Arlo James

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

Would it be impolite to lick a plate? Probably. Maybe he shouldn't. Arlo almost reluctant to leave even any residue of the blood behind and yet, he supposed, even he had better manners than that. Still, he wasn't that happy about it really. The man finding himself eagerly looking forward to dessert. When did that come? Had Sebastian helped with that too? God, when was the last time he had ever obsessed over food that much? This was embarrassing Arlo making some effort to push those thoughts away in the wake of Abby's declaration that he certainly couldn't be the only one of his kind even if he mostly thought he was. What if Roman had only ever made Axel who had only ever made Patrick who had only ever made him? What if the very first Crusnik had only ever made one and then died? Hell, weren't there some animals like that? They reproduced onced and keeled over? What if his species was like that!? Maybe that seemed a bit far fetched. He was pretty sure Patrick and Axel just got unlucky. Roman could still be alive for all he knew. Still, it might be better to just....not make any other. Just in case it was like a curse or something. Those thoughts turning about within his mind before Dorian and Abby both seemed to seize onto the delight that came from looking at blood under microscopes.

He'd totally used a microscope like...once in science class in high school. He hadn't been able to see anything exactly- probably because he'd missed the class from the day before where they actually learned to use them. He was mostly sure it still counted though. The way Abigail spoke though, about her species and that blood, was like.....she knew exactly what she was talking about. Arlo inclined to look toward her with a certain level of awe he supposed. She was....really smart. Probably another reason why she wouldn't be interested in going out with him and yet for now he kept those more disparaging thoughts firmly buried. His own features wrinkling slightly at the sight of blood attacking other blood. Dorian apparently equally as interested, even Arlo inclined to admit it might be unique to see as Sebastian promptly announced they'd get a microscope. Where did you even get a microscope? The Microscope Store? Still, there was some relief in that knowledge that whatever it was in Abby's blood that went about attacking the human blood just...didn't work on him or any other vampire. Abby declaring them 'safe' from that Were-virus. Arlo still rather in awe of her...intelligence really. She was like a real scientist. She knew things. God he was punching above his weight here.

The inquiry on Were-species only further prompted his own thoughts then. Arlo almost equally intrigued about Fae, after all, how often did you even get to see a Fae let alone talk to one to ask things? The very idea that Fae were capable of both turning humans and doing it the old fashioned way readily saw him frown. After all, if they could do both then where the hell were all the Fae? He knew vampires liked them but surely even vampires didn't chew through their numbers this fast? Surely Fae weren't that incapable of getting away from any vampire that might prey on them? Than again, Dorian didn't exactly look like much of a fighter. Still, maybe he was wrong. The Monarch pausing then to explain that those rituals were rarely done for the sake of numbers. That made sense, he supposed. Fifty people who didn't want to be Fae were not likely to make good Fae to begin with. A newly turned vampire couldn't resist that first feed of blood, all those instincts just....turned on from that moment but for Fae? What was stopping them from just...well....ending themselves if they'd never wanted to be Fae in the first place? It would be a waste, he supposed and yet that still hardly explained why there were not more baby Fae. Maybe Fae were just....really bad in bed. Arlo unable to stop that simper of amusement that found him at that idea even if he doubted it was true. Hell, there was no way someone like Sebastian would settle with anyone who was at least not as good as he was in that department and he was pretty damn sure Sebastian was good. Maybe he'd judged Dorian way too soon, Arlo almost eyeing the King with a new level of respect brought on by his own considerations.

That sudden mention of both a lack of ability to father a Fae and a lack of fertility in general however saw him frown once more. Dorian apparently more than capable of fathering a child except that chances were it would be...human, that lack of fertility potentially resulting in...months if not years between any child produced at all. That simple understanding on why the hell there were not baby fae everywhere suddenly seeming to dawn upon him. Abby was right then, that DNA was...broken or at least not working totally as it should. Huh. He'd never even considered it. Even Sebastian seemed almost surprised by the information. Arlo still working to put those pieces together in his mind before that bright blue gaze lifted toward the pair of men opposite him.

"Even if Sebastian can't father kids at all, and I mean, I don't think vampires can. Can we?"

He paused near mid-sentence, glancing toward Sebastian then as if seeking some conformation of this fact. Patrick having explained it to him once, years ago and yet, hell, maybe that had changed somehow. Arlo assured Sebastian would know. The younger vampire continuing then.

"-and Dorian maybe isn't great in that...er...area, you two could still like adopt or something couldn't you? I mean, do you guys even want kids?"

If Dorian lived forever did he even need an heir like in those books about Kings and Queens? Probably not. Arlo glancing between the pair all the same, the man largely oblivious to the notion his companions had hardly discussed those plans at large before Abby near blurted out that question on why Dorian's father made Fae when he had Dorian. The Monarch hardly seeming upset by the question in the least. Arlo's eyes rising upward at that assurance Fae were not bonded to their Makers or those they made in turn like the other species were. A part of the man was almost inclined to think that would be easier and yet, at the same time, having no Maker stick around at all would be.....damn hard. Still, he supposed, if that was true, then it didn't matter how many Fae this Matteo guy made. Dorian would always be his only son and considering how bloody hard it seemed to be to make even one Fae.....that was pretty special. Arlo hardly anticipating that story of sorts then on ust why Matteo had turned those humans Fae. The idea of a human being willing seemed unusual and yet.....it almost didn't sound like they had much of a choice really. Stay human and eventually die or be made Fae and swear like....loyalty to Dorian's crown. How the hell had Dorian gotten stuck in a palace though? How long had he been there for? The Fae hardly volunteered that information, maybe he shouldn't ask. Arlo glancing once more toward Seb. Maybe he could ask him about it later. That jest about holidays prompting that lopsided grin to his own lips.

It was Sebastian's offer to help Arlo himself, if he ever needed it, when it came to trying to navigate their species that saw that grin widen all the more on his lips. It couldn't hurt to ask Seb some stuff sometimes could it? After all, the other vampire had been around a lot longer than him. Maybe his Maker had been a good teacher, or Seb had just worked it out for himself. Most vampires, it seemed, rarely seemed to actually like their own makers much. Maybe he'd been more lucky there then he realised. Arlo mostly sure he had a few more question for the man to ask later, when they were alone without Abby or Dorian around to hear. Although, there was at least one that had been, well, kinda gnawing at him for a bit now if only because it damn well kept happening! That question on his 'vibe' offered then, Arlo hurriedly turning to Abby all the same if only to assure her he wasn't gay. Even if men kept coming up to him. It was the jeans, it had to be. Dorian suddenly near choking on his wine seeing the man scowl, the Monarch's laughter easily joining Abby's own.

"It's not funny! It's a serious problem. It keeps happening!"

That exasperation was clear in his voice then, Arlo's arms folding across his chest with a huff of sorts as he eyed the giggling pair. Great. Wonderful. Abby's sudden declaration that it was because he was just to pretty readily prompted that playful eye roll from the man. Just what he wanted to be in life- pretty. Pretty enough that other boys liked him. His gaze shifted then to Dorian as the Monarch offered the suggestion that it really was the jeans and that he could barely contain himself.

"So helpful Dorian, thank you. I'm still getting new jeans though."

Surely Sebastian was going to help him out right, right!? Arlo almost dreading to glance toward the other vampire over the sound of Abby and Dorian's laughter. Well- at least Abby did not appear alarmed by his ability to attract men. Seb glanced toward Dorian then, only to ask the Monarch if he was sure it was the jeans- because really it might have been his apparently nineties style boy band hair reminiscent of the Backstreet Boys.

"I do not look like the Backstreet Boys! Wait, oh my god, do you mean....did they....were they....doing things in the back streets?"

Had the Backstreet Boys been gay? God, he should have known men didn't harmonize like that unless they were, well, close with one another. That look of alarm on his features only seeming to further that laughter in the room. Arlo throwing his hands up in defeat a moment later, Dorian apparently barely even needing to understand who that boy band had been to laugh.

"You all suck, all of you."

Still, he could hardly help that quirk off his lip all the same. That grin having a way of finding his features if only because he didn't....remember the last time he'd had friends who laughed like that. Even if it was at him. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had this sort of company and it was....nice. God how he'd missed it. Even if he'd pretended he hadn't. Arlo almost thrilled to see the arrival of that dessert then if only because he was sure they couldn't laugh at him around that cream and....glorious looking sauce. The only spoon left on the table assuring him off just which one was for this meal and yet another sort of scent saw the vampire pause- even if only briefly. His blue gaze flicking to Sebastian's own dessert. He could smell the blood in that. Arlo letting that simper find his lips in that realization that Dorian, it seemed, had contributed something for his fiance's own dessert in turn. Arlo already lifting that first bite to his mouth. That amusement finding his words all the same.

"So I need new jeans and a haircut? Is that what the table is trying to tell me?"