Arlo James

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

He hadn't realised exactly that it was him making her nervous. That the way he was acting was putting her on edge and her being on edge was, in turn,only making him more anxious which seemed to further intensify her worry. It was a vicious cycle. One neither seemed to be aware they were perpetrating in the other and yet he couldn't stop that flutter of nerves that seemed to dance around his chest and stomach. He hadn't felt this in so long he'd almost forgotten what it felt like. To feel alive was so strange and yet for all that nervous energy and sweaty palms and bizarre thoughts that seemed to be flying around his brain a mile a minute he felt...human. God it was good. Good and bad all at once. If anything came from tonight at least he could say he'd felt it again. That wild, genuine, human emotion he'd once been worried he'd lost somewhere in those bloodlust filled rages off his early days. It was almost like it was stronger now, somehow, those same emotions. Maybe that was just because he wasn't drunk or high. Maybe emotion always felt like this and he'd just forgotten and yet, he suspected the whole vampire thing affected this too. Those feelings just seemed more potent. More intense. Great. Something else he was going to have to ask Seb about. He was going to have to start making a list.

Still, he managed to align those thoughts towards that singular purpose all the same. No matter how damn nervous it made him feel. She worst she could do was say no right? They didn't have to stop being friends or stop hanging out or anything like that. Maybe she did just want to be friends. Maybe he just wasn't her type and that was ok right? Although was vampire anyone's type? Then again, it was Dorian's type so it could be Abby's too right? It was almost instinctive, that reassurance he offered her, that he really had had a good time tonight and more then that- he had a good time every night they were together. Hell, it was the highlight off his week those nights she clamoured through his window in all her fluffy panda glory. She seemed to like spending time with him too right? Just like tonight? God it was now or never. He had to say something, anything, Arlo at last managing to offer that all-to critical question on whether or not she might want to actually....go out with him. Date him. Properly.

That silence that followed by far the longest sound off his entire life. Realistically it could hardly have been more than a few seconds and yet it felt like minutes. Maybe hours. Abigail just...staring at him before suddenly announcing they were already out. Arlo's own features shifted into that look of surprise. The vampire equally baffled in that moment as his mind struggled to comprehend exactly what she meant before that realisation of how literally she had taken that request seemed to strike him. The Crusnik moving to correct her in the same moment as Abby seemed to make that realisation on her own. That silence persisted once more then. Arlo shifting almost nervously. Great. She hated him. That was obviously what this was. Well- maybe not hated- but she didn't want to date him, that much was for sure. He should say something. His near racing mind attempting to assure her that even if she said no he'd still be her friend. Maybe he'd be emo about it for a few days but he wouldn't hate her. He couldn't. She simply wasn't....hateable.

He was rambling and he knew it and yet he couldn't take that silence. Arlo almost relieved when Abby finally seemed to find her voice even if it was only to apologise for the fact that she didn't have any real experience in the area of dating or boyfriends or....anything that came with that. Arlo's mind readily lingering on Sebastian's assurance of just how innocent she was. The vampire letting his shoulders shrug lightly then, that grin in place all the same. Everyone had to start somewhere right? Besides it wasn't like his first few relationships had been great either. Arlo attempting to reassure her then- even if she hardly seemed totally reassured at all. Still, he hardly expected that inquiry or the way her gaze drifted to the floor in the wake of it.

This time it was his own turn to be silent upon that street corner and beneath that lamp, his shoes scuffing at the pavement. Somehow, her looking down made him all the more anxious, even if he already knew the answer to that question. That soft sigh drawn from him then as he offered her name, one finger gently reaching for her chin to tilt it upwards and towards him then. A soft simper finding his lips. Arlo offering that singular promise then. One he knew he could keep. As long as she didn't leave him for a drummer or a tuba player. He'd lost his last girlfriend to the first and as for tuba plays, well, they usually featured in jazz bands and jazz musicians were....weird. Arlo offering that jest out loud all the same as he withdrew his hand. The soft giggle he was rewarded with only furthering that grin and yet....she hadn't exactly answered him. Not yet. The Panda commenting readily that really he was in luck, since she only knew a guitarist and a piano player and the pianist was getting married- his own eyes rolling playfully at her words all the same. Arlo waiting almost anxiously for that confirmation she really was agreeing to go out with him. A part of him almost anticipating that rejection he expected to come. The vampire doing a near double take at that assurance she was saying yes.

"Really? Your really saying yes?"

He didn't remember any girl agreeing to go out with him before ever being this, well, thrilling. That lopsided grin on his lips shifting to something almost beaming. Arlo quite responding without thinking in that moment as he easily pulled the young woman into his arms, that gesture feeling so simply natural he hardly considered quite what he did next as his hand lifted gently to tilt her chin up once more. His lips found her own in that gentle and yet chaste kiss. Their first kiss. Arlo realising perhaps a moment to late quite what he was doing. The vampire softly pulling away from her then.

"Oh god, sorry I just got carried away there I...ummm....was that to fast? I can like...warn you before I do it again if you want? If you want me to do it again that is."

That almost bashful look seemed to find him then. That one hand lifting to run back through his hair and yet such a gesture, this time, was far more about relief then it was about anxiety. Arlo offering her that grin agian.

"Your a nice kisser though, just saying. Do you want to walk back to your place?"