ᴀɴᴅʀᴇᴡ.

Going to a vampire’ s Halloween party was definitely something her father would never have approved of. Still, she figured, since he was a murder suspect she was technically being useful. While she didn’t consider herself to be much of a hunter in the way that her father was, she did know there was now a threat in Fairview that she had to deal with.

She’d never been allowed to go trick-or-treating as a girl, and dressing up had been impractical to her family. She had no time to waste being foolish, they’d scolded her one year when she’d begged them to let her go trick-or-treating like the other kids, when monsters used this night as an excuse to go hunting. She hated that- and so as silly as she felt dressing up in costume when she was nearly thirty, she decided to do it anyways. She wore a pointed red had, and a blue cape with a red inside and gold buttons fastening it. While she would probably be mistaken for a gnome, she’d actually dressed as Wirt - a character from her favorite cartoon.

“Hm?” Lilith turned to face Andrew as he tapped her shoulder. Her eyes fell on the kids. “Oh! Actually, I do.”

She reached into her bag and pulled out a box of bagged candies. She knelt on the ground and held it out for the trick-or-treaters to take from.

“Thanks for letting me know.” Lilith said, putting the box back in her bag as the kids walked off. “I was kind of spaced out there.”

THE  WOMAN  NEXT  TO  HIM  —  dressed  in  a  costume  that  andrew  thought  clashed  hilariously  —  was  apparently  much  kinder  than  he  was.  more  thoughtful  too,  apparently,  carrying  around  sweets  for  the  kids.  he  offered  her  a  grin.  “ what  a  good  fairy  godmother  you  are, ”  he  replied,  watching  her  interact  with  the  kid  dressed  as  a  little  devil  and  his  little  angel  counterpart.  for  a  second,  he  wondered  how  funny  it  would  be  for  him  and  yuri  to  pull  that  idea  off.  he  laughed,  earning  a  confused  look  from  the  kids.

a  wave  of  a  hand  dismissed  their  attention,  though.  or  well,  andrew  opted  to  turn  his  attention  back  to  the  woman  by  his  side.  upon  further  scrutiny,  it  seemed  like  he  still  didn’t  recognize  her,  but  that  wasn’t  odd  for  him.  not  many  came  into  his  circle.  he  cocked  his  head  to  the  side  as  he  addressed  her.  “ perhaps  you  should’ve  dressed  as  one.  it’d  be  fitting, ”  andrew  offered,  partly  as  a  joke  and  partly  a  question  about  her  outfit.  “ then  again,  whatever  this  is  you’re  donning  may  just  fit  lucien’s  idea  of  wild  circus  better.  you  know  the  host? ”

May nodded, beyond delighted she had picked up all the excess candy she had bought for the children frequenting the library. Carrying around sugary treats was a novelty to her, something she tried to avoid doing, but it was Halloween and leaving such a cute devil empty-handed seemed like a crime in itself. 

“It appears so,” she replied with a nod as she reached into her rather massive bag, “yes. Here we go. I hope he likes these.” Truth be told, she wasn’t entirely sure whether the treats she had chosen were anything the little ones of the day enjoyed. Luckily the child in question seemed rather pleased with the selection. “Here’s to hoping he will remember to brush his teeth.” 

IT  APPEARED  THAT  the  woman  standing  next  to  him  was  not  only  far  kinder  than  he  was,  but  also  far  more  thoughtful.  andrew  hadn’t  even  thought  of  bringing  sweets  on  halloween,  not  used  to  humoring  little  kids  —  especially  not  this  late  into  the  night.  he  wondered  when  the  children  population  of  fairview  would  finally  return  home  while  the  rest  of  them  celebrated  the  night  away.

“ very  thoughtful  of  you, ”  he  commented,  hand  outstretched  with  his  palm  up.  “ i  don’t  suppose  i  can  have  a  treat  too?  don’t  worry,  i’ll  brush  my  teeth. ”  cue  a  grin  at  the  joke.  “ i  can’t  speak  for  him,  though.  let’s  hope  that  his  parents  will  remind  him.  why  are  these  kids  still  out  here  trick  or  treat-ing  anyways? ”

HALLOWEEN WAS DIFFERENT for the astors. the story never seemed to focus on candies, ghouls and frights, but rather on traditions steeped in legends and mystics. it was a night of great importance – and most importantly, great power – and every year persephone counted down the days. as she grew she got more into it, the humans were so gullible it was almost too easy. she didn’t believe in dressing up, she was an astor, she was above that; nor did she believe in handing out treats to little kids but oh did she believe in the tricks.every year she would venture out, clad in all black, to wreak havoc on the poor unsuspecting individuals who got in her way. this year was no different.   “sorry, i don’t do treats – only tricks.” she glared down at the child, waving them off. “move along, mouthbreather.” with a roll of her eyes she turned around, she really despised children. “kids. they ruin everything.”

AS  MANY  WEREN’T  the  fondest  of  him,  he  supposed  that  sentiment  also  applied  for  persephone  astor.  for  different  reasons,  but  with  the  way  the  girl’s  features  had  contorted  into  a  glare  that  could  drive  people  at  least  ten  miles  away  from  her,  it  was  no  surprise  that  not  many  were  flocking  to  her  for  her  company.

andrew  laughed  at  her  negativity,  undeterred  by  her  glare  like  many  others  would  be.  instead,  he  grinned  back  at  the  roll  of  her  eyes.  “ come  now,  seph, ”  he  began,  his  tone  teasing.  “ they’re  having  a  grand  time,  let  them. ”  a  child  still  looked  up  at  the  both  of  them  from  a  distance,  pouting  and  giving  them  a  pleading  look.  somehow,  andrew  doubted  that  it  would  move  persephone.  so  he  too  ignored  the  child,  opting  to  turn  his  attention  to  her  and  going,  “ but  if  you’re  so  determined  to  make  them  go  away,  scare  them,  then.  where’s  that  trick  you  speak  of? ”

zaira picked up xir drink, downing the remnants – it was a mistake. xe almost choked on the drink as andrew replied, xir laughter turning into a cough. the smile lingered on zaira’s lips even after the laughing-cough subsided. zaira feigned surprise. “ exclusive ?  lord ME, MYSELF & I?  ” xir gaze dropped, making a show of critically looking andrew up and down, though the amusement was still clear in the crinkle of xir eyes. “ pity. though, if you have to ask how good they are, guess they’ve just dodged a bullet. ”

HE  GAVE  XEM  A  proud  grin,  thumping  his  chest  once  as  if  he  was  bragging  about  things  he’d  accomplish.  although,  one  could  say  that  becoming  exclusive  was  an  accomplishment.  especially  when  said  person  was  andrew  zhao.  no  one  in  this  town  expected  it,  probably.  “ that’s  me, ”  he  declared  with  pride.  “ what,  is  it  so  hard  to  believe  that  i’m  taken  and  am  not  that  interested  in  your  slutty  friends?  shame  on  them  for  missing  me,  though.”  he  definitely  purposely  ignored  what  xe  said  about  xir  friends  dodging  a  bullet.

“No, just a silly rich boy who thinks he’s the emperor.” Wen teased. “But if you ever want to start working for a living we’ve got a position open in housekeeping.”

Wen placed a hand on her chest in comically feigned shock. “Does this mean you won’t be staying at my fine establishment?”

HE  LOOKED  PLEASED  AT  the  abrupt  switches  that  they  were  having  between  the  two  languages.  in  chinese  again,  he  said,  “ ah,  auntie.  i  wish  i  was  an  emperor. ”  the  wistful  words  were  completed  with  a  dramatic  sigh  at  the  end  of  it,  hand  to  the  heart  as  if  he  didn’t  want  to  wake  up  from  the  dream.  but  the  illusion  quickly  fell  away,  replaced  with  a  shake  of  his  head.  “ that’s  a  nice  offer,  auntie,  but  is  housekeeping  a  job  fit  for  a  wannabe  emperor? ”

he  was  teasing,  really.  not  that  he  would  ever  want  to  work  in  the  motel,  but  wen  probably  knew  that  already.  the  offer  most  likely  wasn’t  made  in  a  serious  nature.  both  of  them  knew  that  the  entirety  of  the  motel  would  fall  apart  with  andrew  as  a  housekeeper.  “ but, ”  he  started  to  continue  on  instead,  ignoring  wen’s  question  on  staying  in  her  motel.  “ i  could  put  in  good  word  about  your  motel.  then  you  can  give  me  five  percent  of  your  profit.  fair  demand,  right? ”  the  proposal  was  also  made  in  a  joking  manner,  yet  he  voiced  it  anyways.

so  here  he  was,  standing  in  line  for  another  party  in  town  and  watching  little  kids  in  their  tiny  costumes  hold  out  baskets  and  look  up  at  him  and  all  the  other  adults  with  those  pitiful  eyes.  he  tapped  the  person  next  to  him  before  pointing  at  a  kid  in  devil’s  horns.  “ got  any  spare  candies?  that  kid  over  there  looks  like  a  really  sad  devil,  don’t  you  think? ”

 HAD   SHE   INADVERTENTLY   BROUGHT   ABOUT   THE   APOCALYPSE?   had   she   possibly   dropped   every   person   in   not   only   fairview,   but   the   world,   into   a   mine   field   without   intending   to?   all   she   knew   for   certain   was   that   she   had   unleashed   something   not   of   this   world   and   that   the   clocks   in   the   manor   had   stopped   ticking.   suddenly,   the   origin   behind   her   name   seemed   apt.   

 in   order   to   reverse   the   chaos   she   had   surely   thrown   fairview   and   its   residents   into,   pandora   came   up   with   the   crude   beginnings   of   a   plan.

 step   one:   find   a   way   to   round   up   what   she   had   released.   step   two:   see   if   said   otherworldly   being   would   grant   her   the   power   she   needed   to   usurp   her   father.   step   three:   throw   a    wicked   party.

 the   rest   she   would   leave   to   her   luck   and   wits.   after   all,   planning   had   never   been   her   strong   suit.   “ excuse   me,   you   haven’t   seen   anything   strange   run   by   here   have   you?   little   men   with   tails   and   pitchforks,   maybe? ”

FOR  A  SECOND,  he  almost  succumbed  to  the  temptation  of  holding  a  hand  out  to  her  forehead.  but  he  held  himself  back,  knowing  full  well  that  he  could  lose  the  entire  arm  for  doing  that  to  her.  even  with  his  back  turned  on  her,  hers  was  a  voice  that  he  would  instantly  recognize.  unluckily  for  her,  it  seemed  that  his  form  was  not  one  she  did.

he  could  pretend  he  didn’t  hear.  or  pretended  that  he  was  someone  else,  mutter  a  no  in  a  deep  voice  before  walking  away.  but  it  was  halloween,  and  he  was  dressed  as  yusuke  kitagawa,  and  he  was  having  fun.  maybe  it  was  the  costume  that  encouraged  him  too.  either  way,  he  turned  around,  brows  furrowed  in  mock  concern  —  not  that  she  could  see  it  through  his  mask.

“ I   DON’T   THINK,   I   KNOW   i   could, ”    yuri   sniffed,   gathering   the   silk   of   her   robe   into   her   fist   as   she   closed   off   any   visual   access   to   her   cleavage   he   previously   had.   annoyance   flashed   through   her   once   the   weight   of   his   gaze   shifted   back   to   her   and   she   moved   towards   the   bathroom   door,   a   clear   dismissal.   “ no   vampire   would   dare   lay   their   hands   on   me.   christian   was   easy   pickings   because   they   were   a   human.   they’re   too   fragile   for   our   world,   even   the   vanderbilts.   they   just   don’t   realize   it   until   its   too   late   and   their   necks   are   between   the   teeth   of   beasts. ”    she   began   to   run   her   bath,   letting   her   hand   move   under   the   spray   of   water   to   check   the   temperature   as   she   perched   herself   on   the   side   of   the   tub.

andrew   wasn’t   someone   she   would    call   a   friend   —  yuri   didn’t   have   friends.   minions   and   people   who   were   pawns   in   her   game   were   not   worth   her   time   for   something   so   fleeting   as   friendship.   it   had   always   been   her   and   it   would   always   remain   that   way.   it   was   the   natural   order   of   things   and   she   was   content   to   leave   it   that   way.

“ i   don’t   like   having   you   around.   you’re   a   nuisance   that   won’t   go   away.   the   only   trouble   i’m   ever   in   is   the   one   you   create. ”   she   purposely   angled   her   back   towards   him,   finally   stopping   the   water   once   it   reached   an   acceptable   level.  “ now,   let   me   take   my   bath   in   peace.   slither   on   out   of   here   the   way   you   came. ”

IT  GOT  DIFFICULT,  sometimes.  between  her  crassness  and  her  inability  to  ever  admit  that  they  were  friends,  even  someone  like  andrew  wasn’t  immune  to  the  possible  doubt  it  could  cast.  but  time  and  time  again  he  was  taken  back  to  the  past,  when  it  had  barely  been  a  year  since  he  decided  that  he  found  a  friend  in  her,  and  how  back  then,  this  little  fae  princess  had  flown  off  to  defend  his  honor  against  anyone  who  dared  talk  about  him.  and  he  knew,  despite  all  her  words  and  her  actions,  despite  the  glare  and  the  coldness,  this  was  still  the  same  girl  who  had  done  it  all  for  him.

this  was  his  best  friend.

after  all,  if  she  really  wanted  to,  she  could’ve  easily  gotten  someone  to  ward  him  off  her  apartment.  it  wouldn’t  be  the  first  time  yuri  would’ve  gone  that  far  against  someone  she  disliked.  it  was  these  little  things  that  reminded  him,  always,  that  she  didn’t  see  him  the  same  way  she  saw  all  the  others  she  claimed  she  hated.

he  hoped  he  was  right.

he  followed  her  to  the  bathroom,  where  she  drew  her  bath.  but  this  time,  he  didn’t  push  as  hard  as  he  did.  he  at  least  knew  her  limits.  he  ignored  her  sentiments  about  how  she  could  take  on  the  entire  vampire  population  of  fairview.  she  was  right,  on  some  fronts.  she  was  also  wrong  on  some  others.  but  he  knew  when  to  drop  a  losing  argument  when  he  saw  one.  instead,  he  turned  his  attention  to  her  next  sentences.

“ really,  now? ”  he  drawled,  standing  his  ground  even  when  she  turned  off  the  tap.  cue  for  him  to  leave,  he  knew.  but  he  wasn’t  done.  his  arms  folded  across  his  chest  now.  “ you  and  i  both  know  that  if  you  don’t  like  having  me  around  you’d  keep  me  away.  you’re  song  yuri, ”  andrew  argued.  “ you’d  find  a  way  to  keep  me  out.  but  here  you  are,  letting  me  stand  in  your  bathroom.  something  tells  me  you  want  me  to  be  here.  i  wonder  why.”

this  time,  he  let  his  signature  smirk  back  on  his  face  as  he  waited  for  her  to  turn  around.  neither  of  them  would  be  foolish  enough  to  ignore  the  suggestive  tone  his  words  had  taken.

“Perhaps not,” Wen admitted in Chinese “but you’re putting the gray in my hair. The complimentary meal is bacon and eggs, with your choice of tea or coffee. Is that satisfactory or would you prefer I hire you a private chef?”

She knew it was foolish to be so snappy with someone so young, but the Zhao boy was old enough to know it was rude to bother a working woman. And something about an unemployed rich boy playing games with her while she worked one of her two jobs rubbed her the wrong way.

Mostly though, she just enjoyed teasing him as much as she was sure he enjoyed teasing her. There was something mischievous about him that reminded her of her brother when they were young.

“Why are you considering renting a room anyways? Did your parents finally decide your old enough to start paying rent?”

“ AH,  AN  ACCOMPLISHMENT, ”  andrew  jested.  he  knew  that  to  many,  his  ability  to  say  all  the  wrong  things  at  the  wrong  times  was  often  seen  as  his  defining  trait  —  if  not  his  only  one.  by  now,  he  let  them  think  that  way.  and  he  was  sure  that  wen  was  one  of  those  the  many  who  thought  of  him  like  that.  he  waved  a  hand,  as  if  he  was  dismissing  the  notion  that  she  was  proposing.  “ don’t  bother, ”  he  said.  “ you  know,  contrary  to  the  public’s  belief,  i’m  not  that  picky  with  my  breakfast.  besides,  eggs  and  bacon  is  always  a  solid  breakfast  choice.  i  don’t  even  have  a  private  chef  at  home.  who  do  you  take  me  as,  auntie?  the  emperor? ”

an  amused  grin  tugged  on  his  lips.  both  of  them  knew  that  he  could  fancy  himself  the  emperor  if  he  wanted  to.  hell,  perhaps  he  already  did.  but  he  made  no  comments  on  it,  and  instead  pushes  his  chair  back  to  stand  and  stretch.  his  lips  pursed  at  the  question  wen  posed.

EVER  THE  SUSPECT    —    an  unfortunate  burden  of  sorts  to  always  be  assumed  guilty.   the  undead  have  a  way  of  making  some  feel  queasy,   on  guard.   once  upon  a  time,   she  took  pleasure  in  it,   reveled  in  the  power    &    control.   now,   with  the  cops    (   &   every   wanna  -  be   detective  in  town   )   sniffing  around,   she  thinks  twice   —   watches  her  back.   the  things  people  will  do  to  just  survive. 

lips  purse  when  he  approaches,   eyes  sliding  down    &    up    &    back  again  to  give  him  the  signature,   thorough  once  -  over.   she  bites  back  a  laugh  at  his  question    —    the  son  of  her  boss  ?    how  foolish,   how  stupid  would  she  have  to  be  ? 

❝   you’re  sick,   you  know  that  ?   ❞    she  asks,   chin  lifting  as  she  straightens  her  spine.   ❝   you  really  think  i  would  kill  lucius  vanderbilt’s  son  ?    —    you  really  think  i,   of  all  people,    would  kill  christian  ?   ❞    sure,   christian  probably  had  it  coming    —    the  ones  who  couldn’t  be  bothered  to  make  it  out  alive  usually  did.   but  this  time,   the  blood  wasn’t  on  her  hands.      ❝   lay  off  the  infowars  conspiracy  theories   —   it’s  not  a  good  look.   ❞

AH,  THE  DREADED  LINE.  you’re  sick,  you  know  that?  it’s  not  the  first  time  he’s  heard  it,  and  by  now  it’s  long  lost  its  sting.  you’re  sick,  you  know  that?  the  first  time  he’s  ever  heard  it  —  andrew  can’t  remember  anymore,  but  he  knows  that  once  upon  a  time  in  his  childhood  someone’s  called  him  sick.  it’s  the  first  he  remembers  of  that  line.  it  used  to  hurt,  like  a  sharp  sting  that  annoyingly  won’t  go  away  even  when  he  wills  it  too.  but  now  he  faces  heeyoung’s  accusation  head  on,  with  a  smile  gracing  his  lips.

shoulders  lifting  in  a  shrug,  without  missing  a  beat  he  says,  “ i  didn’t  accuse  you  of  anything  now,  did  i? ”  a  smirk  in  place  as  he  stares  heeyoung  down  right  back  at  her.  he  mirrors  her  gesture,  chin  lifted  as  he  too  straightens.  he’s  taller  than  her  already,  so  he  isn’t  going  to  let  her  intimidate  him.  “ i  don’t  think  anything, ”  he  corrects  her.  “ i’m  not  the  one  on  the  suspect  list. ”  how  he  knows  this  heeyoung  probably  knows  already.  he  is,  after  all,  a  zhao.

@vulpc

❝ I have a lot of slutty friends you might like. ❞ 

LAUGHTER  BUBBLED  FROM  his  lips.  andrew  leaned  across  the  table,  brows  raised  as  if  he  was  intrigued  by  what  zaira  said.  “ mmm, ”  he  hummed,  placing  his  hand  under  his  chin  as  he  stared  up  at  xem.  “ tempting. ”  the  word  was  uttered  so  casually,  a  teasing  grin  lighting  up  their  figures.  “ i  wonder,  just  how  good  are  these  slutty  friends  of  yours?  too  bad  i’m  exclusive  already. ”

“The fun is it gives this poor old woman a break.” Wen muttered, lifting her left hand to her face to briefly rub her eyes.

She sighed, meeting Andrew’s teasing gaze. Wen wasn’t a fool, she knew the motel was trashy. She also knew that that was why it attracted the business that it did, which was exactly the kind of business she’d been investigating. There was no way to sell this to an upper class brat looking for fun, unless he wanted to mingle with The Poor for an Authentic Experience. She raised an eyebrow at him and indulged his game for a brief moment. “The appeal is we have beds, heating, hot water, and we ask minimal questions. It’s 45 for the night and we serve a complimentary breakfast for those who want it.”

WELL AWARE THAT wen hadn’t intended for him to hear that, andrew flashed her a winning smile anyways. “oh, auntie,” he cooed, switching into chinese once more. “you’re not that old. still young enough to have some fun and humor your favorite boy, right? i’m here to make sure you have some fun.” 

he wasn’t sure what drove him to push her even farther, but he was having too much fun to stop. it wasn’t that he was condescending her, nor was he commenting about how shitty and cheap the architecture of her motel was. yes, it was true, he would never rent a room out here unless his life depended on it, but that wasn’t the reason he was here today. it wasn’t to make fun of her. it was just ... incredibly interesting to interact with an older chinese woman who had completely different ideals from him.

still, his eyes lit up at the mention of complimentary breakfast. playing coy, he added, “and what would the complimentary breakfast be? maybe i’ll consider renting out a room one night.” but both of them knew that there was no chance he would, and it would probably be better for wen — not andrew — if he left immediately.

Wen sighed, pushing her glasses up into her hair. Three hours, she decided, was not enough sleep to put up with this boy and his weird games.

“You’ve said a lot of maybes.” She noted, now in English. “But you still haven’t actually told me what you’re doing on my property. If you are… getting ‘intel’, as you put it, I doubt you’ll find anything. If you’re looking for a place to stay, then say so.”

HE COULDN’T HELP the laugh that left his lips. the uncertainty that he felt when he first stepped into the motel had faded now — the same way wen’s smile did. contrary to what anyone else believed, andrew harbored no hard feelings towards her. he had no reason to. though, he couldn’t say for sure if that sentiment went both ways. after all, a twenty one year old boy probably proved to be nothing but a nuisance to the woman. yet, even knowing this, andrew still pushed, striding up to her desk and taking a seat opposite of her without waiting for her permission. surely that behavior was warranted for, considering that he was a guest at her motel.

the grin he wore was still trained on her as he sat down, hands folded across the table in front of him. “i’m a person who likes my maybes. what’s the fun in absolutes?” andrew quipped back. then, teasingly, he leaned in, as if he was going to share some big secret with the older woman. “well, auntie, why don’t you try to sell the appeal of this motel to me to get me to book a room for the night? maybe i will.”

Wen pursed her lips. The irony in his use of ‘Auntie’ while clearly meaning disrespect not going past her.

She gave him a tight smile, responding to him in Chinese in kind. “Yes I’m well aware of their hotel, I take in the costumers they snub. Are your aunt and uncle aware you’re here snooping on their behalf?”

WHERE HE GREW UP, and as it was in chinese customs, it was, andrew knew, incredibly out of line to be so blase with someone older. but he had carried out most of his life here in fairview, and he reasoned that there was no reason that wen would think him rude just yet. sure, the both of them knew that calling her auntie was done to get a rise out of her, but there wasn’t much she could do about that.

and while her customer service smile faded into a tighter, humorless one, andrew maintained his own bright grin when he shrugged his shoulders in response to her question. “do they,” he shot back, still speaking in chinese. “maybe i wanted to surprise them with some intel. though i suppose i wouldn’t be out here telling you that if i were.” lifting his gaze away from wen, his eyes scanned the lobby. it was, without a doubt, vastly different from the ambassador. and to be quite honest, andrew would never see the appeal of flo’s compared to his uncle’s inherited hotel. still, he knew it had its uses — especially amongst college students. he wandered if anything shady was going on around here right now. 

he directed his smile back at her. “besides, i’m not really snooping, am i? i’m trying to understand this place better, auntie. there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?” then, slipping back into english, he added, “maybe i’m sick of my uncle’s hotel and wanted to try stay here. what was it you said — taking in customers they snub? well, i’m here willingly.”

date: september 24, 11:47 pm. location: eclipse.

DION BRANSON WAS, as andrew had learned, not so different from the rest of the world after all. underneath the mask of seduction he wore, the man — if you could call him that, for was dion branson even still human? — could still twitch in annoyance, could still let his mouth curved downwards, and the very idea of this brought a smirk onto andrew’s lips. one that could very much rival dion’s own on other days.

but today — today andrew would make sure that the smirk wouldn’t even make it to dion’s lips. he wanted to see the vampire scowl and glare, and have to rein in his frustrations to answer with that silky voice of his. 

and what better way to do that than to visit dion’s home turf and get to the best of him there?

perhaps it wasn’t the smartest idea to antagonize a vampire who looked evil to his core, but he wasn’t christian vanderbilt. he would know how to protect himself from one very irritating vampire. and as soon as dion was finished with his stage, andrew casually strolled towards him, like they were two friends. like he was going to compliment dion and told him about how a good night it had been. then, when their eyes met, he drawled out, “you’re still on the loose? shame. here i was thinking you would be the top suspect of the murder case.”

it’s a slow night, the hours ebbing away as ivy uses the mostly empty cafe to practice spells: heating, levitating, repairing. a white mug sits safely back on a shelf, knitted back together without a single crack. it took a few tries, sure, her last one at the end of her shift, but it’s a small victory in her eyes, a victory she puts in her pocket as she closes up, the cool fall air hitting her cheeks when she steps out into the night. the sound of someone approaching makes her glance up from her phone. “ we’re closed. if you’re looking for a late night caffeine fix, try 7/11. ” she pauses, holding up a packaged croissant, one of the leftovers she’s taken for herself. “ i guess i got something if you’re hungry, though. ” 

FUNNY HOW IN THE DARK, you often become someone else entirely. and not just metaphorically speaking, although he too knew that it was true. but in this case, it was in the quite literal sense of ivy langston speaking to him in an almost friendly manner. he raised his brows, stepping out of the shadows so that she could see who this newcomer seeking for a late night snack was. she wouldn’t be so kind to him, but that hardly concerned andrew. if anything, he was amused. “may i?” he gestured to the package she held up. “i’d be forever in your favor.” the words sounded polite, friendly even, but he knew that neither of them would read it as such.

YURI’S BRUSH STILLED IN HER HAIR as andrew entered in through her window, her face pulling into a scowl at his sudden entrance. “what the hell are you talking about? you’re not putting me under house arrest. also, stop using my window as a way into my apartment or i’ll have it nailed shut.” she slammed her brush onto the vanity, twirling around in her seat to fix her glare onto his face. “i was about to take a bath, leave. go harass someone else if you’re bored.” 

christian vanderbilt’s death was a shock across the community, but it hardly concerned her. a vampire hadn’t laid a hand on a song in centuries and to do so again would be suicide. she was secure in her knowledge that abel elswood wouldn’t try something so foolish again. at least, not with their family. 

yuri stood, drawing the silk of her robe closer to her body as she sneered, “i’m twenty-one, i don’t need a babysitter. the only one who’s trouble around here, is you.”

IT WAS HARD TO SAY THAT he was surprised by the response he had gotten. they had known each other since grade school, — kindergarten, really — and one could even go so far as to call them best friends, but even andrew wasn’t protected to her sharp tongue and even sharper words. it was just the way yuri was, and at this point, despite it all, he had taught himself how to be immune to her sneers.

after all, he knew her well enough to understand that she never meant it. not with him. never with him. andrew entertained that thought with a small smile flitting on his lips. but that sincere small smile didn’t stick, instead morphing into a more playful, smug grin when he brought his gaze back to yuri.

he hadn’t missed her state of dress — or rather, undress. but they were andrew and yuri, and this wasn’t the first time he’d seen her this bare. nor would it be the last. and none of that mattered right now anyways. choosing not to comment on it, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “maybe you don’t,” he agreed. “but you also think that you could singlehandedly take on the entire vampire population.” 

it was a flaw, really. one that both of them shared. they thought they were untouchable, invincible to all the harm that could fall upon them. and maybe, just maybe, the recent turns of event was making andrew realize that. the thought soured him just a bit, so he focused on his friend — standing in nothing but a silk robe, glaring down at him — instead. undeterred, he took a step closer towards her. “so, in conclusion, i wouldn’t say you’re the best judge of what trouble you’re in.” he went on. “and besides, you like trouble. isn’t that why you like having me around so much?”

a smirk now rested on his features. andrew, one, yuri, zero.