Out for a drink

It was not one of his typical haunts but it was paramount he didn't come back to a few for at least another week for his own safety. He'd regretted having to go out so often the last month. He was struggling with Thym. Namely keeping his head around them. He underestimated the time and energy it took to mentor them. He'd passed off his irritability on his being ill, which technically wasn't untrue. He felt terrible. He didn't take enough, but he wasn't a murderer and he had better things to do than drain multiple on the regular.  But Thym was bound to notice if he continued to fail to take care of himself… and that could not happen.… them noticing would either spread the word through the keep like wildfire that he was a monster… or he do something truly monstrous to keep that from happening … no, Thym couldn't know. 

Basil swiftly entered a bar he'd never set foot in. Seemed to always be new ones popping up. Or maybe he really did need to get out more. 

The place was average enough. The people. Average enough. All he need do was make a friend, have some drinks, take them elsewhere, and have a drink.  Basil sat at the bar and waved down the tender.  He ordered the first thing that popped into his head and started his wait. 

All he need do typically was exercise a bit of patience until someone came to him. And it didn't matter who. He wouldn't feed on children but otherwise Blood was blood. Before even a minute passed, a tap came on his shoulder “Who do you think you are, tall dark and damn handsome? Gonna distract my suitors!” The tap came from a young man who looked about 20 that was sat next to him. Casual but nicely dressed. Wavy almost curly hair pushed off to the left side. 

“Just here for a good time, can't blame me for that.” Basil smiled with closed lips and took a sip of his martini. Pointless apart from normalizing his appearance. 

“oh I don't.” he chuckled “A dry martini is your idea of a good time?” 

“Barely. It's good company I'm after.” Basil always felt a pang of self-disgust spouting lies and empty flirts just to get a blood-meal in. It might have helped if he was into the romance. 

As much as taking lives didn't appeal to Basil, neither did romance nor sex. But he had to pretend. No one would leave this bar to pursue a friendship with him. And he wouldn't have to actually go through with it. Just drain a pint or two and leave them none the wiser. 

“Y'know good company is like a good hand. It's right-” the man snickered and patted Basil on the back with his right hand “-Here.”

Basil furrowed his brows and shook his head, feeling very suddenly uncomfortable… more so than typical. “You're a little young aren't you?” 

The youth raised a brow and haughtily responded “What'd give you that idea?” 

Basil rolled his eyes and made to stand. He wasn't about to take the chance.  Plus the young man could have been Thym's age. He knew neither of them were children but still, It felt wrong. Draining him and leading him on.  

Basil shrugged and grabbed his drink, ready to relocate with it “well, now that I have this, pardon me.” 

The young man leaned back in his bar seat comfortably and watched with a smile as Basil stood,

“Best of luck with the company. Rooting for you!” the youth said in genuine support as he downed a shot. 

Basil felt a tinge of pride he'd managed to avoid whatever that was. Young people made him nervous. And not just because so many were foolhardy and made bad decisions.  As Basil sauntered to the other side of the bar, a woman nursing a drink looked up at him in wonder. He smirked softly in response. Might be the one. 

He wouldn't necessarily enjoy the entire experience but… he couldn't deny it felt natural, that he felt almost happy, extreme comfort for the hours following a meal. It was natural for what he was, but he hated to accept it. Accepting it scared him. He already felt he did too much, took too much from others. He was still young. There was time to change, to give in to murderous instinct… and it would be so easy. Basil knew it, sometimes stopping before taking a lethal amount from someone… felt impossible. Especially after a long fast. He'd made the mistake before of not understanding how great the impulse would be. Especially early on. Those innocent people gave their lives to help him learn what it was to be a monster. 

Basil paused near the woman's table. She had pulled back hair, brown and sleek. Her eyes were slightly glazed over, she was well into a 4th drink likely. Inebriated targets were safer if not also much easier to lure away. Basil smiled and dipped his head in greeting, putting a hand on the chair beside her. “May I?” 

She beamed up to him and nodded several times. He sat and began his routine. “If I may be honest, it's a bit lonely here on my own tonight. Looked like we might be good company for each other.”

She giggled quietly and pulled up her hand and held it to her mouth “That's so sweet? Well you're welcome to me- to be here with me...mr…” 

“Ian, call me Ian.” he smiled. Couldn't be too careful.  The last thing he needed was someone, coming to the keep hunting for a Basil. 

“Rissa” she held out her hand and Basil took it, instantaneously feeling her pulse through her supple skin. It'd remind him why he was here until it was done. He smiled but his heart sunk. He hated this. 

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

He smirked at the couple, biting his lip discreetly. The tall pretty boy with the martini had only nearly finished his first drink. But the woman? He could already imagine the alcohol tinged taste of her.  He wasn't picky per say BUT he was going to save the tall boy for last. A pure drink to end the night on. 

He made a mental note as he analyzed the tall man's clothing. Dark violet jacket with black trim. Would be a shame if it were doused with his blood. A few smudges wouldn't affect dark fabric but Tetch hated cleaning up after his messes. And he wanted that jacket as pristine as possible. He continued watching from across the bar, gauging how long it'd be before they left with each other . As fleeting as the human life could be, so many of them took their damned time. Although he had to admit the anticipation did sweeten the experience. 

He preferred a bit of preamble. Observing them leading their normal life… it was something he felt now unattainable on his own. Oh - he could live, but it wasn't the same as what he saw in others. They lived on a whole different level… and he relished that life before and after it was given up kicking and screaming to him. 

On the matter of what he did to people, his conscience was clear. He'd given back. Every so often some disgusting politician moved for some policy that'd crush New Londoners with its hidden motives. And that's when he came for them, a vampiric assassin. In return for saving the city from that hardship, from having to fight it themselves, a handful of lives were nothing. The ones that did live, lived better. 

To say that necessity and duty were the only reasons he hunted would be gravely untrue. Quick and merciful kills were easy enough to come by, especially if you weren't a coward. Tetch more than looked forward to and enjoyed this nightly gratification. The chase, the excitement, the bliss. It was beautiful. He didn't find much enjoyment elsewhere so why would he deny himself the pleasure of what he was? 

The intoxicated woman had started to grab at the dark haired man. The man laughed and looked vaguely embarrassed as she fumbled with a clasp on his shirt. He didn't reciprocate, instead he grabbed and held her wandering hands and stood from his seat. As his treats moved and made for the door arm in arm, Tetch took his eyes off them and paid his own tab with a smile. 

He'd had his introspection, his little window to appreciate the lives he'd be taking for himself. Now was time for the fun part.  

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Basil made his exit with Rissa. After a couple more drinks, sponsored by him. It was highly doubtful she'd remember any of this. All that remained was to find somewhere quiet to take what he came for. After that he could maybe get away with 3 or 4 days before the sickness and irritability began its heavy return. Just as he made it to a nearby deserted spot, he felt a presence. He turned his head slightly to see. It was the youth from the bar. Surely just a coincidence, but it wasn't welcome. 

Basil picked up the pace, almost carrying Rissa along to find somewhere else. The young man from the bar followed. Being stalked was new to Basil. He'd done his fair share in the past , but Basil thought he himself was at least discreet. This man was purposeful in his conspicuousness, and it made the experience even more unsettling. The hairs on his neck rose and he momentarily considered fleeing. It seemed unlikely he was a vampire hunter. Way too young for it.  Not to mention he'd feel silly running in fear from someone that age. 

“How much further?” Rissa cooed, leaning her weight into him. She of course had not taken notice of their stalker.  

“Not much.” he laughed nervously as he continued to lead them. 

He wouldn't be able to feed if the stalker kept on. He felt the urge to run again but he found he had a guilty feeling about leaving Rissa. As much as he considered himself a monster, he knew those who physically were more human had just as much potential for monstrous acts.  Leaving this woman to be potentially assaulted… maybe murdered... that'd weigh on him much more than what he wanted with her. 

After another block of being tailed while dragging this woman with him he stopped in his tracks. It was as good place as any to face off against this youth. Maybe he could scare him off.

“What do you want?” Basil huffed, and stepped back towards the man, still holding his catch behind him. 

“You.” The youth smiled as he closed the distance. “Well.. you both”

 As his smile widened Basil realized what was going on. What the man was. He'd never seen another out hunting before. He always thought he'd notice another of his kind, but the man's youthfulness had also thrown him off. The young man before him, walking towards him, was a vampire. 

The youthful vampire stared directly at Basil  “Disappointed you didn't run Martini. Loyal to your company?” he tilted his head with a glinting grin to Rissa. He'd give her up in a heartbeat. It now wasn't worth the dispute, not with another vampire. But Basil held onto her, but not for reasons that made any sense. He was panicked by the revelation and couldn't bring himself to move. The vampire waved him on, “You can still run, I'll catch up.” 

Understanding hit Basil, the young vampire had no idea what Basil was…  he planned to hunt them both. He wished he could run, but he found himself rooted to the spot. Curiosity tethering him here.

“Ian who is he? A friend?” Rissa wobbled as she peered around to get a better look. 

“I really hoped you'd run.” the vampire frowned at Basil, genuinely sounding like his fun had been ruined. He bounded forward and threw Basil to the side with great force. The impact dazed him for only a moment. But by the time Basil was up on his feet, Rissa was embraced by the young man. But not just... He'd torn her open. Hardly a bite- more of a mauling. Blood welled at his lips as he fed from the gushing tear in her neck. It was overwhelming. To see so much blood and not be a part of it. He watched, still frozen. 

Basil could see the vampires eyes glint like the predator he was. Conversely the light drained from Rissa's eyes as she died in his grasp. It was all over for her so fast. He could barely believe that was all the time it took for her to be relieved of her life. The monster let out a deep breath as he finished with her. He didn't bother with respecting the empty vessel that was her body. It fell with a thud on the bricks as he dropped her. 

The young vampire was a bloody mess in every sense of the word. His hands were damp, his light shirt now splashed with crimson. Surely stained. His bottom jaw was smeared with blood,  chin still dripping with the ruby red liquid. He straightened and trained his eyes on Basil and smiled viciously “Waiting on me like that. Martini. So polite.” 

The vampire lunged for Basil but now he found he was able to move, inspired by his desire to protect himself. The shorter vampire grabbed at his arm with animosity and Basil grabbed back, holding the bloody animalistic looking man at arm's length. 

All at once, the youth stopped, Basil's arm still gripped in his hand, he peered at it with what looked to be surprise. 

“No pulse” he muttered. 

Basil pulled his arm from the man's grasp, and took a step back from him. 

He laughed and looked Basil up and down. 

 “Idiot, You could've just said what you were! What a mess, I could've killed you.” He wiped a hand on his already blood ruined shirt before he offered it. “Haven't seen you around here before. I'm Tetch.” 

Basil obliged him, taking his still-stained hand in his own. 

“Basil. If I encroached on your territory - My apologies- I”

“Oh no, no. I’m Sorry about stealing your meal. Could tell you worked hard for it.” Tetch smiled genuinely. 

Basil looked down at Rissa uncomfortably, but the youthful vampire brought his attention back with a prodding finger into his chest. 

“You've got to be more vocal. Give a man a sign, flash your teeth, anything.  Hell if you would've joined in while I drained her, that would have been a good a signal as any.” Tetch berated. 

Basil looked away, embarrassed to admit his shortcoming “It's- my first time running into another of us, in a situation like this. It honestly took me by surprise…” 

Tetch raised a brow “Just turned?” 

Basil shook his head “No, I just… don't get out much.” He avoided saying plainly that he, by vampire standards, essentially starved himself. Tetch seemed to catch on as he frowned and looked Basil up and down once more. 

“Huh. Well Y'know what? How about I make it up to you?” Not giving Basil much say in the matter,Tetch threw an arm around Basil and led him down the street, leaving the mess behind. 

“Let's go get you something to drink yeah? I'm buying.” 

After all this, Basil felt weak and found he couldn't deny the offer. 

He'd made a new friend after all.