|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 8:14 pm
"Please."
Soah's voice was soft, giving evidence to how he was quickly becoming troubled by the exchange between Neil and Merihem, now that he had taken the time to listen. It wasn't easy, not when he knew he was the reason Neil had to put up with Merihem. The guilt rose up in his throat, and it was difficult for him to keep in the pitying whine that wanted to rise out of him. Neil hated it when he started feeling bad for him, and if Neil found out he was feeling that way again, he would only become more concerned, and maybe even slightly irritated. Either way, Soah didn't think it smart to let Neil or Brad in on the inner turmoil going on in his mind. So he hid it, though he couldn't hide his desire to get away from the situation. It was only natural for him to feel uncomfortable bearing witness to the scene. No one could assume that he was feeling bad for other reasons.
Merihem laughed richly at Neil's retort to his question, and if anything pulled the man tighter against him. "Ah, but you should know anyways from the way I look at you, from the way I give myself up to you. It should be so clear that at the slightest provocation I will react. You are not so naive, Neil." His hand slid up to cup Neil's cheek, to turn his head so he could steal a kiss on the lips. Really, he could not be deterred once the hunger had settled in. He didn't care that Brad and Soah were still there. He had none of that innate modesty humans had.
"Fine, as you desire. We'll move to whichever place you desire the most." There he was, prompting Neil to speak up his desires, though he had the good sense to realize Neil wouldn't readily talk in front of his companions. So, Merihem backed away from the man, instead wrapping an arm around his shoulder and guiding him out of the room. "I do not know the layout of your home, though, so I think that you should lead the way." Yet his arm remained where it was, because he wasn't sure if Neil would run from the situation or not. Most of the time Neil didn't, because he knew Merihem would grow tired of the chasing game and settle for a more readily available meal.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:45 am
Gripping the blood-stained rag in his injured hand, the Italian took a step back as though to usher the teen in the opposite direction of the two. Brad didn't like the situation anymore than the blonde, but their mutual friend offered an out instead.
Neil wanted to retort, to fight, to make things as difficult as possible for the arrogant demon; he could not, however, with his friends near by. It wasn't a game he needed to play, wasn't something he needed to give in to the Incubus. With a sigh very close to being resigned, he subconsciously looped an arm around Merihem's waist, his fingers lighting over the cool flesh of the demon's hip bone. It would be in everyone's best interest if he could just get the Incubus out of the room and somewhere private, to spare them all the discomfort. The unspoken questions and implications in the air were heavy, and he didn't want to choke on his own decisions.
"Th'shower," he murmured softly, leading Merihem with his own arm. "May'aps it'll warm ye'a bit." Neil let his disgruntled voice be enough of a fight for the time being, at least until they got to their destination. He knew it wouldn't be as easy as feeding the hunger with the demon; there were more games to play behind closed doors than he cared to admit. With a singular backwards glance over his bare shoulder, he disappeared into the hallway, Merihem at his side.
The tension Brad had been holding in his shoulders released, making him sag a little with the effort. This was too much for him to handle all in one shot, with the boy named Soah and two demons too many. He looked wearily to where the two had departed before releasing the teen against his chest, both hands falling to his sides. The man knew that Neil had moved on purpose, silently grateful for his friend's consideration of others above himself. It seemed not all had been lost on that cold day so long ago.
"Well then," he rumbled, turning his indigo gaze to look into Soah's own. "What do you do when you're here? I guess I'll have to try and be a substitute, although I don't think I quite match that man's attitude." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully with his good hand, offering a faint smile of encouragement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:13 am
Merihem was pleased with the presence of Brad and young Soah, though he appreciated Brad's presence more. It was clearly the reason why Neil was being so cooperative. He didn't want to draw this out in front of his friend, and Neil didn't want Brad to be forced to face what he was doing so quickly. So he was being agreeable with Merihem, and was putting up no resistance when Merihem began to lead him away. It even gave him some sort of guilty pleasure to have Neil's arm around his waist. Neil would never have done such a thing without prompting. Merihem knew why he did it, just to make sure that he didn't linger in the presence of his friends too long. Neil was guiding him away... but it still made him feel good. He was going to have to assault Neil in front of his companions more often!
"Are you complaining about the temperature of my skin? I thought such a thing did not bother you that much." His voice had returned to that characterstic accentless sound. It seemed detached, almost uncaring, though Merihem's interest in the situation was clear enough. He just didn't see the point in portraying it through his voice and his expressions. Words were enough, or at least should be enough for Neil to know that Merihem still wanted him. His desire was not yet to wane. "But, agreed, the shower it is."
His arm tightened around Neil's shoulder, holding him close, but still letting the other guide him away down the hallway, away from Brad and Soah. Merihem didn't care. He was going to get fed, wasn't he? And it would be a good feed.
Soah had obediently kept his head tucked against Brad's chest, truthfully unwilling to look at Neil, but it would not have bothered him so much. After all, he had seen about as much of Neil as Brad did, and probably more. He wouldn't tell Brad this, because that wasn't something you discussed with a man you just met, even if they did seem to be Neil's friend. Brad wasn't yet his friend, though Soah already found himself caring for the other. It was a habit of his, putting the needs of other people first. Brad had, in his mind, been traumatized by Merihem... and so Soah naturally felt for him, and naturally wanted to be nice to him and make friends with him.
"I usually... don't come here. It's only when Merihem's really bothering me, or when I'm feeling really ill and exhausted. But if I'm not here for those reasons, I usually play some video games while Neil watches. He doesn't like to play as much as I do." Soah was certain, actually, that Neil didn't like to play at all. "We could play some games, if you wanted to? I mean, we should probably make certain to tend to your hand... and if you want to go, because Merihem's here, that's fine. I understand. He was cruel to you." He shrugged his shoulders, shining upon Brad a sincere, but somewhat shy smile. "You looked quite... shocked." Of course he didn't connect it to himself, there was no evidence to connect it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:06 am
Satisfied for the moment - as well as he could be, for who could truly find peace in what Neil was doing? - Brad listened to the blonde youth politely, nodding at the words and considering them all. "Yeah, Neil was never a fan of video games, but you can thank my sister for that. Years of losing to a girl can take the interest out of gaming." He rolled his broad shoulders and offered a faint smile, trying to remind himself that this boy didn't know much about them - Neil and Brad's history. Soah wasn't Ashlyn. It was something he had to repeat to himself.
"I don't mind playing myself. I'm not too good with fine tuned games like that Wee-thing, but I'm a fair shot better than our friend." Brad turned to the sink again, unwrapping his hand to clean the blood off, taking the time to truly assess his wounds and make sure they wouldn't have to be stitched or otherwise treated. Despite the cuts, he used both hands to wring out the red soaked rag, content that his hand didn't ache and bleed too much at the motion and deeming himself well enough to continue with life. Replacing the rag around his sliced palm, he looked to the teen with a small bit of confusion on his stern brow.
Merihem. What a name. "Has nothing to do with that guy," he shrugged again, his words flippant. "Being greated at your friend's door by a naked woman who can look you in the eye is intimidating. Yours, not so much. There's enough humans like him that it's more of an inconvenience than something to be afraid of." At least with the Incubus, humans knew what was expected. It was that frigid and unyielding terror of a woman that made him more uncomfortable. Brad flexed his fingers above the tied rag, nodding in satisfaction before smiling to Soah. "Shocked...hell, I felt like I was going to lose my marbles on the spot. How old are you, anyway?"
Of course Soah wouldn't know the reaction was to him and not Merihem. The Italian could have laughed at the misunderstanding, as it couldn't have been farther from the truth. While he was starting to feel a little more relaxed, he couldn't help but note that it was probably because he was unable to seperate the two entities in his head, at least physically. His daughter and this boy were not one in the same, but to his eye, it was like a band aid on his heart. He was scared, but grateful for the strange and overwhelming situation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:24 pm
Soah was suddenly very interested in meeting Brad's sister, only for the reason that she seemed to be an expert at video games, and he sorely would like a challenge. He was sure he could even lose gracefully if Brad's sister was truly better at games then him. The next game he would just have to pick out something that he was better at... and then they'd be on even grounds, and he could picture them becoming fast friends, sitting in front of the television all night, their fingers working effortlessly the black controllers. It was any teenage boy's dream - not the woman, but playing against someone challenging all night long. Soah was yet to take any interest in the opposite (or same) gender. "Well, I get the suspicion that Neil wasn't very good at them to begin with."
Did he feel a little uncomfortable talking about Neil right now? Yes, he did, and anxiously his gaze flickered back to the hall where Merihem and Neil had disappeared. He hoped Neil was really okay with this, and he hoped Merihem wouldn't unneccessarily cruel to him. Merihem hadn't a tendency to be impatient with Soah, so he only expected the same when Merihem went to bed and feed off of Neil. He vaguely pondered over if he should really allow this to continue... but he was scared that Neil wouldn't come around and visit him otherwise. It was a selfish thought, but Soah too could be selfish a little every now and then.
"Oh, we don't have the Wii here. It's pretty fun, though, once you get the hang of it and stuff. My dad would do Wii Sports with me when he got home from work, before he tossed the game out my window." He frowned at the memory, because he did sorely miss his game. But... there was nothing he could do about it now, and Neil was keeping him healthy with enough games and game consoles to entertain him until he somehow earned the money to buy new games and the like. "But, I would be glad to play against you."
He laughed softly, because he had to agree that it might be worse to be greeted by a confident and naked woman. Soah was sure that he would be too embarrassed to say a word if he got stuck in such a situation. "Well, I suppose there are humans out there that are like him, but he is a demon... so I thought it'd be a little more unsettling with him doing it instead of some random guy on the street." He returned the smile with a shining one of his own, already becoming quite comfortable, and he was finding it easy to like Brad.
"I'm fifteen." He said it as if the age made him much more mature and sophisticated then he really was, as if it made him an adult. "I guess it'd be rude to ask how old you are, though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 3:58 pm
"Mm, true," he agreed to the comment about Neil, seemingly to also be considering his friend's fate. Certainly, Brad was deeply concerned about what and why his young friend would do anything with a demon, especially doing something so obvious when the man himself did not 'swing that way'...he'd just have to have a little chat when the two left. He adored his friend immensely, but sometimes he really did think Neil stopped growing after the death before his wife.
He made his way around the couch and sifted through the games there, making soft sounds of approval as he browsed. "That's not very nice," he commented off-handedly, glancing over his shoulder. "I imagine if my..." Brad stopped and simply smiled at the agreement about playing against Soah; best not to let such a comment about his own offspring spoil their fun. Instead, he held up his left hand - the uninjured one - and curled his fingers. Or rather, he tried, but the slow motion made his index finger and thumb twitch and stop moving all together. "Nerve damage," he explained, spreading his fingers and then making a fist with no problem. "Not much control for things like that funny system."
The smile lingered on his lips, hoping that the friendly expression would deter the youth from feeling bad about it. It happened in his work, and while he didn't mind, it did make finer things like sewing and holding chop sticks a struggle. "So what sounds good to pla--fifteen?" Brad raised his eyebrows, a little surprised. Maybe the kid had a bad immune system if he was always sick? Or maybe that demon had something to do with it...
Which really was not something he wanted to think of right then. "Thirty two," he replied with a sideways grin. "It's only rude if you're a woman, and even then it depends on the gal. I've got nothing to hide, unless you think I'm ancient." Another quiet chuckle and he stood up again, turning on the television. "Pick your poison, I'm game for anything."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
