed to father a child. As if he was somehow more superior because he could create his own people or something. It just made them more intimidating, like they'd joined some sort of club that let them look down on any unfortunate boy who wanted to date their daughter or son. Arlo content to decide he didn't envy Sebastian in this at all. Fathers never seemed to like him. Maybe if he just wore a nice enough shirt it would go ok. They liked nice dressers right? That sudden statement that Sebastian hardly feared Matteo so much as he feared that the man might say no and that this might, logically, prompt a fall out between father and son readily saw that look of contemplation touch his own features. That further explanation that Sebastian's lover had only more recently reconnected with this Father at least explained why that Wikipedia page had listed someone else's name entirely. Arlo hardly seeing a need to question that further in that moment as Sebastian settled upon the idea of family and his simple want for it- without destroying what little of it his boyfriend apparently currently had. Huh. That was the answer he'd expected. It was....nice though. At least, to him it seemed like Sebastian's intentions were entirely good. Why would anyone say no to someone who clearly cared so much about their son?

"Well, for what it's worth, I think if you guys have been dating this long and this Matteo hasn't said anything or tried to stop you then I wouldn't be worried. I mean, seems like he's had plenty of opportunity to stop you and he didn't."

Arlo's own shoulders lifted into a shrug once more, maybe he was being too, well, simple about this and yet if this guy really didn't like Sebastian then why in the hell would he let his son keep dating him for this long? Why wouldn't he have said something earlier? Arlo was sure he would have if it was his son or daughter or whatnot and he was unhappy about it. It was that sudden inquiry as to whether or not he liked Sebastian that brought that lopsided grin to his lips, his own head nodding readily as he assured the man that he truly did. After all, that was hardly a lie. Seb was cool by his standards. The man apparently was prone to some sort of ascending level of worry over nonsense but that was hardly enough of a fault to distract him from the fact he truly did enjoy spending time with the other vampire. Their species, after all, wasn't exactly known for its ability to bond with others of their own kind. They were possessive, territorial and often short-tempered by nature. Even Arlo knew those traits existed within himself no matter how much he tried to ignore them yet, somehow, he'd managed to find something of a balance with Sebastian. Their differing food sources, perhaps, removing that veritable food aggression vampires so seemed to possess and any competition that came with it. Arlo entirely sure, truly, the only aggression he might ever prompt from within Sebastian might come when he was around this Dorian fellow. Vampires tended to obsess over their chosen partner after all, Arlo hardly foolish enough to trigger such a response. Still, he could hardly deny that simple truth that he did like Sebastian, that honest answer seeming to delight the other man. At least until he asked about those names.

His wholly innocent question seemed to prompt a veritable tirade from the elder vampire. Arlo very near shaken off that couch entirely as Sebastian seemed to decide names were probably the biggest catastrophe he'd ever heard off. Arlo left staring at him almost wide-eyed as he attempted to free himself from the man's grip and have him calm the hell down. Sebastian prattling on about some guy named Phillip and the Queen and how royal people liked their last names because it was about bloodlines and prestige and God knows what else. If this was the sort of thing Sebastian flipped out over then he almost dreaded to see how the man might handle planning those wedding invitations, or flowers, or menus or anything else that came with a wedding. He'd never seen anyone manage to have their worry amplified by his venom. Arlo entirely assured worrying might simply be Sebastian's natural default setting. Still- he made at least some effort to assure him that he was fairly sure he and Dorian were not like the Queen and Phillip and that until he actually asked his boyfriend about this it hardly seemed worth this level of stress. Sebastian uttering quietly that he would hardly be King by marrying a King. Oh.

"Do you get to be anything? I mean your page thing said you were already a Mayor or a Baron or a Lord or something but don't you get to be anything else by marrying a King?"

Surely he did didn't? Otherwise this was just a giant rip-off as far as Arlo was concerned. One hand reached out all the same, touching against Sebastian's shoulder in some effort to...steady the man or at least inquiry if he'd managed to recover from his apparent mental breakdown. The other vampire managed to nod before collapsing back onto that couch and declaring he didn't want to get married anymore anyway. Arlo readily flung both his arms upward in exasperation then, his own form collapsing back onto that couch. Great. He'd spent a good half an hour discussing a wedding Seb didn't even want to have anymore. Still, Arlo wholly suspected that was the venom talking. The other mans mind far too slow and hazy to even understand what he was saying. The chance of him remembering any of this tomorrow, or even after he fed and replaced that blood in his system was decidedly small. It was quite sudden- that query on his Panda and his apparent Pet Owner status. Sebastian demanding to know why Little Bear didn't live with him, Arlo truly never really having thought about it before. It didn't seem....right to lock her inside and keep her! She seemed to like coming and going and yet maybe he was being a bad pet owner? Still, hadn't even Sebastian said she might be a witches familiar or something? Wouldn't that be like....pet theft on his part then?

His response only seemed to see the elder vampire gawk at him as if he'd shattered the ten commandments with his bare hands, Arlo groaning almost inwardly at the speech he almost anticipated he was about to get from the high and currently out of his mind vampire across from him on pet ownership. Sebastian apparently demanding to know if he fed her and if she had a bed and what happened if she got hit by a car or stolen or something. God. He'd never actually thought of that before. Stolen? Hit by a car?! They were all possible he supposed he'd just always assumed she made it here....somehow. Maybe he was a bad pet owner. The first touches of worry managing to afflict even him. Fucking Sebastian. Now he was worried.

"Yes I bloody feed her when she's hungry and she sleeps on my bed and I never even thought about the god damn cars until you came along you prat! Great."

His own arms folded across his chest with a huff. Wonderful. There goes his peaceful night. Still, he supposed, it was getting later. Whatever excuse Sebastian had given Dorian to be out of the house probably wouldn't last that much longer. He was going to have to at least attempt to get him home. Before that though, something for the man to eat seemed a far more pressing issue. A good meal sure to set him right. Sebastian apparently seizing upon that idea with gusto before bouncing onto his feet like an exuberant child, the vampire precariously wobbling before catching himself on the sofa. Oh, well this was going to be a fun walk. That command for him to bring the music was met with a soft sigh, Arlo pulling himself upright before reaching for Sebastian's notebook, Arlo thinking better about handing it to him before deciding to hold onto it himself. Until he fed their was every chance he'd lose it. Arlo's own notebook with the second copy of that song left on the table just in case Sebastian still managed to lose that first.

"Come on then, let's go downstairs- fucking hell, Seb. Slowly! If you fall on your face it's going to be entirely your fault."

Arlo shut that front door behind him, the man fiddling with his keys a moment as Sebastian all but leapt down those stairs, Arlo swearing under his breath once more before very near running out after him lest he loose the damn fool on the street somewhere. That night was entirely quiet, the street empty in either direction. Arlo almost disappointed a single person was not conveniently walking about for Seb to feed on. They'd have to head closer towards those bars and shops- or at least through the park to find someone walking home late. Maybe the park. Sebastian in a crowd hardly seemed a good idea.

"Alright, bud. Which way do you live? Where's your house? I...what? I really don't think you live that way. That goes west to the harbour. You don't live at the docks, Seb. I need you to like, focus."

The chance of the man living in the North or East, in those more affluent places seemed a far more likely bet. Arlo reaching out tug Sebastian's shirt in that direction before making his way up the street, the vampire entirely ready to pull him off the road or anything else nearly that ridiculous if he tried to make a break for it. That park looming up ahead. Even Arlo aware of that faint scent of people lingering around it. Thank god. He easily crossed over that road, Arlo content to drag Sebastian with him if he needed and through those park gates, his gaze readily searching for someone, anyone who was alone. His blue eyes resting readily on a man walking his dog- before abruptly thinking better of it. The chance of Sebastian getting distracted by a dog was hardly what he needed, his gaze at last falling on a young guy jogging up ahead, the man distracted by the music in his ears as he paused beside that bench to fix his shoe.

"Hey Seb! Look, you see that guy down there? He looks tasty right? Your hungry aren't you? You remember hungry? Om nom nom. Go on then, go get him, quick while he's not looking! Don't worry about trying to charm him or anything, believe me that's not your talent right now, just go and get him. Quick, hurry, no seeing Dorian until you have someone to eat."

Arlo gestured towards that man again, the younger vampire entirely content to linger just in case Sebastian messed this up entirely and Arlo needed to catch his dinner for him....