bakerstreet | You strayed into my home and into my heart

Entry tags:

[meme] shipping

You strayed into my home and into my heart

S T R A Y

Taking in strays is, all in all, an understandable vice. The dips in between their ribs, those large and forlorn eyes, they can help you forget the claws and the teeth and the danger lurking beneath fur. But the habit's a knife edge; your efforts may not be rewarded with kindness (animal instincts aren't discretionary) and you may get bit despite what you've overlooked. A stray doesn't care about pity. All it can know is survival.

These warnings apply to strays of the more human(oid) sort, too.

But what may even more perilous with this type than any drawn blood is what you can get when they grow to trust you. You can earn their undying loyalty...or their love. Either from such a wild thing is a precarious path to go down, if you allow yourself to do it.

Comment with your character, preferences, desired roles, etc.
Reply to others.
Thread!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[Jack blinks....then shrugs.]

"Well...yeah. I had to learn everything on my own. It was hard. I had no one. It doesn't have to be that way for you."

[He smiles.]

"It is hard enough just finding your legs, let alone learning to live all over again....and you can. Don't think that you can't."

[He'd seen too many young vampires lose hope and give up. On his more nihilistic days he can understand it...but then there are days when he loves the way the world smells after the rain.]

"Hell, live long enough and keep yourself well fed enough and the sun is just a minor inconvenience."

That... I'd appreciate it.

[He manages to drum up a cautious almost-smile of his own, though the mention of feeding has it slipping, gaze dropping to the now-empty blood pack in his hands.]

How often do I even need to eat, anyways?

[It was an important thing for sure if he didn't want to deal with this same problem over and over. As much as he didn't like it, looked like if he wanted to keep control of himself he'd need to keep on top of that.]

"In the beginning? A lot. Every day. Multiple times. Your body is completely changing and it needs fuel. You said this happened a few days ago? You body has already started to eat itself. Don't worry. We can take care of that. See...nobody told me it didn't have to be human blood all the time. I'm telling you it doesn't have to be. Once you get settled down once a day at least something will make you a whole lot more stable. It'll make certain things...optional."

[Jack raised his eyebrows and smiled, visibly dropping his fangs down and then retracting them.]

"Neat, huh?"

[That... well, it didn't sound good.

Multiple times a day sounded like it could get risky. Or expensive. And neither one boded well. But the idea that it didn't have to be human? That things would start to even out? That did help settle some anxiety in him. Not by much, but it was a start.

A brow lifting at the 'optional' comment, at least until Jack demonstrated.]

Yeah. So... it'll be easier to deal with as time goes on is what you're saying. Assuming I keep on top of eating regularly?

[With how frightened the idea of what could have happened was, the idea was more than a little bit of a relief to the teen.]

"You can drink other things, too. Raw eggs, some people really like that...more human feeling. Different taste, texture...you know. Black coffee is good. Sometimes milk...depends on your system, I guess"

[Jack patted the boy on the back and nodded.]

"It is never easy but...it gets much less hard. Do you have any questions specifically? Anything you need to know that is pressing?"

[They had about another fifteen minutes on the train before they got to their stop.]

Do they actually like... sate you, or is it more a 'junk food' kinda idea?

[Either way, that did help him settle a bit more. It would be easier to blend in when he needed to if he could at least drink a few things. Excuse himself from eating actual food with the excuse of weird dietary needs and no one should look too closely.]

Not off the top of my head. I mean... I don't even know where to start, or what to expect really.

[Jack shrugged.]

"Listen to you, using all the lingo already. Smart kid. Anyway...more or less. I mean if you're used to one it takes awhile to get used to but you don't know any different so it'll be much easier. I spent a long time figuring out what I could and couldn't eat...drink..whatever. Trial and error and a whole lot of sick...which you've probably noticed."

[Jack tried to think of his early years and things he hadn't thought of.]

"Sunlight is the big one. You can give yourself third degree burns at first if you aren't careful. That never really goes away. You just get more resistant and you learn to use prescription level sunscreen. Also large brimmed hats are your friend. Not the best fashion choice, but they are effective."

Yeah, figuring out solid food was a no-go was... not fun.

[He grimaced remembering that bit of disaster and just how physically miserable it had left him to deal with.]

Okay, yeah. As uncomfortable as it feels just to get a bit of sun briefly I figured something like that was the case. Definitely a relief to know it'll ease up though. It's just... there's all sorts of info out there and obviously a lot of it is just story nonsense. Makes it hard to figure out what's actually something I need to worry about versus just someone selling their version.

"Give it a decade or two and a few bites of bloody steak will sit just fine."

[That must sound awful to someone so young...a few decades? What was time anymore? It didn't seem so long to him now.]

"Though to be fair...if you stab anything through the heart it will die. That's pretty accurate."

[Jack smiled at his own attempt at humor.]

"Hey. Tommy? You are going to be alright, understand? I am going to make sure you are...and...I know that probably doesn't mean anything to you...but...maybe someday it will."

[Hell, if he could make it any easier than it was for him at first...he'd have made a difference. Jack looked up.]

"Our stop is coming up."

[It definitely got a double-take from Tommy, a small, weak sort of smile in response.]

So longer than I've been alive, got it.

[He wasn't sure how to feel about that. It'd take some settling, that much was for sure.]

No it... does mean something. I mean, for real you just met me and are going ridiculously out of your way to help me. I know it helps you too, not having me lose it on someone in town, but still.

[At least he looked less like he was going to go tearing a strip of the nearest warm body in the next minute. Still hungry, the red glint was still there even if a bit more subtle, but that was a bit harder to shake at first.]

"Yeah, basically."

[It was brutally honest...but it was true.

Jack shrugged.]

"It isn't like I have anything better to do. You're looking a lot better now. How do you feel? We'll get you some chicken or pig blood when we get back...throw a few raw eggs in there. It think that will really help."

[He paused then.]

"Kid, it helps everyone to not have you go tearing up the town. You'd end up dead. Innocent people would end up dead and there might be one or more people like you left behind...no idea what is happening to them...and it would just go on."

[Speaking of which...]

"Do you know where they bit you? The vamp that attacked you?"

[Tommy didn't mind that. Honesty was honesty, and it wasn't like Jack was being a dick about it.]

Feeling a bit better too. Less like I wanna crawl out of my own skin at anything with a pulse which is a definite plus. I... don't want to wind up hurting anyone. Didn't have a damn clue what I was going to do to avoid it.

[He huffed out a quiet sound, brows furrowing slightly.]

Yeah. Was headed to the community center after school, used the shortcut, you know, go behind the high school library and come out near the diner and avoid the bigger streets? The alley the next block up from the school is the last thing I remember passing, and that's where I woke up after.

"That's good. It makes the shift over easier. It is faster if you've got fresh blood in you."

[Jack listened. He had no idea who it could have been. A sloppy transient, maybe? The handful of vampires that he knew that popped in now and then were all experienced...as were the hunters that would inevitably show up.]

"Kid. You and I are gonna stay out here for the next few weeks. I get the feeling there's going to be some fireworks in town and it is not something we want to be part of."

[Hell, it was a good thing he had literally bumped into Tommy. The hunters that would get involved would have killed him if he had snapped. He felt the train slow and his stomach lurched with it.]

"This is our stop kid. Let's go."

[Jack got up, collecting his cooler and leading Tommy out of the train and onto the platform, down the stairs and to the parking lot where his old, rusty red pickup truck was waiting for him.]

"There it is. Our carriage awaits."

Trouble? [Tommy's expression sharpened slightly, worry clear in his face.] Got no problem staying out of it but... it won't come back on my mom will it?

[She had no idea about any of it, was just human. He hoped that whatever might come of everything she'd be okay, but the thought of the consequences hitting her as well just didn't sit right.

If the hunters were smart they'd be able to find out about strange attacks. Even if Tommy had managed to keep control, they might have tracked him anyways, not wanting to risk him following his sire's footsteps. Bad news either way in that situation.

He still felt weird following Jack, but not nearly as much as before and most of it was just the situation in general at this point rather than anything about the man himself. But he couldn't help the slight lift of brows and small start of something almost teasing in his grin and tone.]

What, no panel van?

[Again with the concern for his mother? Damn, if he could not like this kid anymore than he already did.]

"Nah. These people are professionals. They usually pop in and pop out. Extraction, you know? As long as your mom hasn't been harboring the perp, the most she'll get is questioned and if she really does not know about any of this she has nothing. To worry about. If they track you out here, well, I guess I'll do some paperwork. I play by the rules, Tommy. I am caught up on all my shots and everything."

[He'd helped them many times in the past...but that didn't mean he would go looking for trouble.

Jack frowned at the statement.]

"You sound disappointed I actually am a farmer and not a serial killer."

[Tommy frowned thoughtfully as he tried to remember anything his mom might have reason to suspect, shaking his head.]

I don't think she knows anything that'd get her in trouble. As far as she knows me getting jumped was a mugging, and she didn't see anything weird where I was concerned, at least that wouldn't be chalked up to being nervous about that. Didn't leave anything suspicious behind, and I didn't mention anything weird in the note either...

[Jack you are such an old man.]

No way, I am entirely fine with the lack of Voorhees going on here. But really, you literally lured me out with a 'juice box' and think you're not getting at least one panel van comment?

"That's good. If they talk to her at all, it should be really easy to tell she has no idea what is actually going on. Pro tip, kid, keep your nose down and don't make trouble. Keep to yourself and trouble rarely finds you...unless it literally runs into you."

[Jack smiled at that. The tips of his fangs peeking over his lips as if this remark was somehow terribly clever. He shrugged, not taking his hands off the wheel as he drove.]

"Yeah, fair enough on that one...but how was I supposed to know you just cut your fangs?"

[They soon pull up to a two story farmhouse beside a barn. It doesn't look like an old man vampire's house. It looks perfectly ordinary. There's even a light on on the porch. Pure Americana.]

"Here we are. Home sweet home."

Lucky for me I'm not one to go trying to find trouble then.

[Even with recent issues cropping up. He could think of a few people who'd definitely get themselves into more trouble in this case, but he'd always been a generally good kid.]

I couldn't even tell you. Guessing it's not like new car smell or anything, that'd be too easy right?

[And while he logically knew it was silly? Part of him was a little surprised at how... normal Jack's place was.]

Nice place. Definitely got the wholesome farm vibe going on.

"Well, I don't either and here we are."

[Jack grinned. He'd worked very hard to make this place his own and he was rather proud of it.]

"Thank you. There's a guest room upstairs. You're free to use it as long as you need."

[Everyone learned at their own speed, after all.

Jack got out of the truck and walked up to the house, wanting to get his few pints of blood into the fridge before he got Tommy settled and checked on the animals before bed.

The older vampire whistled as he opened the door, revealing a homey kitchen. Jack made his way over to the fridge and placed the new blood packs int the back...and retrieved two glass milk bottles filled with varying shades of red liquid inside them.]

"Hey, kid? Are you in a chicken or steak mood?"

Definitely appreciate it.

[It was still sinking in, in some ways. The whole 'vampire thing, and it was hard enough to process as it was, so the idea that he had help was something of a relief.

He followed Jack in, glancing around the space curiously while the older vampire was putting things away, closing the door behind him.]

Hm?

[Brow furrowed he glanced at Jack and the bottles, but seemed to get the idea quickly enough.]

Oh, um... surprise me?

"Catch."

[Jack tossed him the bottle of cow's blood. It was essentially the equivalent of a burger and this kid needed something hearty fast. He gestured at the table and chairs in the kitchen.]

"Take a seat. I am going to run out to the barn and do a quick headcount. You sit down and drink your steak burger. You can help me feed everybody in the morning if you are feeling up to it."

[With that, Jack momentarily took his leave to go check on his small group of cows, pigs, chickens and rabbits. Everyone was settled in for the night so Jack returned to see what his house guest had been up to.]

[Tommy caught the bottle easily, nodding at the instruction. Just sinking into one of the chairs at the kitchen table, feeling a bit better that he was left alone to drink. It was still a strange thing, and his rational mind still rebelled at the idea for all instinct demanded it. He tried not to bolt it definitely easier this time around, and felt quite a bit more like himself.

And if he crumbled a little bit by the time Jack came back in, head in his hands, well it had been a long few days and it was starting to catch up with him after the immediate danger of hurting someone had passed, especially with how little he'd been able to sleep.]

[Uh oh-

By the time Jack got back, Tommy had his head in his hands.]

Great. What was this? How was Jack supposed to deal with this? Kids were easy. You hugged them....maybe rocked them for a bit....and they were fine. Teenagers? What the hell was he supposed to do?

He settled on crouching down to the boy's level and putting a hand on Tommy's shoulder.]

"You-ah? You okay? Need like....a hug or something?"

Edited 2017-10-16 11:02 (UTC)

I'm fine. [No he wasn't.

He wasn't crying though, which he would definitely count as a positive. Just exhausted and confused, and still kind of scared.

He didn't pull away from the hand on his shoulder, and while he didn't realize, Jack could probably feel the way he was trembling under his hand. It was... well it was a hell of a lot to take in, that much was for sure.]

[Jack furrowed his brows together. He could feel the teen quaking under his hand.]

"Kid...Tommy...you are not fine. It is okay not to be fine. This is huge...and you are doing remarkably well. Do you...wanna maybe get some sleep?"

[He'd fed him twice now, maybe that was enough to get his body to get ready for rest in order to gradually fully shift his physiology. Or not. Everyone was different.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject