show me your despair

“Oh, no, I simply believe in the importance of giving humans hope. Who knows, someday you might actually touch me.”

[ a mocking smirk, as if inviting the other to try it ]

“You are adorable.”

“I’ll protect you with my life.”

“I wish you would notice me and maybe develop feelings for me.”

“A storm is coming.”

“You are cute but we’re not going to be a thing.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“Give me a sign!”

“I want to be your friend.”

“I need you.”

“I hate you!”

“Get over it.”

“That was rude.”

“I’m trying to flirt with you, okay?”

“You are my enemy.”

The sight of the blood, the overpowering scent nearly sent another wave of shudders through Mikaela. He was hungry… He was so, so hungry. The pain was becoming unbearable, and not even Krul’s blood was able to satiate him completely anymore.

But no… He wouldn’t drink, no matter how weak he became. No matter how strong the temptation. He was better than that. Better than the other vampires… 

He was desperate not to become the same kind of monster that Yuu so vehemently wanted to slaughter.

“Shut up…”

He masked the pain with a low growl, drawing his wooden sword–though he was fully aware that it would be ineffectual against a vampire noble.

The sight of Mika shuddering as he tried so hard to resist his bloodlust — it really was so completely adorable. It made Ferid want to keep prodding at him just to elicit more of those utterly delicious reactions.

But while Mika was clearly prepared for their encounter to end in violence, Ferid could hardly say the same for himself. Whatever mysterious force had transported him here had also weakened him, and while he was sure he could certainly win if it came to fighting even a fellow vampire, he was less sure about finishing unscathed. And he wasn’t about to find out here.

Instead, he offered Mika one of his usual sly smiles. “I’m only telling you this because I love you, Mika dear! Without our Queen here, you’ll run out of choices eventually. And I really wouldn't want to see you end up a demon, you know?”

They had been stuck in Hive City for more than three months now, and weren’t any closer to finding a way back home. But Mikaela didn’t mind that in the slightest–it was so liberating to be away from the constant threat of the Imperial Army as well as his own fellow vampires breathing down his neck. Even if he were condemned to live here for the rest of eternity, if it were with Yuu, he wouldn’t mind.

…At least, that’s what Mikaela had thought five minutes ago.

The familiar scent of human blood wafted down the deserted street, shaking the urges he had been suppressing loose from their chains. Trying to ignore the pain that threatened to wrack his body, Mikaela’s heart began pounding with sheer dread–

–because with this amount of blood, either someone had met their untimely end by one of the monsters that prowled the streets at night–

–or a vampire had appeared within Hive City.

Taking off at a sprint, Mikaela had to make affirm his suspicions before jumping to conclusions. If it wasn’t one of the Nobles, then it’d be fine, but–

“…!!”

–fate would not be so kind to Mikaela. It was absolutely the worst outcome.

And before he could vanish from sight, Ferid Bathory had turned to face him, blood dribbling from the corners of his mouth.

“You…”

A hand flew to the hilt of his wooden sword immediately as he leveled an icy glare to the other vampire.

He was hardly about to admit that he hadn’t the slightest clue as to why he was here in Hive City, after all. Not when his favorite toy had just turned up right in front of him again.

Instead, he gestured at the woman still sprawled unceremoniously against the wall, her neck now marked with bloody puncture wounds. “There’s still some left. You must be hungry, surely. Or are you perhaps still keeping to that ridiculous rule of yours about not drinking human blood?”

“How insufferable,” It was his first day here and he found himself already moderately annoyed, well now you’d think he’d be happy about being away from his co-workers and the stress of that city, but that’s quite the opposite, infact he is uncomfortable with the thought of not knowing what was going on there. How were the citizens that loved him so were doing? How were his teammates, how was his business? Well- not his business, but the superheros that helped him on a day to day basis.

.. How was the old man?

“Probably mucking up,” He sighed, pushing up the frame of his glasses and looked around thoughtfully. He supposed he could try and make the best of this situation, this place looked rather tattered and smelled of decay built upon decay but it was, surprisingly, livable for now atleast. And with that final thought he decided it’d be best to observe his entire surroundings before making any fast pace decisions, truthfully he wanted to also just go for a walk.

“Hm,” It was a thoughtful hum, infact almost an amused one. The green eyed beauty just continued to watch as the stranger plotted to take out the person’s money, it was so obvious to Barnaby that he wondered how the latter didn’t notice as well. Then there was the debate of whether he should help or not, he wouldn’t be getting any points for it but it’d be a kind gesture, besides noone wanted to get robbed - didn’t matter the situation for why robbery was the answer, it was wrong.

And with that he grabbed the thief’s shoulder just as they successfully retrieved the pocket change and then with his strength, lift, flipped and slammed them onto the concrete floor. Simultaneously catching the change in it’s little wrappings that had been flung in the air, he put his boot on the thief’s chest and stared down at him, disregarding the stares he got from the public.

“Don’t you know stealing is wrong? You should’ve been taught better,” How cool of you, as always Barnaby. Watching them scurry off he turned to the stranger and held out the money to them.

For the briefest of moments, Ferid’s mind froze and struggled to wrap itself around the sheer ridiculousness of that statement. It was just unthinkable that any of the livestock would dare to even get in his way, let alone attempt to rob him.

But then again, this wasn’t the vampire city he was used to anymore, was it?

As the thief’s hand slid out of his pocket, Ferid carefully made no move to stop them. Already he was anticipating tracking them down later — he would give them just a little headstart, of course, or it would hardly be any fun — and tasting the sweet tang of despair in their blood after he had cornered them. He turned to watch as the thief prepared to make a run for it— and was promptly slammed into the floor by a blonde man.

A bemused smile formed slowly on his lips as he watched the blonde pin and scold the would-be thief. So much for my snack, I suppose. Instead, he raised his hands and began to applaud loudly.

“My, how cool of you.” Stopping to accept his money back, Ferid continued, “I simply must thank you anyway, mister...?”

                    ℸhe first thing that the King of Despair noticed about his surroundings was that it was very barren – the cities were either filled with decaying bodies, left to rot and eaten by crows and maggots, or empty and deserted. The city reeked of raw despair, raw desperation, pure hopelessness. Yes, this would be the ideal town if the Great Collapse had been allowed to take the city of New York by its hands and crush it thoroughly. There was a certain beauty about the sheer quietness of the town that pleased him – that is, until he heard a figure approach from behind him. 

The smile that slid smoothly onto Ferid’s face as he approached the stranger was as many parts genuine as it was a habit. It had been so long, after all, since the last time he had come across anything truly interesting up on the surface.