Arlo James

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

If he hadn't been so tense over the entire hand-kissing thing that seemed to be going on he'd almost have found it cute. The colour that seemed to flood Abby's cheeks was endearing, enough to tug that simper to his lips in the least. The simple sweetness of the woman shining through in those moments even as Arlo was forced to remind himself several times over that it was ok to let Sebastian touch her. Even if that vampiric part of himself that had been all but dormant until the day he met his Little Bear seemed to think otherwise. That part of him was, well, a lot more possessive over what he had decided was his then Arlo could ever remember being over anything. It was stupid, hell, he knew it was and yet it had become something almost instinctive to him. That combination of...possessive...worry constantly seeming to afflict him. God, would it be like this all the time? Maybe he was just going to have to get used to it. Ab's, for her part, seemed pretty excited to talk about flowers. Arlo failing to see exactly what was so exciting about them and yet that almost-to-charming King seemed equally as thrilled about them too. Arlo hardly seeing any need to distract the pair. Hopefully Abby was making Dorian forget all about the 'you don't speak english' thing from ten minutes earlier. Great start that was.

His own attention rested largely upon the other vampire in that moment. Arlo readily confirming that Abby was indeed that very Panda he'd once shown Sebastian pictures off. A part of the man taking a great sense of satisfaction from that look Sebastian afforded her in turn- only further validating his own belief that Abby was, well, stunning. Especially in that dress. Did she have any idea? She had to know right? That idle admittance to Abby herself that Sebastian had seen at least some of those photos earned him an almost pointed stare. Arlo looking momentarily sheepish. Was he not supposed to show people panda photos? Was that a thing? Although really he had thought she was a pet that day he'd shown Sebastian. God he wasn't even good at a best friend relationship! No wonder he was stuck in the friend zone. Arlo lifting one hand to run through his hair again in that almost anxious habit, any hope that his hair was going to remain flat for the evening distinctly lost by this point.

"Sorry, babe- I didn't show him anything bad though. It was only a couple and they were all cute. I promise."

That lopsided grin found his lips again in that easy reassurance. Arlo hardly anticipating that it wasn't so much the idea Sebastian had seen those photos as opposed to the suggestion she wasn't a real Panda that seemed to spark that huff from the girl. Her prompt declaration readily coaxing hat look of surprise to his own features again. Clearly her Were-form was, well, a matter of pride he supposed. Huh. He'd have to remember that. Even if she looked mildly cute when she huffed. That soft chuckle rising from his throat then as he regarded her.

"Course your a real Panda. That was my fault, what I meant was that your not a....full-time Panda you know? Your like a part-time Panda and really I do kinda like that you are. Your real for sure though."

That easy grin found his lips again, Arlo readily trying to chase away even any hint of displeasure from the girls features as if his life suddenly depended on it, after all, in the end, when it came right down to it. The only person in that room whose opinion even mattered to him was her's. Some part of him simply not willing to have her anything less then he normal excitable self. The woman seeming to forgive him quickly enough in the least as she asked after that band he mentioned to Seb. Arlo's own head shaking then.

"Nah, not like I used too. I'd start one again if I could get the people though and Seb here is the best piano player I've ever heard. He's not into the whole band thing though, he keeps saying no but i'm working on it."

Maybe he could get Dorian to convince him, although really the Italian guy seemed to think the idea of Seb in a band was amusing, if the look on his face was anything to go by. What was so funny about that? Oh well, he had a lifetime to work on Seb. Abby's suggestion that they should both play together some time now that he had a real, working guitar (a suggestion hastily backed up by Dorian whom seemed equally victimised by one of Abby's pointed looks) prompting that invitation of sorts to Seb all the same. It had been years since he'd just played with someone for the sake of playing. For the sake of fun. Sebastians features frowning slightly before the other vampire suggested Arlo bring his guitar here instead, declaring that Yamaha 'shite' in comparison to his grand. The man lifting one eye then. That amusement on his features then as that simper tugged at his lips, Arlo unable to prevent that chuckle at that distinctly British word that fell from the other vampires lips.

" 'Shite'? You getting British on me now? I reckon you mean it was shi- oh. Language Seb. God."

That glance back towards Dorian and Abby readily saw Arlo catch himself. His shoulders shurrging in that sheepish look once more and yet that good humor prevailed all the same. His attention returned to the other vampire again.
"Sounds good though, I'd like that, I've never been in a ballroom before. Just text me one night when your home, yeah?"

That very idea of instruments however prompted that query on Abby and Dorian in turn. His Little Bear admitting that she really didn't have instruments where she grew up, that look of confusion touching his own features then. What sort of place didn't have music? It was like the plot of some really odd movie. The town without music. Maybe that was already a movie. It seemed familiar. Were her parents anti-sound? Arlo suddenly finding he had far more questions than he anticipated. His thoughts cut short by that sigh from Dorian then. The Fae almost reluctantly admitting he could play the Cornetto or....something. Wasn't that a sort of ice-cream? Even Sebastian seeming caught off guard at that admittance before making an effort to explain what that instrument was. Huh. A sort of flute thing then? Those more musical terms more readily understood.

"Hell, that is impressive range."

Dorian, however, hardly looked impressed at all. Even Arlo getting the distinct impression that the Fae seemed to either hate that instrument or that he was far better at playing it then he let on and for some reason didn't want to bring it up. Weird guy. Still, His Majesty seemed all too willing to ask after Abby's own lack of music, Arlo finding he really did want to hear the answer to that too as he moved to follow Sebastian's fiance into the dining room. Shit. This was the fanciest thing he'd ever seen. His own eyes widening slightly at the sight of it before eying those multiple forks, the man glancing towards Abby then, his Little Bear seeming equally as lost. Dorian suddenly suggesting that they were for different meals. Oh. Still- why couldn't they just use the same fork? Arlo, until that moment, never having considered any meal needed more then one piece of cutlery. Hell, he'd used knives to stab food in his human's days. Maybe this wasn't the time to mention that. Dorian's query met with a grin all the same.

"Bud, I don't even own three forks, let alone one for each course."

He didn't even eat....really....that human food, so far, failing to appeal to him even though Patrick had promised him that one day it would. Arlo determined to eat whatever Seb and Dorian offered him tonight all the same even if a part of him would have settled for merely taping one of Seb;s veins. It was only as Abby and Dorian took their seats, the pair rapt in conversation with one another that Arlo finally allowed that admittance of sorts to leave his own lips. His voice distinctly low for the vampiric hearing off his companion alone then. After all, Seb had promised him to help him, once, Arlo mostly sure that offer still stood. His gaze lingering on Abby then in all her.....damn near perfection. This relationship, this one thing, the very thing he feared fucking up the most. Sebastian, to his own mind, the most relationship-successful vampire he knew. Who else would he go to? The other vampire snorting at his efforts so far before that query on whether or not he'd actually told Abby she looked stunning tonight saw his eyes widen.

"Oh fuck it. No, I bloody well haven't. I was so distracted by her I fell over a curb but I didn't actually say it. I mean, should I say it now? Well....not right now obviously but- god- I didn't even think of that. Well, I did, I've thought of that the entire night. Ever since I saw her tonight I mean have you seen her legs in that dress? Actually- don't you look."

He added hurriedly. Abby one of the few things in the world capable of flustering him. Arlo fiddling with his tie all over again as a woman who seemed to have appeared from somewhere else in that house handed him a glass of wine. Arlo uttering that thanks before returning his attention to Seb. The vampire taking a larger sip of that alcohol then politeness truly dictated. Huh. It was good.

"Do you know where I am right now? I'm in this place called the Friend Zone. She tells me I'm her best friend and I mean, that's great, I just don't know how to get out of that zone. You know what I mean?"

He probably didn't. People who looked like Sebastian, he was sure, probably never stopped to visit the Friend Zone on their way to One Night Stand Town.

"I've gone out with girls before. I've had girlfriends before but.....she isn't like any of the others. I don't know how or why but she's just....more- somehow. I fuck everything in my life up. I don't want to fuck this up to."