Arlo James

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

The young vampire was oblivious, really, to any notion that his clear nervousness over this situation had been picked up on by his best friend. His normally calm, unwavering demeanor was so notoriously flustered at this idea of meeting a King, in a mansion, on some street where the house numbers were spelled out with letters which somehow automatically made them significantly more expensive he was sure. He knew how to hang out with Seb on the street or in his own dive of an apartment with the paint peeling off and the worn furniture and the pipes that rattled. He knew that...world so much better than he did this one. The very fear of somehow fucking this up seeming to incline the man to do just that. Arlo not even totally sure what he was worried about other then the fact Seb's fiance might not like him. God, it had been years since he'd even wanted anyone to like him, or cared if they did (Abby excluded), he couldn't even remember the last time anyone had ever invited him anywhere let alone to the sort of dinner you needed a tie for. How the hell did Seb manage to get all this? Had this been his before or was it Dorian's? Then again that magazine article had said the pair were worth close to fifty billion combined. Maybe this was what you got for fifty billion. It was pretty nice. He wouldn't say no. Arlo tilting his head back to look up at the ceiling of that lavish home. Even that looked nice!

It was the sudden sound of footsteps however that drew his attention downward and towards who could only be that italian King. Arlo mostly sure he felt both eyes raise in that moment at the sight of a man who looked...well....like some sort of dreamboat. Maybe he really did have gay tendencies. He was going to have to watch that. His gaze drifted ever so slightly sideways and towards Abby then, her cheeks so flushed at the sight of the King they were practically glowing. Great. He really must have been cute if Abby had noticed it. Arlo managing to faintest scowl and yet this Dorian fellow before the man came towards him, the vampire attempting some sort of.....bow and nod combination that undoubtedly looked decidedly abysmal before simply offering his hand. The idea that Dorian spoke english had clearly not occurred to him, after all, all those websites and wikipedia pages spoke about the man being Italian didn't they? Surely that meant he actually spoke Italian didn't it? Arlo hardly having considered until that moment how on earth Sebastian spoke to the man. Did Seb know Italian? He probably did. He seemed the type. Arlo instead attempting to slowly sound out those english words just in case the man didn't know them. The Fae appearing to look kinda...baffled. Was he still speaking to fast? That firm handshake he was offered in turn seemed to have been understood in the very least. Arlo no sooner taking his hand back then the Fae chose to reply in that near flawless, accented English. Well. That was unanticipated. That surprise clear on his features then before that grin suddenly seemed to overtake it.

"Yeah, it is Arlo and hey, you speak English, good on you, bud! Was it hard to learn?"

That Dorian had spoken English for longer then Arlo had been alive hardly seemed to register within the man. Some of his more usual demeanor seeming to return in the wake of that realisation the Monarch was capable of understanding him. Arlo considering for the first time that Dorian really did smell good. Not the way Sebastian did- like some sort of glorious fucking heaven and not even like Abby, Arlo having become entirely partial to her scent these past weeks. More so the Fae simply smelled...appealing. No wonder vampires liked them. It wasn't even his flavour and he'd still have tasted it. Maybe he shouldn't think about that. Not here anyway. Not when he was so deliberately in another vampires territory. Every part of him distinctly aware of that very fact all the same. Seb had been in his house before and yet Abby had hardly been there then, neither had Dorian. Neither vampire, until now, having had anything to feel particularly territorial over save for the space itself. Arlo almost taken aback by his awareness of that all the same and yet he so determinedly forced it down. Seb was his friend right? He was pretty sure he trusted the other man....mostly. Maybe it wasn't even Seb he had to worry about.

The way Dorian reached for Abby's hand was hardly missed, the other man placing that kiss on the back of it like he was out of one of those really boring old movies where nobody died and no cars blew up. It was an innocent gesture, he knew it and yet some part of him was content to flare just a little at the sight of it. God, was he really getting this bad? This possessive? Arlo simply refusing to be that guy as Abby seized onto that mention of gardens. His Little Bear suddenly launching into her love of those....something or others that were blue. The vampire glancing towards her in surprise again. He'd always known she liked plants, he hadn't realised she liked them this much, at least, not enough to know all their names. Maybe he could take her to those botanical gardens one day. Girls liked that kinda thing right? If she liked Dorian's flowers then she'd like a night in a garden wouldn't she? Friends could go to gardens he was sure. Arlo failing to latch on to the apparent amazement that was flowers in winter. Truthfully, had it not been for Abby he'd hardly have noticed them at all. Flowers never had exactly been high on his priority list. Still, the way Abby seemed to just.....talk about those flowers with Dorian saw Arlo relax a little more again now that the Monarch's attention was elsewhere. He'd have to thank her later for that save. Not that he was entirely sure he could come back from speaking like an idiot at the man anyway. Oh well.

The appearance of Sebastian was almost a relief. Arlo genuinely inclined to find the other guy likeable. Hell, it had been years since he'd had another male friend he got on so well with. Outside his old bandmates anyway- and they'd turned around and left him. Arlo quick to dismiss the thought for now as Sebastian held out his hand in turn. The younger vampire momentarily staring at it as if baffled by that formal gesture before his shoulders merely shrugged, his hand clasping Sebastian's own. Arlo hardly missing that look the englishman afforded Abby. His own head nodded in answer to that unasked question about whether or not she was the Panda he'd so proudly showed Sebastian all the time ago. Arlo quite unable to prevent that momentary look of satisfaction at having a woman like that at his side of the evening. Even if they weren't anything totally officially...exactly....yet. That idle comment from Sebastian seeing Arlo's own eyes rolls at that teasing tone. That lack of formality readily appreciated by the man, Arlo speaking near without thinking.

"Shut up, Seb. I don't know how you do this tie thing all the time."

His fingers tugged at it again before the man readily stopped himself before Abby could tell him off for ruining her work (more than he already had). Arlo obliviousy to how good he truly looked in that suit. His own words nothing short to teasing, Arlo unaware of that look Dorian afforded him in response to that decidedly relaxed language. It was stupid, he knew, the way his attention suddenly seemed to near fixated on the way Sebastian reached for Abby in turn, affording her that same kiss. Arlo finding himself almost....tense in that singular moment even if he hardly had any reason to be. His gaze watching Sebastian almost intently, at least until the other vampire lent away. Arlo hardly sure exactly where he stood on this hand kissing idea. The man leaving Ab's to introduce herself all the same, that lopsided grin returned to his features.

"I might have made Seb look at all those pictures of you I have as a Panda on my phone. He kinda pointed out to me that you probably weren't a real Panda once."

He hadn't exactly believed the man then, at least, not fully, even if Sebastian had turned out to be right. His gaze shifted to the other vampire then. God Sebastian smelled good. He'd almost forgotten just how intoxicating that man was. Arlo forcing his attention elsewhere.

"You should see the guitar she got me, bud. Nicer than anything i've ever had. I've still got your keyboard too. You should come around again sometime, pretty sure we could create some musical fusion- just saying. I tried to get him to join my band but he won't."

That explanation was offered to Abby and Dorian in turn, Arlo turning towards that Fae King more fully now. Sebastian's presence seeming to have returned most off his usual demeanor.

"Do you play anything, bud? Do you either Ab's? I don't think I ever asked you."

After all, if he could convince Dorian maybe he could convince Sebastian even if Kings probably didn't generally play in bands. Still, there was four of them, that was enough for a band right? He'd just need to teach one of them drums. Arlo considering that very possibility then as Dorian so suggested they make their way into the dining room. Arlo easily wandering between Sebastian and Abby into that next room then, his blue gaze falling onto that ornately set table. That curiosity finding his features then as he eyed that cutlery with a clear intrigue.

"How many people are coming to this? Why is there like three forks at every place?"

Why on earth anyone needed more the one fork he had no idea. Arlo glancing briefly toward Abby then with that shrug off his shoulders before Dorian moved to show that woman to her seat. Arlo shifting to stand beside Seb once more, his voice just soft enough for the other vampire now.

"You know, ages ago, when you told me if I ever found someone I liked enough to want to talk to them properly that you'd help? I could totally use those lessons some time, mate. She's by far the hottest girl I've ever known and she's just.....amazing, even her personality and....seriously she invited me to her place the other night and I freaked out and told her it looked clean because I couldn't think of another compliment. This is what happens when you go overseas with your fiance- who, by the way, is probably one of the more attractive dudes I've ever seen, just saying not that i'm gay or anything- and just leave me to do shit on my own, I tell a woman she has a clean house."