You strayed into my home and into my heart

[memeboogeyman]

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!

Comments

[immortal76]

[Jack looked up from his reading.]

"Hey."


[He wasn't going to poke fun at the kid for sleeping in, God knows this kid had enough on his plate already-besides the fact that he actually managed to sleep this long and rouse himself was a sign that there were no complications. Jack had been worried there would be complications...but no sense worrying the kid if there was no sign of them.]

"You want some coffee with your breakfast?"

[turncoin]

...Yeah, that actually sounds good.

[Not that it would fix all of the weariness- it would fade as he got more rest and his body finally finished changing, but he didn't know that. Figured he just hadn't slept enough the past few days.

Sinking into one of the chairs with a low sigh, running a hand through his hair. He'd always been slow to wake, so wasn't entirely concerned, and the idea of complications? Hadn't even occurred to him.]

[immortal76]

"Great. Have a seat. I'll get you some."

Jack slid back out of his chair and went to the kitchen, returning with a cup of coffee, a small creamer cow full of milk, and a bottle of chicken blood mixed with raw eggs. Lots of protein for a growing boy.

He sat it in front of Tommy and returned to his own seat, sipping his own mug.

[turncoin]

[Tommy nodded, waiting patiently for Jack to set things up for him.]

Thanks.

[Simple enough to start with the coffee, adding a bit of creamer before taking a couple swallows.

He knew he had to drink it but the idea of downing a bottle of blood was still weird, especially when he could see that there was something else mixed into it. So he figured that the off sort of feeling he was getting once he'd started in on that was just because he hadn't adjusted to the idea of actually drinking the stuff.

It helped if he didn't look too long at it when he was drinking, but still.]

[immortal76]

[Jack looked up from his coffee.]

"I put some raw eggs in it...gives it a little more body...less like straight up blood, you know? "

[Jack hoped that made it better.]

[turncoin]

Yeah. Think it's just gonna take some time to get used to actually drinking the stuff, you know?

[He hoped that would be the case anyways. Otherwise feeding himself would definitely not be pleasant.]

[immortal76]

"You handled the human stuff okay last night. Do you...need some more of that?"

[There was a part of Jack that screamed at him to not...the selfish part he quickly silenced. He was an old man. He'd had years to establish his options for food. He could make due. It was the equivalent of a human turning down a gourmet three course meal for instant noodles. He wouldn't starve and he could make due for another few weeks before their next pick up. This new blood? He wasn't so sure. It had been ages since he had had to deal with any newly turned vampires.]

[turncoin]

[Tommy's brow furrowed at the question, slowly shaking his head.]

Are you sure? I mean... you were saying yesterday it's harder to adjust, shouldn't I be trying to get used to the stuff that'll be easier for me to get?

[He was chalking up any nausea to the idea that he was working himself up over what he was drinking more than anything.]

Besides, I don't want to put you out over it.

[immortal76]

"Everyone is different. I was just speaking from previous experience...and don't worry, you are not putting me out at all."

[A little white lie, but it literally would not hurt him to go without human blood for a few weeks. God knows he had been without it longer before.]

[turncoin]

I don't know. Feeling weird enough as it is... would rather not waste your supply if I'm just gonna get sick in the end.

[He'd seen that before, someone getting so worked up at the idea of disliking something that they actually made themselves sick from eating it. And something like drinking blood? Definitely fell into the 'weird food' category for him.]

[immortal76]

"I could put it in a kool aid bottle if that makes you feel better. Kool aid can still be red, right?"

[He hasn't bought the stuff in almost fifty years. Do they even still make kool aid?]

"That might help."

[turncoin]

...Couldn't hurt to try it.

[Pay no attention to the glimmer of red, or how sallow he's starting to look there. The sick feeling might be something a bit more than just 'all in his head' not that he's realized it.]

[immortal76]

[Jack can't help but notice that red glimmer. It should be too early for that.]

"Tommy...tell me how you feel. Be honest now. I really need to know so I know how to help you."

[He can't help it. There is a hint of desperation in his voice.

And in a flash-he us up from the table and into the kitchen. He yanks open the refrigerator and pulls one of the blood bags out. He has four left after this-should be enough for a few days-at least until he's shifted over, right?-He brings it back to the table and shoves the other options out of Tommy's way.]

"Here. Drink up. Now."

[It must have been how long he had been without...his body was still burning itself out trying to make up for lost time.[

[turncoin]

[He grimaced at the question, gaze flicking towards Jack, uncertain where the desperation was coming from that he was noticing.]

Think I'm kinda feeling nauseous? Wasn't sure if that was just me working myself up or not...

[He wasn't expecting this much worry, gingerly accepting the pack from the older vampire with a slow nod. Better to just go with it; Jack knew more about this than he did, and would have a reason to be concerned even if Tommy had no clue.]

[immortal76]

[Jack sighed, rubbing his hand over his face.]

"Okay....looks like animal blood cocktails are out of it for the next few days at least. That's okay. That's not terribly uncommon. It just helps that we caught it right away."

[turncoin]

Sorry...

[His gaze skipped to the pack in his hands, mouth turning to a frown.]

Here I go making things complicated when you're just trying to help.

[immortal76]

"No...don't be sorry. It is just a learning curve is all. We'll just play it by ear. We'll keep an eye on it. We don't want to antagonize anything."

[As long as they kept him well fed, there shouldn't be any issues.]