Arlo James

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

This was probably one of the better nights off his life. Realistically speaking. Even despite the nervousness that had eclipsed him only a few minutes ago when he'd struggled to get evena single word out for fear Abigail might, well, prove to have no interest in him at all. He'd almost anticipated it really. In the least he'd braced himself for the 'just friends' speech. He'd never exactly had a girl give it to him before and yet he'd seen enough episodes off tv shows to know how it went down. He knew he was rambling and yet he wasn't quite able to stop himself, some part of him fearing that silence that inevitably followed while Abby seemed to come to terms with the question being posed to her. That promise to remain her friend regardless came easily enough if only because it was true. She was, he was sure, impossible to hate. She was so....sweet and kind and innocent in so many ways and god if he thought about that he was only going to get himself stressed again. Those moments before she agreed to that newfound relationship status seemed to stretch on for way to long before those words finally left her lips. Arlo taking several moments to process that surprise that danced upon his own features. Was she saying yes? Really? That very question falling from him quite before he could stop it. That bright blush on her own features only prompting that grin from his own.

Then, quite before he knew it, she was somehow in his arms. Arlo effortlessly having reached for her in those moments, that singular emotion of delight eclipsing any other thought other then drawing her close towards him because he could, because with those few simple words he was allowed that closeness he desired from her that would have been, well, slightly frowned upon by people who were supposed to be just friends. He was almost on autopilot really, those simple wants coaxed so effortlessly to the surface in the wake of that newfound relationship status. Arlo unaware until that very moment of just how much he truly had wanted her to say yes. His lips finding her own not a moment later in that soft, gentle and yet rather chaste kiss. The taste off her lips was just as sweet as he had anticipated it would be, Arlo briefly forgetting just how much he might have caught her off guard by. Hell, the girl had only just finished explaining her lack of any real relationship experience. The very thought seeing him lean away. That apology already on his lips. Great. So much for taking it slow. For taking steps. He'd seen the metaphorical staircase and jumped down the first two as it was.

Arlo looking momentarily sheepish then as he pulled away, that hand running back through his hair once more as he attempted to back track on his apparent rouge kissing. Not that he regretted it. She was a good kisser- even if he had caught her off guard and she didn't really know what she was doing. Her cheeks so red they might as well have been on fire and yet really he was inclined to think she looked kinda cute when she blushed. Still, he found that apology all the same. The last thing he needed to do was terrify the poor girl within the first twenty seconds of this relationship. The first relationship he'd remembered getting into for a start. Abby hardly seeming distressed by that kiss all the same. Well, that was a good sign right? She hadn't slapped him. He'd have some good news to report back to Seb with later on. That grin finding his lips all the same as he assured her she was a good kisser all the same. That blush creeping back onto her features again as he chuckled. Well- it was a first kiss neither of them was going to forget any time soon.

That soft query on walking her home was met with a ready agreement. Abby reaching suddenly forward then to place her hand in his own. Arlo glancing down almost curiously a moment before her head tilted softly to rest against his shoulder in that almost affectionate gesture- one more bold then he'd anticipated from the girl and yet his features softened readily all the same. Arlo effortlessly letting his fingers entwine with her own in a gesture that just felt, well, right. She'd been down his shirt before after all. This was relatively tame by comparison. Arlo struggling to prevent himself rolling his eyes at his own foolishness at stuffing the poor girl down his jacket on so many occasions. Not that it seemed to bother her and yet still, he might spend lifetime trying to make up for that one.

"Come on then, babe. Let's go home."

He shifted easily forward then to take up that steady walk down the street, Arlo more then content to leave her leaning against his shoulder as he did. The vampire quite unable to wipe that grin from his lips all the same. His mind filled with more thoughts then he knew what to do with in that moment and yet, for the first time in a long time, they were all good. For the first time in years he had a night worth remembering. He'd managed to go to a dinner party without ruining it. Without getting drunk or high or making an ass of himself (accusing Dorian of not speaking English aside). He'd spent time with friends he had made all by himself. Actual friends. The sort he hadn't had since Patrick died and somehow, by some miracle- he was walking home with a girl. His girl. Those protective, possessive instincts already firmly in place over that Little Bear he so deemed his own- officially now. Even if he made every effort to keep those emotions at bay. They were both new to this relationship deal- indifferent ways and yet, hell, he had some hope for them. If he could make one night workout then why not another?

"Your Dad's not home is he?"

The very thought had only just seemed to find him and yet his blue gaze flickered towards her all the same with that clear concern. She was likely to tell her Father about them, wasn't she? Arlo still finding himself rather hopeful the man would just....stay away. He was never good at meeting parents. Hell, his relationship with his own was debatable without adding more to it and yet Abby implied her dad was away a lot. A tiny part of him hoping it might stay that way for a bit longer all the same. It was hardly a far walk across town and towards Abby's little home, Arlo having visited it multiple times now. That walk becoming almost second nature. Arlo gently releasing her hand if only to allow her to unlock that door before he moved to follow her inside. That neat little home far warmer than the cool of the outside- even to his undead skin. His gaze returned to his Little Bear then.

"Hey, Ab's? Were you serious about what you said at dinner tonight? That you really want to come with me back to my parents house to see if we can find my music stuff? I mean, you don't actually have to come if you don't want too. I didn't want you feeling obligated or anything, you know? I mean, I'd love the company of course but its a freaking long drive."

That grin found his lips once more, Arlo at least attempting to forewarn the woman of how many hours of driving she was setting herself up for if she really did want to come with him now she knew how far it actually was. He reached near absentmindedly for that tie once more in some effort to actually take it off- Arlo as decidedly unskilled in taking them off as he was putting them on. The vampire tugging uselessly at it for several moments before giving up entirely. The man having succeeded in little more then rumpling his shirt and collar in all directions, one side now sticking up along with his hair in a fashion almost comical.

"I hope you like me in this outfit because apparently it's never coming off."

Those teasing tones echoed easily within the words all the same, Arlo's hands thrown up in defeat as he leant back against the railing of the stairs behind him, his arms folding over his chest. His features softening as he glanced back toward Abby then.

"Did you want me to stay tonight? I can head home if your feeling really tired- or you want to phone your girlfriends to tell them about the hot guy your dating...."