“They don’t want me to spoil what they’ve built,” Carmen explained, “I already almost did that when I was first turned, or that’s what they told me… I don’t think they would just allow me to walk away, not knowing what I might do.” She said, nibbling at the inside of her lip. It wasn’t that she didn’t notice that her situation was very strange, especially with her age and now species.
“I think so.” Carmen answered, shrugging, “His name is Matteo.” Though she didn’t seem too enthused about the idea of Isko getting into contact with him. He’d been a placeholder, now she had the real thing back, why did he need to be brought up again? “I have some money. Oh, could you? That would be super!” She responded, suddenly perking up as quickly as she had deflated.
Settled at the bar, she turned her attention to the crowd, the array of scents and thudding heartbeats had her eyes glimmering with a wild looking hunger. Mostly, she was enjoying the feeling of having Isko’s hands back on her. “What about them, the blonde?” Carmen suggested, nodding towards an elf in the crowd, the clear points of their ears protruding from blonde hair. Carmen glanced back at Isko, “what if they say no?”
"Who cares about what they've built?" he asked. He had hoped being a vampire would snap her out of this devotion to her parents. "They'll be dead in thirty years and you will live forever, little bird," he reminded her. Isko might have been the one who was imprisoned but Carmen hadn't grown up at all. She was still the twenty year old girl he met all those years ago. While he knew he was likely to blame for a few of those years, her father had kept her under lock and key and she still seemed like a lost child.
"Matteo," he murmured in interest, knowing he would have to see what he could find out about her sire. Maybe he could teach him a lesson or two because he had abandoned his fledgling and Carmen was in need of a sire. Maybe Carmen could help him kill her sire. Baby steps first, the sun ring was a good start towards freedom for her. "I will look into it. I need to talk to a witch first," he replied. He needed to figure out how clingy she would be as well because Isko did not what her following him around.
As she turned, he slipped his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder and watched her eyes. It was clear that she had a type and the elf was on top of that list. "What do you like about the blonde?" he asked, curious about her choices. He chuckled, wondering if his first lesson should be a good or a bad one. "That depends. Do you really want to taste them?" he asked her, his eyes following the elf in the crowd. "If they say no, I can make them change their mind. Or, we can find someone else. It's up to you."
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Eiji didn’t know he trusted Isko’s interpretation of ‘good’ but he could begrudgingly admit that he didn’t have anything bad to say about Judas. So far, he’d only ever been nice to him and his remorse for his crimes seemed genuine enough on the surface. Eiji couldn’t say he believed the same of Isko. “He’s a good boss.” Eiji agreed with a small nod, absently shifting the cloth in his hand around the bar.
“Sounds serious if you’re thinking that far into the future, can’t witches live a long time too?” Eiji pointed out, “But I suppose you’re right, as long as you’re both happy.” Though he would much rather see his brother happy with someone else and if he could convince him of as much, he would. “I’m sure you’ll be meeting the family in no time.” He added, before glancing over Isko’s shoulder at the number of people forming in need of a drink. “I should get back to work, but— if you ever change your mind or things don’t work out, let me know.” He offered a smile reminiscent of their prior flirting, though the thought of flirting now made want to throw up in his mouth.
"I bet he's better than your last boss," he chuckled. He might have to pay that one a visit as well and see what else be could find out about the human. While he wouldn't be pursuing him like originally planned, he was still curious about the young human. There was something he couldn't quite figure out and Isko always loved a puzzle.
"I don't know, actually. I probably should ask," he murmured. He had thought witch's lived the length of human lives, maybe some extension but that didn't compare to living forever. He snorted, shaking his head. Somehow he very much doubted that he'd meet Rei's family and that was okay, he didn't want to be friendly with the leader of the biggest coven in Vievecour or his terrorist brother. "Maybe. I don't know if he'd want to introduce me to them. Would you want to take a vampire home to daddy?" he asked.
Isko knew he was taking up too much of Jacob's time so he didn't try and make the human stay. "That is if you don't find you're own hot vampire boyfriend working here," he joked. "Have a good night, Jacob." He knew they'd see each other again soon enough so he made his way back through the crowd, looking to share a drink with his friend.
Beck can't help the incredulous brow that arches at Isko's talk of Scout's honour. She's about to bite out a sarcastic remark in response - but she swallows it down at the last second. She needed Isko's help, like it or not. Pride can take a back seat, just this once.
"Alright, then." It comes out quieter than she expects. She studies him for a beat, before looking away - out to the alley stretching out ahead. "Just... don't make me regret this, yeah? I'm choosing to trust you. Just this once." She doesn't look back to him as she says it, instead she moves forward - steps slow, deliberate as she guides them toward the target.
Even she can't help a small smile as his own grows, feeling adrenaline begin to hum beneath her skin. Beck isn't a criminal. Not really - her worst offenses had always been accidents. Snatching clothes off a line after a wolf shift gone wrong, shoving drunk men who got too close just a little too hard on a night close to the full moon. Messy and instinctive, nothing that was ever planned. Not like this.
"Of course I've done this before." She'd never been any good at lying, and it's clear in the set of her jaw, even if she keeps her head angled away from him. When she finally glances back, there's a faint smirk there, hands sliding into her pockets like she could tuck her nerves away with them. "You don't exactly strike me as the 'keep your mouth shut' type, Isko."
Still, she continues walking, her steps becoming softer as she nears the entry point she'd identified earlier. The door blends into the wall if you didn't know to look for it - old wood worn down within the structure of the building. Beck presses her palm to it, easing the hinge just enough to reveal the dark beyond. A passageway curls inward, unlit. Too easily found - though that thought doesn't land just yet.
Beck swallows, not quite making a move to enter. "I... I just need to try to figure something out. We go in quick, do what we came for. Get out before anyone notices. No trace." Her eyes are wide as she looks back to Isko, part of her hoping the vampire would talk her out of this. But pride would never let her back down, not when she'd brought him along this far. "I just need you to watch my back. A second pair of eyes to make sure we're not spotted. Okay?"
He was pretty sure they had established before that he had never been a boy's scout but the pricipal still stood. She had won their race and he was here to repay the debt of their bet. For a moment, the vampire allows his joking demeanour to slip away before nodding. "I'm here to keep you safe. I promise," he said, hoping it sounded more believable this time even though Beck was walking away from him now.
He jogged a few steps to catch up behind her. There was a certain level of thrill and excitement that came with the activity and he was grinning as well. The vampire was skeptical because every time they ran into each other, she was anything but subtle so he had doubt in her criminal skills. Isko had been surrounded by crime since he was told to leave home as a teenager. He had lied and stolen and murdered and that was all before he became a vampire so he knew what he was doing. If this was her first time committing a crime, he could try and make it fun.
He could already feel the adrenaline starting to build inside the wolf, knowing he felt it too. "It's been known to happen with a gag, once or twice," he replied. Isko was only quiet if he wanted to be. "I mostly meant, if you want my advice or if you know what you're doing," he explained. The vampire could shut his mouth and he would make sure she got out safely if she wanted to, this was Beck's rodeo and he was just along for the ride.
As they stop beside the wall, it takes his eyes a moment to realise there's a door there. He looks to Beck and hesitates. There's something in the back of his mind that tells him that this isn't a good idea. His brow furrowed before he shook his head, he was here as protection and not to tell the wolf what to do. He doubted she'd listen to him anyway. "Okay. Be quiet and be quick," he warned. He'd done this enough to know what got you caught. If he thought something was going wrong, he was going to get them the hell out of here.
"Hmm..." Matthew was practically preening from Isko's compliments to Liber and the Hereafter. They were both establishments that he was immensely proud of and Isko knew how to flatter.
"No, I suppose we do not. And you'd be right about that. Too many humans for my liking," the fallen deity pointed out. "Even if it is a demon-owned club. I prefer the Shard for my fun time."
"You should come by Level Four. Or Vicium. You might enjoy them more than the likes of Absynthia."
Isko chuckled, he happened to like humans. They were easy meals and easy targets. Demon's normally understood that but he supposed a fallen deity like Matthew wouldn't. "And what's so special about the Shard?" he asked. Isko had visited the club before but he didn't see the appeal in it like many vampire's did. Then again, Isko had never played well with other vampires.
"Should I?" he asked. Leaning back in his seat, the vampire draped his arm over the back of the demon's seat to listen to him. Isko had frequented both clubs from time to time but Level Four had never been his style. It was too pristine, too many rules to follow. "I like Absynthia, it's kinda of dirty and sweaty. Someone will come in looking so sweet and wide eyed and become a ruined mess." It had it's appeal to the vampire when he liked ruining pretty things too.
There was no point in trying to lie. Not when he was trying to fix things.
[ text: isko de guzman]: You're right, it isn't. You can let me know if you want to see me again. I won't bother you
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: oh. I don't even know him though?
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: I do want to see you again. I missed you
---
[ text: isko de guzman]: You don't remember it, but you spent a lot of time with him during that apocolypse, telling him about the things you did for fun. He doesn't like you, to say the least.
[ text: isko de guzman]: I can come see you, doesn't have to be anything other than just seeing each other.
----
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: That doesn't sound like me… but again, you can still ask me if you wanted to know.
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: Okay, you can come see me. You know where I am.
---
[ text: isko de guzman]: We can talk more about it when I get there, if you'd like
[ text: isko de guzman]: I've also decided that what you do in your free time doesn't matter
---
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: I'd prefer you heard it from me before you make your decision.
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: I won't hold it against you if it does matter
---
[ text: isko de guzman]: I want to hear it from you.
---
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: Okay, well you know where to find me when you're ready
…
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: I really did miss you x
---
[ text: isko de guzman]: Is tonight too soon?
[ text: isko de guzman]: I missed you so much
---
[ text: jeremiah remington ]: No, I'll be home. I don't have work until tomorrow.
---
[ text: isko de guzman]: Then I'll see you soon
He had no right to show up to Isko's place when he'd gone so far as to cast a spell to keep Isko out of his. He had no right to talk to him after ghosting him for over 7 weeks. He had no right to miss him when he was the one who put space between them. And yet, he practically ran the entire way to Isko's home, so anxious and eager to see him again.
Rei stood in front of Isko's door, hesitating for a long moment before knocking. He was grateful that Isko even wanted to see him again after all this. When the door opened, he let out a sigh. "Hi, Isko."
---
After the last message was sent, Isko waited in his living room. At first he was perfectly still, just waiting until he could hear Rei arrive. As the minutes ticked by, the vampire began to pace around, tidying up messes that weren't there.
When the knock came, he froze for a moment before his vampire speed had him at the door a moment later. When he laid eyes on the witch, his eyes scanned him all over, looking for any sign that he was hurt or injured in anyway. "Hello, Jeremiah," he answered. "Would you like to come in?" The vampire stepped aside, making space for the younger man to step inside. He knew that he didn't need to give permission for the witch to come inside. "Want something to drink? I'm afraid all the food I bought might have gone off since you were last here."
---
Seeing Isko made his chest ache. He had missed his beautiful face so damn much. "Yes, please." There was a decent amount of awkwardness between them now, all his fault of course. Rei stepped inside, remaining close to the door for the moment. "No, it's alright. Thank you." His heart ached again because the vampire had been so considerate to buy food for when he visited, and he'd forced him to have to throw it all out. "Should we sit?"
---
There was a level of awkwardness between them that hadn't been there before. It made him want to ring his brothers neck but that would not do them any good in this situation. Once Rei was inside and the door was shut, he led him over to his sofa. "Sure, we can sit," he agreed, leaving space beside him as he sat. He was quiet for a moment, watching the witch to see what had changed between them. "So… I'm not used to this being uncomfortable," he commented, signaling between the pair. "Did you have any questions that you wanted to ask me?"
---
Rei hated this, he hated how awkward this was and how far apart they were. He wanted so badly to press against Isko and feel his arm around his waist. Never in this life had he lack of connection hurt so bad. "I'm not, either," he murmured in response. Where should they start? Should he ask what Isko does in his free time or just tell him what he'd been told? "How about I tell you what Eiji told me, and you can tell me your side." He believed his brother was telling the truth, but clearly through a biased point of view. "He told me about the mayor's daughter, and how she ended up in the Sanitorium. He said you 'ruined her life'." Now that he was thinking about it, Eiji had not elaborated on that. "He also told me you were planning on stalking and glamouring a bartender we know."
---
He didn't think there had been this much space between them since the day they first met. Rei had a way of always touching him or being close enough that they were brushing against each other. Now the gap felt like miles rather than a metre away. "I guess that's the best place to start," he agreed. His eyes darkened slightly at the mention of Carmen and then the mention of Jacob, the bartender. Carmen was public knowledge so he wasn't going to deny it but Jacob wasn't, he'd barely started yet. "I think you'd have to ask Carmen if I ruined her life but… Yes, I glamoured her and I was arrested for it. I haven't done anything to her since," he answered. The other bartender was a little different and something told him not to deny it. "That was my intention but, after we started dating, I didn't keep following him. You wanted a relationship so I didn't need to keep looking for someone else. I'm not saying I'm a good person, I don't think you want me to be either."
---
He watched Isko's face closely, trying to gauge his reaction to the statements. "Carmen?" he echoed, having not been told her name before this. He knew her, knew a bit of her situation, but not enough to connect the dots previously. Still, there was something about the way Isko's eyes had darkened, and he knew there had to be more to the story that he wasn't saying. Rei wasn't sure if he wanted to approach Carmen about it, but he might have to if he wanted to understand fully. "You were in Zamok. Have you talked to her since you were released?" As for Jacob, he knew he'd been treading on thin ice, trying to not out Eiji but Isko was smart, he would definitely suspect something. "The time you told him was before we started dating, so in that alternate future, you probably did follow through with it," he said, though it was mostly thinking out loud. Rei hesitated, wondering how much he should say but he was learning he should just be completely honest with the vampire. "I'm not a good person, either. The magic I'm practicing isn't exactly allowed." He wasn't the person his brother thought he was, and maybe he didn't need to be.
---
He didn't like talking about all this so openly when he had never talked about it before. His suspicions about his brother were growing stronger but he was trying to get through this conversation first. "Yes, her name is Carmen. I know I didn't tell you much before but I can give you more details if you want them. I want to be honest with you." Even if it meant that Rei might run the other way away from him. "Yes. Not on purpose, it's against my parole. I was dumping a patron outside and she was in the alleyway. She's a vampire now… That wasn't me," he added, wanting to erase that doubt. There was definitely a connection between Jacob and his brother that was being left out but Isko bit his tongue. "So he told you to be wary of the future me when past me hasn't done the wrong thing yet?" He asked, trying to piece it together. "I don't care what you do, Rei. If you're looking for someone to chide you for your wrongdoings, maybe your brother is a better choice?"
---
"Yes, please. I want to know what happened and why she ended up in the Sanitarium." Did he do to her what he planned to do to Jacob? He nodded as Isko spoke, not an ounce of doubt in him. "She tends to do that. Hang out in alleyways." It was a small comment, something to take away a bit of the tension and unease he felt by thinking about something else, even briefly. "I don't think it mattered to him whether you did it or not, but that you were going to." He understood why, nobody knew his brother like he did, but he was starting to wonder if Eiji never saw past the younger brother who admired him to see the man Rei was now. "I'm not so sure about that," he murmured, unsure how Isko would react if he knew the full truth of his actions. Even though he wanted to be honest, as honest as possible, the risk of losing him if he was completely honest was too high. "What I want is to adopt a cat with you, and decorate for holidays together, and keep experiencing things in the sunshine that you've missed out on." Isko was not a monster to Rei, he could never be.
---
No matter how he said it, Isko wasn't going to look like the good guy in this scenario so he wasn't going to try. "I met her when she was twenty and she had a bit of a crush on me then. I like being adored, I guess. When she figured out I was a vampire that adoration disappeared quickly so… I glamoured her," he answered. "Maybe I did it too much and it had a lasting effect." The vampire shrugged because he had no idea really. Carmen had been his first. "As for Sanitarium, I don't know how she ended up there. I was already in Zamok though it wouldn't surprise me that her father put her in there to make her normal."
Isko eyes narrowed when Rei mentioned her with familiarity. "Does she now?" He asked, his tone emotionless. So his brother hated Isko regardless. It was hard not to hide his feelings on it, feeling like he wanted to tear out his brother's tongue for his storytelling. As sweet as the speech was, it clearly did matter if he had ignored him for weeks without explanation. "Maybe he was right. I'm not a good person, I'm not even an ok person. You should keep your distance from me. I manipulate, lie, glamour and kill people all the time. I'm a vampire." If Rei wanted his honesty, he would get all of it. "I'm not much of a person at all, I am a monster. But, I never was a monster with you. I never glamoured you… I just liked that you liked me as I am but I don't think it's enough."
---
He listened, quiet and attentive. Isko was likely not the first to use the glamour in such a way, and now he understood why Eiji had reacted to it the way he had, disgusted by any advantage a species had over a human. But Rei? He never had that hatred for other supernaturals and their abilities. Just his father.
There was something in Isko's eyes, in his tone, that made his eyebrows furrow together in obvious confusion. He'd never seen Isko react like this before. Was he upset that Rei knew Carmen, even slightly?
"Isko," he murmured softly, the sadness returning to his expression as the ache overtook his chest once more. "I don't think you're a monster…" It felt like the vampire was about to push him away, to close the door on their relationship and Rei felt desperate to grasp for anything that could have fixed it. "I've never liked anyone the way I like you. I was scared that I was falling in love with you but that you wouldn't feel the same. I…" He hated that he had let his brother's feelings convince him to ignore Isko for so long.
Rei dropped his gaze, feeling defeated. Isko was pushing him away and he was losing the one thing he wanted in life and he felt helpless. There was nothing he hated more than feeling helpless. "If you don't want to see me again, I… I'll respect your wishes." His voice broke and he bit his tongue to keep it together. Fuck, he was pathetic.
---
He didn't like feeling trapped like this. Too many of his secrets had slipped out and he felt vulnerable, something he hadn't felt in years. He hated it. He wanted to know how Rei knew Carmen. He wanted to warn him to be careful around her. He held his tongue for a long moment before he had to speak up. "You can't tell Carmen you're my boyfriend. If she is as unstable as your brother thinks, she could hurt you," he admitted, his voice softer with worry.
"I don't want to be the reason you get hurt," he added. The vampire's emotions were switching between anger and sadness and longing, all things that Isko wasn't used to. "Then why did you hide from me?" he asked. Human's always tried to hide from monster's.
The change in Rei's voice drew his eyes to the witch, watching a hundred emotions flicker across the young man's face. "Rei," he said softly, his voice being drowned out by the witch's words and broken voice.
He reached out and took his hand, pulling it into his lap so he could hold onto it. In a rare moment of vulnerability from the vampire, his grip tightened. "Please don't leave."
---
"I thought I wasn't your boyfriend anymore," he murmured, his mind focusing more on that than the warning itself. He was always in a moderate amount of danger, his secrets liable to get him killed by just about anyone. This would just add to the list.
"At first, I just needed to think, to figure out what I was going to do. But Eiji's always been the only person in my life who I would give anything for, and he wanted me far away from you. I couldn't bring myself to break up with you, so I avoided you instead, like a coward. Nothing he said changed how I felt about you."
He was aware how stupid and selfish it all was. He couldn't do right by anyone. Isko deserved better than that, better than him. But when he took Rei's hand and held it tight, his ability to keep himself together finally crumbled. Tears quickly filled his eyes and flooded his cheeks. His breathing hitched in the beginning of sobs. Rei dived forward, pressing his face into Isko's chest, needing so badly to touch him, to hold onto him.
"I'm so sorry. I love you so much, I don't want to hurt you anymore."
---
"I didn't break up with you," he reminded. Technically Rei hadn't broken up with him either, he'd just avoided him. The semantics of it all didn't matter and wouldn't matter to Carmen if she found out that Isko's affections laid elsewhere.
He understood the need to think and the concept of needing time but Isko still wished he had replied to his messages. "I was confused. I waited all night at the Christmas thing and then texted. And texted and texted you and I came by your building," he added. The Christmas date had stung the worse. Isko had wanted the first proper date to go well and it had gone incredibly bad instead. "It would have hurt less if you had just told me you needed some time."
He didn't want to keep making the young witch feel guilty but he needed him to know how he felt. It had felt unfair for Isko to be left with all these feelings he didn't know what to do with. Isko's eyes widened at Rei's reaction. The vampire hadn't expected tears and was quickly aware that he wasn't equipped to deal with them either. He didn't like seeing Rei cry, or knowing that he had some part in this sadness that he was feeling either.
As Rei pressed against his chest, Isko pulled the witch into his lap and wrapped his arms around him. "Come here," he murmured softly, pressing his lips to the top of Rei's head as he just held onto him. It was a big admission, even through tears and sobs but Isko didn't know how to answer either. "I don't know if I know how to love," he admitted, hoping that he words wouldn't upset him more. "But I've never felt like this about someone before. I hate seeing you upset or in pain, I want to be the reason you smile and laugh."
---
All he wanted to do was apologise and keep apologising. None of his excuses mattered now, not when he knew how much his actions had hurt Isko. There was a comfort in being in his lap again, one he knew he didn't deserve but he still so desperately craved it. Rei wrapped his arms around Isko, pressing himself close to him. It was difficult to think or talk when he was so overwhelmed with emotion. "I just want to be with you, I want to spend all the time I have left with you," he mumbled into Isko's shoulder, his sobs slowing down. "I'm so sorry for being an asshole."
---
When Rei wrapped around him in return, Isko held him tightly. He didn't like the idea of him crying, especially over him. There was something in the witch's tone that he didn't like and he squeezed him tightly, almost possessively holding onto him. "You have lots of time left," he murmured. Tilting his head, the vampire kissed his shoulder and neck. "I accept your apology. I can't change your brother's opinion of me but I hope you know you can ask me anything and I'll answer honestly."
---
The feel of Isko's lips against his skin was soothing in ways he could not explain, not because he didn't have the words but because there were not words that existed that could describe it. "I do. I trust you, even though I haven't acted like it recently." He sniffled, his nose running but the tears had stopped, thankfully. "I think it's my turn to be honest with you. Before I came back to Vievecor City, I made a deal with a demon for magic, stronger magic than I could develop on my own. I wanted to overthrow my father's coven but, with everything that's been going on, I haven't even tried."
---
He leaned back far enough to see Rei's eyes. His fingers brushed he tears away from his cheeks. Isko hadn't done anything to earn his trust either so he couldn't blame the witch. There was always something about Rei that didn't make sense to Isko. He had been working on figuring out that puzzle for months now and as Rei spoke, it finally clicked into place. A pact with a demon wasn't uncommon but he knew it came with strings attached. "Doesn't that mean your life can be extended as well?" he asked, deciding to start with one question at a time. "Do you want help over throwing your father?"
---
"It can, but the problem is I don't know what the demon wants yet. When I made the deal, I was so hellbent on destroying him that I agreed without knowing my end of the bargain. At any time, they could ask me for something and if I can't deliver…" He didn't know what the demon would want from him, but he did know it was likely they would consume his soul if he failed. "Maybe. I'm still figuring out how I want to do it. I don't hate everyone in it, I just want the coven itself to collapse. And I'm not looking to start up more trouble when all the Artemis stuff is temporarily at peace."
---
Isko wasn't sure he could protect Rei from a demon that had a claim to his soul. The vampire gave his waist a squeeze as he spoke. "Do you think the demon would come asking for his end of the deal?" he asked. If Rei hadn't accomplished what he wanted to, surely a demon would give him that time. "Demon's live forever, I don't think they'd come claiming your soul after a few years. That doesn't feel like a fair deal and under those shiny new Artemis rules, you could probably argue that it was an unfair deal."
---
He hadn't been scared of telling Isko this truth, it had just never felt like time. Now, he felt relieved to have less secrets weighing on him. "No. I honestly don't know why he agreed to the deal in the first place, he doesn't seem like the type. He's asked me for things informally a few times, but I understood why." Talking it though, he realised he didn't think the demon wanted his soul, but perhaps wanted to use his as a pawn in his own plans eventually. "Maybe I'll talk to him about it. Later."
---
This news wasn't as alarming to him as Rei might have thought. It explained the small flicker of something familiar and dark in the way Rei acted. It was another thing that the vampire liked about him. Now they were talking, his hands moved up and down the witch's back to keep soothing away his sadness. "You won't know until you ask. It doesn't sound like a demanding demon, I've known a few of those and they normally start making you work for them quickly," he added. "But you won't know until you ask, I guess." This wasn't something Isko could help him with, or save him from. The demon would collect regardless. "So what do you want to do now?" He asked, returning the conversation to what they could control.
---
His thoughts were going now and he was thinking of how to approach the subject. It was for a later time, his head hurt too much from the crying and he didn't want to leave Isko's arms now that they were close again. Slowly, he rested his head against Isko's shoulder. "For right now, I just want to stay here. Unless you don't want me to."
---
The conversation had been enlightening, giving Isko more information that Rei likely wanted to. He didn't want to fight with him anymore though, not tonight. Instead, he kissed his cheek and rested his head against Rei's. "I believe I did tell you that I don't want you to leave," he pointed out. Isko didn't like being vulnerable and tonight had been enough of that. "Are you allowed to stay over?" he asked, wondering how much his brother knew. From everything he had been told, the older Remington son was on the run so the fact he knew so much about Isko was an interesting tidbit of information that he would hold onto for later. "Your brother won't burst in and drag you out?" he asked, only half joking.
---
The fact that Isko wanted him to stay meant so much to him. He had genuinely thought he'd ruined any chance he had with the vampire. Being here in his arms was everything he needed. "If you want me here, I'm staying." There was nobody who was going to tell him what to do with his relationship, not anymore. "If he did, I'd beat his ass myself," he promised. He loved his brother, but the years apart had clearly allowed him to grow into someone not in Eiji's shadow, and he was now realizing he could never step back into that role. "I'm here and I'm yours."
---
If Rei wanted to stay, he wasn't going to stop him. It was taking a lot of his self control not to possessively cling to the witch to keep him there. "Good. I do want you to stay," he agreed, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around his waist. As much as he would have liked to see Rei beating anyone up, he didn't want to leave this spot either. "Can I keep you now?" He asked, hating that his voice had gotten soft and uncertain.
---
There was nowhere he'd rather be. Nothing could be better than this, curled up in Isko's arms and enjoying his affection. The tone of the vampire's voice was so strange, lacking all of the confidence he normally had. Rei sat back a bit to meet his eyes, lifting a hand to brush over his cheek. "Yes, you can. I want you to."
---
He didn't think he would let go of Rei unless the witch made him. The more Rei leaned into him, the closer he held him to his chest. He didn't like sounding vulnerable but the silence from Rei had left him feeling all sorts of things. It was hard for him to meet his eyes but he slowly brought his gaze up. "Mine," he said softly. The vampire still didn't know how to feel but he knew he wanted Rei all to himself.
---
The soft way he said it did not hide the possessiveness behind the word. Leaning in, Rei kissed him, using it as his way of promising. He'd already made the mistake once, he wasn't going to do it again and risk losing Isko for good. "Yours," he replied when he pulled away.
---
He knew he was going to be even more possessive about Rei now. The vampire had found out what it was like to lose him and he didn't want to do it again. His eyes fluttered shut as they kissed, his hands tightening on Rei's waist. He would have lingered there for far longer but hearing Rei's confirmation felt like a relief. "And I'm yours."
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“But what would I do on my own? I don’t have anywhere else to go.” Carmen told him, something in those big, sorrowful looking eyes beginning to brighten as an idea planted in her brain. Maybe now Isko was here, she could stay with him! And she wouldn’t need to listen to her mother and father. “My sire didn’t really seem to want me around once I became a vampire. He found someone else, another human…” she confessed. Carmen hadn’t minded, he had only ever been a replacement for Isko, the closest thing she had to still having him in her life.
“My parents give me a sun ring for when I’m working. I work in their office mostly and then at the city library one day a week.” It was supervised. The library was the only time she wasn’t being directly supervised, but even then she knew her father knew the other employees that worked there. “But other than that, no…”
Carmen smiled at the feeling of Isko’s hand in her own and she followed him without hesitation back through into the club, the warmth and the noise instantly apparent. “We could find someone for both of us.” She suggested with an excited smile. She’d barely taken her eyes off of him for long enough to realise they were even at the bar. “We could share.”
"Independence is the point, little bird," he said gently. He had thought twenty years would have made her grown into her own women. From the way she looked at him, all doe-eyed and pathetic, it was clear that she was still the same young girl she'd been when they first met. "You're meant to enjoy this life as vampire. A whole new world of possibilities has been open to you and you're working in a library and sneaking out at night as a bat," he pointed out. He knew her parents were the main problem but her sire seemed just as negligent of her needs.
"What's your sire's name? Are they still in the city?" he asked. Isko would enjoy finding this man and having a talk to him about his duty of care. For now, he focused back on the girl beside him. He would have to keep her happy in case she had some kind of volatile breakdown when things don't go her way.
"Okay, then we'll get you a sun ring," he said simply. Rei had gifted him one for Christmas but he didn't want to give her his spare one either. The idea of gifting a ring seemed like a bad idea all round in case she jumped to conclusions. "Do you have your own money at least? If you can get me some money, I can get you a sun ring so you can move around in the day," he offered, knowing at least one witch that could help him.
The club might have belonged to the demon's but it was filled with all kinds of species but especially human's. They loved to play dangerous games with dangerous creatures. Isko could understand the thrill of it, it was why he enjoyed hunting them. Leaning against the bar, he decided to take the risk and agree. The worst case scenario would be she killed them but he could clean up that problem. "Alright, we can share someone," he agreed. "Do you see anyone you like?" he asked, turning her to face the crowd so she could take her pick. He would do the rest when she found a suitable snack.
“You’re make it sound like you did.” Eiji breathed a laugh. He didn’t want to let on to knowing why Judas had gone to prison. The whole conversation had been a little too honest and intimate for Eiji and it was something he had pushed to the side and ignored ever since. He would much rather focus on trying to find out if Isko actually planned on doing it again.
“Of course you are. I hear the classes in prison are pretty good for that.” He grinned back. He had to keep it light-hearted and remember who he was supposed to be. If Isko was actually reformed, then he supposed he didn’t have a problem with him. The issue was that he didn’t trust that he really was.
“It’s fine. I’m a bartender, drunk people like giving out their numbers to us. They usually don’t actually want to call or be called.” He chuckled. “I’d say so,” He agreed. He wanted Rei to be happy, especially since Eiji was sure he had ruined enough of his life as it was… “I guess it’s a bonus you’re both supernatural for that sort of thing, too.” He casually added.
"I know," he agreed. Isko's crime was reasonably public to those in the supernatural community given he broke the golden rule. Jacob looked too young to be able to remember that, even if he wasn't supernatural. "I was guilty of my crime and I spent the time I had reflecting on that." Mostly he thought of ways to not get caught or lived through the sweet memories of Carmen and watching her descent into the obsessed love fool she became.
He shrugged, having not found the classes very helpful. In therapy, he found you could just lie and it didn't matter, even the psychiatrists were lying. "I think the people I met helped me more. Judas being one of them." There was another spirit who had helped guide him early on and helped him stay out of trouble. Isko could have been destructive and violent if he hadn't had some calming presences to help keep him in line. "They're definitely one of the good ones."
That might be the case but Isko had every intention of calling and following up with Jacob but things had happened now and he had to behave for his new boyfriend. It didn't stop him feeling that desire to play with the human, wanting to see if he would be easy to break. He acted like a brat and looked like a brat but he thought he would give into affection just as easily. "Well, maybe. He's a witch. I won't ever die but he will." Just saying the words aloud made Isko frown. Maybe he did like Rei more than he had been willing to admit.
Location: Outside Vale Sanctum, Hedon.
Who: @iskodeguzman
“Isko.” Beck breathes the name rather than speaks it, tucked into a shallow alcove beside the looming walls of the Vale Sanctum. Hidden from any human eyes by the shadows that the towering building cast, though she knew better than to believe that would hide herself from him.
She'd rarely set foot in Hedon. Had avoided it, purposefully, ever since she’d learned what kind of things thrived there. But whispers of the Sanctum had come up in her clumsy research anyway - rumours of promised youth, replenished health. Surely something supernatural brooding within the walls. Something she could maybe use, for once, for the better.
Weeks of quiet observation had followed. Watching the front entrance, the steady rhythm of arrivals and departures, guards posted like statues. Too still, too tireless - something vacant in their eyes. She needed an alternative mode of entry.
It took time before she found the hatch.
Tucked around the back, half swallowed by older stonework the Sanctum hadn’t yet polished over. Easy to miss - easier still to open, once she’d worked at the lock. It gave with barely a fight, revealing a narrow passage beyond. Empty and unwatched.
She’d almost gone in alone. Instinct, maybe, or the last shred of self preservation she possessed had stopped her short. This was a reckless idea, even for someone as desperate as her. Which meant calling in a favour she never thought she'd really use.
“You actually came.” There’s a flicker of surprise in her voice as Isko approaches, though she's quick to hide it. Beck isn't blind, however, to the likely reasoning behind the vampire's appearance - curiosity or amusement. She knows better than to trust him. But she does need someone to watch her back, and he's the only person she can think of that would be willing to do so without trying to talk her out of what she's planning.
“You said you’d give me your protection for one night. No questions asked.” Her arms fold tightly across her chest, as if shielding herself. “Does that still stand?”
A beat passes, and there's a subtle give in her defensiveness. She was the one asking him for help, after all.
“I suppose this is a good time to ask…” A faint smirk ghosts across her lips - quick, gone as soon as it appeared. “Are you morally opposed to breaking and entering?” She sensed she already knew the answer.
The streets of Hedon were familiar to Isko. Not many species enjoyed hanging around the demon ran distract but he'd been working at Absynthia for over a year now and knew enough of the familiar crowd to get around without being bothered. It was surprising that a certain werewolf reached out for him to meet her there but not at a club, at one of the demon owned places he'd only heard rumours about.
Curiosity got the best of the vampire because he found himself approaching the building at the agreed time. He did owe her a favour after all. At the time, the bet had seemed kind of silly and Beck clearly did not trust him so the fact that she was reaching out was intriguing to the vampire.
The sound of his name echoed like a hiss and his eyes quickly found Beck, hidden away in the darkness. He followed her eyes into the darkness and stopped a few feet away. "I did," he agreed, chuckling at her surprised tone. Maybe he should have been more concerned about the idea of meeting in shadows and hanging around demon buildings but he was more interested in finding out what kind of trouble she was up to.
"It still stands," he assured, holding his hands up in defense. "I'm a man of my word. Scouts honour." He was fairly confident that he could protect her from most kinds of trouble. He was built to be fairly indestructible so long as they weren't messing around with the sun or deities.
The suggestion doesn't surprise him, in fact, the vampire ad kind of been expecting some sort of criminal activity. "Not in the slightest," he replied, a smile slowly spreading across his lips. "Have you done this kind of thing before?" Isko didn't mind either way, he just wanted to know what kind of trouble he needed to prepare for. "Or is this more of a 'keep your mouth shut and follow' kind of deal?"
"Oh?" Matthew's lips curled up into a smile as they shook hands, their small deal sealed with one simple action. "Now who told you my name?" he asked, a glint in his eye. It was not uncommon for other supernaturals to know the different species elders in the city, but it helped in making conversation.
"It's my pleasure, Isko de Guzman," Matthew repeated the vampire's name so that he could commit it to memory. "I've not seen you around these parts before and I tend to know most of the vampires in Vievecor City. Especially the handsome ones."
Isko knew he didn't have to answer the question honestly when he knew his answer would just stroke the demon's ego. "I think everyone who is a supernatural in this town knows who you are. You own a beautiful bar, a beautiful building that's a haven to many." Including his boyfriend.
Speaking of his boyfriend, Isko glanced down at his phone, seeing that Rei had read his message but not replied. They were meant to meet up over thirty minutes ago and he'd never been late before. His brow furrowed before he put his phone away and focused on the demon instead. He chuckled, smiling at the compliment. His imprisonment was likely the reason but the conversation was just sarting, he didn't need to overshare so soon. "I guess we don't hang out in the same circles. I work at Absynthia but I don't think you'd enjoy that crowd," he answered.
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Eiji had heard about Judas’ time in prison, albeit the information he had was limited. “You went to prison?” He asked, because he wasn’t supposed to know anything about Isko’s past. “Why is it that every vampire I meet lately has gone to prison?” He chuckled faintly, despite finding it not in the least bit funny.
“I thought I was supposed to be the one that’s trouble?” He teased, “Well, that’s good. It seems like Judas would be a calm influence. Do I even want to ask what trouble you get in?” He asked conversationally, trying to maintain an appearance of nonchalance as he cleaned up dirty glasses from the bar and tucked them underneath, swiping the bar quickly with a cloth.
Eiji let out what he hoped was a sheepish sounding laugh, “Alright, you don’t have to talk, I promise. It was just an offer.” He defended, “Well then that explains why you didn’t call me, doesn’t it?” He offered a small smile, one that he didn’t mean. “Do you like him as much as he likes you?”
Something about this conversation felt off compared to the first one he'd had with Jacob. The easy flirting was gone, it felt more stilted like a job interview in a way. "Yes but for a lot less time than Judas did," he answered. "Not that Judas deserved their punishment," he added, not wanting to throw his one friend under the bus. Isko knew he deserved his punishment, he got caught and he completed his incarceration without much trouble.
"I'm reformed trouble," he said, grinning at the younger man. It felt like they were fishing for more but they weren't friends, they were barely acquaintances. "This is the most trouble I get into these days," he said easily, absently tapping his fingers against the bar top. "Trouble would mean breaking my probation. I did the time and now I don't want to go back." That much was true. Isko was just more careful about getting caught now.
He shrugged his shoulders, trying to look nonchalant without answering more of his questions. "It does explain it," he agreed. "Sorry," he added. "I didn't mean to stand you up but I wouldn't have felt good about leading you on," he replied. It was an interesting question and he didn't really know. He did like Rei but he was still figuring that out. "It's still pretty new but I'm happy and he's happy. That's what counts, right?"
A whole year had gone by when she could have been with him, Carmen thought, She let him tilt her chin up, more that content to lose herself in the dark of his eyes.
“There’s no point wanting for something you can’t have…” She replied, “but no, I don’t think I would want to be ‘normal’ again.” Normal in his eyes meant human and it was purely for the sake of the campaign and his own ego that he didn’t wish to acknowledge anything else. Even if Carmen was traumatised from becoming a vampire, at the time she had asked for it and wanted it more than anything. Whether she had been in her right mind enough to make that decision was still up for debate. “I know…” She replied, “I’m still trying to get used to that… but, it would be nice to be able to leave the house more.” Or you could just kill him, her thoughts reminded her and Carmen’s gaze faltered away from Isko’s for the very first time.
It didn’t take long for her to regain herself though, especially when the disappointment of his had falling from her face took over. “O-okay.” She added, quickly sidling up next to him and trying to thread her fingers through the gaps of his, “I missed you. Very much.” That lovesick look had returned to her gaze and she smiled, “I’m glad you’re here now.”
"Yes there is," he answered. It was a return to old habits for the vampire, enjoying calling out the unfair treatment of her father towards her. "If you want something now, you can take it. You're a vampire, Carmen. Your sire should have taught you that," he said, speaking like it was simple. His sire wasn't much either but at least he taught him the basics. For someone who had been under the thumb of their political parents, he knew it wasn't as easy for Carmen to go against them. He had just hoped that she'd grown a back bone since becoming a vampire.
He had been able to convince her to sneak out almost every night to see him when she was human. He didn't want to convince her of that again, not needing a vampire trailing after him when there was already enough people watching but she deserved freedom otherwise she would always be this pathetic creature, trapped by the night. "Do you have a sun ring?" he asked. Isko had no desire to take care of a young vampire but clearly no one had been taking care of her. If he taught her to be independent, than she could run off and find a new person to obsess over. Maybe he could just glamour someone into it.
Their fingers laced with hers, tugging her through the backdoor and into the noisy club. He shouldn't have been encouraging her behaviour but they were at his workplace. It was one thing to have an obsessive human trailing after him but a vampire was much worse. He had thought her obsession with him would fade once the glamour wore off but from the way that Carmen's wide eyes shone with adoration hadn't changed in twenty years.
He was going to use the noise to ignore her affectionate words and just squeezed her hand in response. "Come on, let's get you something to drink and maybe we can find you someone who will let you snack on them, hm?" he suggested.
😡 What is the last thing that they totally overreacted to?
It might have been when Carmen was still human. Someone got too close to her, dividing her attention from Isko to him so Isko killed him.
🙈 When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?
I'm not sure if he's ever felt guilty. He has managed to admit that he's guilty of a crime but morally, he doesn't feel bad about it.
💕 What do they remember most about their first crush?
Isko doesn't remember much about his human life but it was likely a girl in his church congregation who wouldn't have liked him anyway because he was his family were poor and he had no prospects.
😒 What is something that will instantly annoy them?
Asking too many questions. He is always up to something kind of nefarious and people who ask questions are too nosy.
👍🏻 What do they consider the best decision they’ve made thus far in their life?
Killing his sire. Isko had no connection to the other vampire prior to his changing and that connection didn't develop after either. After learning everything he could from his sire, he killed him and has felt both vidicated and freed by this choice. He highly recommends it.
🕛 What have they been thinking about lately that has kept them up at night?
Isko isn't much of a sleeper but recently, he has been thinking about Eiji Remington and his meddlesome ways in his relationship. He admittedly has even done some research but knows he likely won't be able to track him down.
Carmen truly deserves better and Isko is a terrible pereson. Surprisingly, he trusts her quite a lot but it's because he thinks her obsession makes her loyal to him.
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Rei shouldn't take this to heart because this is the highest anyone is going to score with him. He's only really loyal to himself and he doesn't trust anyone. After Christmas, his trust also went down but it's being built back up. He does hold more affection and interest in Rei which are the two hardest things to get out of him.
Matt isn't really his type, he's too old and powerful to fall for his shit so he's not interested in that way. He is interested in how powerful Matt is and how that can benefit him. He's also aware of the relationship with Judas and he's a bros before hoes boy for Judas.
