Arlo James

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

That simper of sorts touched the younger man's own lips at Sebastian's assurance he was hardly all that worried about the venom that had muddled his system for the past hour. If anything, Arlo was almost sure Sebastian had seemed to enjoy it as most of his victims did and yet to find that the man was hardly annoyed with him was somehow oddly satisfying. When Sebastian stood, this time, his balance was notably better, that dog-walker easily shifted onto the grass beside the path- the fellow riding quite possibly the best high of his life in between that mixture of venom from Sebastian and himself. His own hands gripped tighter at that puppy in his arms as Sebastian reached for it, the little thing positively thrilled that Sebastian had returned to pet him again as if they were the most glorious touches he'd ever had in all his puppy life. Hell, maybe they were, his owner did seem all that fussed with him. Arlo preparing to put the dog down before Sebastian so suddenly decided he wanted it. A puppy, really? From some guy on the street? That man seemed all too willing to exchange his pet at the prospect of four hundred dollars, Arlo scowling at him slightly if only for the idea that he himself would never have remotely considered selling his Little Bear to someone on the street! You didn't sell your pets! Then again, judging by the fellow's demeanour maybe that puppy was a lot better off with Sebastian then he ever had been, or would be, with the man now flopping about on the grass. Arlo's own gaze flickered briefly back down to Seb's newest acquisition, poor thing was probably hungry. When was the last time someone remember to feed him?

Arlo was all too eager to get away from the fellow, his venom never lasted as long in humans, that drugged-out bliss libel to give way to a far less endearing emotion, let alone the fact they hardly needed to attract the attention of any Hunter's in the area or god knows what else. Sebastian seemed all-too willing to follow him. At least before that downed man promptly declared he knew them both, that touch of panic seeing Arlo pause before turning back to the fellow, the concern within Sebastian's own gaze hardly missed. He knew them? Was this about to be some international incident? Was he going to go to the press and tell them some Italian....King or Prince or whatever Sebastian was had attacked him only for it to come out that Seb had been high all night because of Arlo? God this was the end. The inevitable downfall. He was staring it in the face. He was- Simon and Garfunkel? He could hardly help that roll of his eyes and yet that ready sigh fell from his lips all the same. The man was out of his fucking mind- Arlo never happier to hear it. The fellow rolling back onto the grass to stare in wonder at the stars as Arlo directed them right back down that path. Chances were the guy wouldn't remember either of them at all within a few minutes, or the fact he'd once owned a dog.

That sudden comment from the Englishman beside him saw his lip quirk once more. Arlo snorting lightly in amusement at the idea that comparing them to Simon and Garfunkel was a little insulting. Really he supposed, it kinda was. In fact, not only had the pair hard been lookers but their music was, well, very much a polarising topic. You either loved it or you hated it. Arlo resting somewhere within the later. The man scowling slightly now in that further consideration.

"To be fair, they didn't look much better when they were younger either. Their music sucked too."

He paused only to hold that puppy out to Sebastian, passing the wiggling bundle of joy and love into the other man's arm. Arlo of the opinion that Fido was apparently of the opinion that he could never love anyone enough and that being passed from one person to another was the epitome of earthly delight as it all but attempted to scramble up Seb's chest to frantically lick at his chin in a shower of kisses. Alright, it was cute. Still, just why on earth the other vampire had decided he needed a puppy here and now he hardly knew. Talk about impulse purchases! Still, that sudden correction from Sebastian between those chuckles that his name was obviously not Fido saw one eye lift slightly upward as Arlo regarded him again.

"Oh? Then what is it?"

It was his newly freed hands that so suddenly seemed to remind him of that notebook stashed under his arm, Arlo reaching to hold it out to Sebastian in turn, that song the whole purpose of their evening after all. Arlo merely offering a grin at those words of thanks before asking exactly why Sebastian had felt the need to go about impulse buying dogs on the street. That assurance that it was because it was cute merely prompting another roll of Arlo's own eyes. Still, he supposed, he could hardly fault Seb on not wanting to leave such a happy creature in the company of the criminal they'd taken him from. Not when the poor thing was so obviously used to being utterly ignored. Arlo's own hand reached out almost absentmindedly, the puppy near instantly content to chew on it as its tiny tail was set off waving madly once more.

"Guess I can't fault you there, he wasn't much of a guy. Still, I dunno what you know about dogs but I kinda think this is a Doberman or a Rottweiler or something, I mean, you know how big it's going to get right? I guess if you've got a yard it won't really matter."

Somewhere the puppy could go to run and exhaust itself of all its apparently boundless energy for life in general. It was that idea of houses that finally prompted the man to actually ask his companion if he remembered where he lived, after all, Arlo's entire plan had consisted of wandering around until Seb saw something familiar. That return to the world of the lucid apparently having seen the return of Sebastian's sense of direction as he gestured towards those heights. Thank God! Arlo had hardly taken more then a few steps in that direction before he paused once more, the man frowning slightly at that new contemplation. There was every chance Sebastian didn't exactly want him to know where he lived. Security and all that. After all, their house was probably kinda a secret, Arlo at least content offer his mate that 'escape clause' and prevent some awkward conversation where Seb had to ask him to leave. He got it. It was cool. It was probably a secret. Besides, Arlo with his terrible shoes and old jeans was probably going to stand out like a sore thumb in the Heights anyway, maybe he should-. That sudden declaration that Seb hardly minded if he came saw that almost genuine surprise touch his features. Play it cool. Arlo letting his shoulders shrug in some effort at nonchalance. The idea of him posting that address to Facebook seeing his lip quirk all the same.

"Nah, don't worry, bud. I can totally keep royal secrets. Was it really that bad? In Italy I mean? Did you really stay in that freaking huge palace they had a picture off on Wikipedia? How many rooms does that thing have?"

It was, Arlo realised, probably a lot of questions and yet how many times did he get to ask a Crown Consort how he lived? He didn't even think people had palaces anymore! It was probably made of gold inside. How many servants did they have? Did people just bring them anything any time they wanted it? Did they have crowns? It all just seemed so....ridiculously unbelievable. He'd have to meet this Dorian dude one day. Then again, considering how much he enjoyed Seb's blood and that the blood in question likely originated from Dorian maybe it was better if he kept a distance all the same. At least until he could get close enough to sniff him and see if it prompted a reaction. Surely it wouldn't right? Dorian was hardly a vampire and yet the occasional living being, rare as it was, managed to hold his interest. Still, maybe that was something to worry about for later, the pair crossing into that wealthy Eastern district now, a small selection of those shops and late night, upmarket bars still open. At least Seb would be able to get a meal here.

"Here, pass me the pup. Go get something to eat and I'll meet you back on the corner here when you're done. I want to check something out myself. C'mon, Fido. Uncle Arlo's taking you for a walk."

His hands reached easily for that pup then, lifting the wriggling animal into his arms, the creature happily gnawing on his fingers again- at least until Seb started walking away. The little thing clamouring up his shoulder to look over it, the first of those pitiful little cries echoing from him, followed by that tiny, desperate puppy bark.

"Oh, no, no don't cry! He's coming back. No one's leaving you. Here, look, let me show you something- you'll love it I promise. Knowing this neighbourhood it's probably organic and gluten free and infused with the waters from some volcanic underground spring in Tahiti so they can sell it for ten dollars more than its worth."

His voice, it seemed, at least managed to settle the little thing. Arlo heading down that main street and towards that wholefoods grocery store that was still open, the man pausing just long enough to tuck that puppy down his jacket as he so often did with his Little Bear. Wriggly puppies however, were considerably harder to hide. It was twenty minutes or so later before they stepped back onto that street. The pup eagerly chewing on the handle of that brown paper bag as they made their way back to that street corner to wait for Sebastian. That sudden frantic increase in the dogs wriggly rear assuring him he'd spotted Seb before even Arlo had. Arlo's gaze shifting readily to his friend's own then, those wounds on Seb's neck fully healed now, the mans gaze as bright as his own- if not brighter.

"You look better. Here, he's cried since you left- at least until we went shopping- he suits this East-side crowd he likes shopping. This is for you too. You'll need it and I think he's hungry."

That puppy and bag were passed to Sebastian in turn, the little thing attempting to clamour into the bag at the same time. Bag's were pretty fun, Arlo supposed, still, he wholly suspected he was after that dog food he'd bought or that squeaky rubber bone toy. After all, the pup liked chewing fingers, he was probably teething and rubber bones were better than fingers. Arlo assured he could be almost thoughtful when he tried. It wasn't much, but it was something to at least survive the night. Arlo content to fall back into step beside Seb then as they made their way the rest of that trip into the heights. Christ this was a nice neighbourhood. Even the trees matched! Those lawns perfectly mowed and the streets veritably lined with nice cars. God, he was sure he could feel the clean sidewalk, free off the graffiti of his own neighbourhood, judging his un-wealthy running shoes. Arlo pausing as Seb did then across the street from that lavish mansion, those gates guarded by several people as Arlo's eyes merely widened. This was his house?! It was.....huge. Arlo almost sure his whole apartment would have fitted into the front archway of the door. Holy shit.

"Damn, man. You got it made. If you ever want to adopt a pet vampire I'm available. I can make that cute face too- sort off."

That soft chuckle fell from his lips all the same as he offered those teasing words, that grin back on his features as his hand reached to ruffle that pup's ears a final time. This was so far from his own world he hardly even knew what to say! The mailboxes were nicer than anything he owned. His gaze glancing back up at Seb then.

"I hope your boy likes that song, bud. There's still a copy at my place if anything happens to that one so give us a call if you need it. Thanks for that keyboard too- I think I'll hang onto to it rather than sell it."