He was beyond frustrated. He was afraid. Nobody was responding to any of his messages, not Alva, not Aldon, not anybody. In his frustration, Ryland curled up into a ball on his bed, rolled onto his back and pressed his hands up against his face, eyes closed. Why weren't they replying? Why didn't anybody have any messages to relay? It felt like it had been forever since he heard any updates on any of them. Nobody wanted to say anything. Did they get attacked? Killed? The last thing he knew for sure was that they'd all been heading in the same direction: the suburbs.
Ryland didn't live there. He lived downtown, in a nice, cozy little apartment that overlooked the town proper. Swallowing hard, he lowered his hands from his face and he skirted his leg around the phone perched on the edge of his bed. He padded barefoot over to the window that looked out over the streets below. It was mid day. It had been days. Days since he heard from anybody inside. The news was constantly on. Even now, it was buzzing in the background, somebody saying something about a weather report, some sports thing or other, and then there was no update. That's what they'd been saying for the past few days. Ever since the barrier had swallowed up Aldon and Alva and everybody else he loved and cared about, they just said there were no updates. Nothing they could do. Police couldn't breach the barricade.
Feeling somewhat sick to his stomach, Ryland turned away from the window and reached for a bottle of pills. He shook the small bottle and read the contents without really reading it. Nothing was going to get rid of that feeling. No chemical. No medication. Ryland set it back down and as he did, a motion caught his eye on the street. Ryland tilted his head. A familiar form was walking down the street. Scurrying to unlatch the lock on his window, Ryland threw it open and leaned out.
"Sebastian?!" he yelled down.
RholyR
Sebastian lost a few days or more he didn't know what day it was or what was going on. He woke up in an unfamiliar place and started walking home. He had no phone on him, not even shoe.
"Sebastian?!" Was called out and he tilted his head a little and slowed down. Was someone calling him or was he hearing things? He started to walk again. His feet hurt from all the walking he did. He felt like shit like he had a bad weekend with drugs and booze. He just wanted to get home and shower and maybe eat.
(For some reason I didn't get the mention for this)
Crap! He didn't hear him! Ryland watched him for a moment, heart pumping with anticipation and anxiety. Why did he need somebody right now? Because--nobody was around him and he was really starting to feel it. While Ryland could go days without talking to a soul if he chose to--he could be a solitary soul--right now, he couldn't stand being alone. There were too many possibilities running through his mind, too many worries. Sucking in a breath, he shoved the window back so hard that it was a wonder it didn't shatter, although it did make a terrific sound as it bounced against the wall.
"Sebastian!" he shouted again, this time as he leapt over the window and down onto the fire escape a story down. How he didn't break something on the way... well, he liked to think he was pretty agile, which he attributed to his fox blood. Leaping down the next story, he made it to the pavement below and he chased Sebastian down, grasping his arm and holding onto it like he thought Sebastian was going to disappear down a dark alley if he didn't.
"Didn't you hear me?" he asked, before he got a look at Sebastian. His half smile disappeared. "You look like shit. What happened?"
Sebastian took a slow heavy blink "Ryland." He said cheerfully he was happy to see a face he knew. The grip on his arm was a little alarming. "I thought I head my name but I wasn't sure."
Sebastian ruffled his hair, "Ahhh, I am not sure what happened I know I feel like shit. Do I look that bad too?" He laughed. His whole body ached but he didn't want to cry to Ryland. Pain filled his eyes but he smiled through it.
"What are you up too?" he looked around and realized he was by his place.
"Silly question what's the date?" he kicked his feet.
Ryland screwed up his brows and frowned, sliding his hand down Sebastian's arm down to his wrist.
"What, are you hearing things now?" Even in jest, he worried that Sebastian might have more going on than even Ryland did. It was easy to get caught up in his own tangled web of misfortune and forget that others had their own tangles to extricate themselves from. Sebastian was likely going through something heavy right now; he didn't look like he was all there. When Ryland looked into his eyes, they were unfocused, too dark. It was like Sebastian was somewhere else. High, maybe? Ryland continued to frown. That didn't seem right but... maybe it was. Maybe he was high. Maybe he couldn't handle something going on in his life right now.
Truthfully, to that, Ryland could sympathize.
The more Sebastian said, however, the more Ryland worried. If he'd been looking for comfort in the arms of an old friend, he was looking in the wrong place. Sebastian looked like he'd been at a frat party for a week--smelled like it, too--and the dazed expression combined with that alarming question? Yeah, Ryland was sure that somebody else needed some psychological nursing right now.
Ryland sighed and slid his arm around Sebastian's shoulders to steer him toward his apartment building.
"You know what? Let's get you inside and clean you up." Then he could ask all the questions in the world if he wanted.
He was not aware of what had been going on with Ryland, he kinds slipped away when he started to drink heavily and mixed up with Aldon again. It may look like he was doing the same thing but that wasn't the case. He didn't really remember much just some flashes of what could be real or a dream. He really hoped it was a dream. He was in a huge house with lots of other men and things were going on it was like a huge orgy and that wasn't Sabastine's thing he was more of a one on one type of guy.
The images made him queazy he felt so violated and dirty. He was a little standoffish with Ryland when he put his arm around him. He knew he was his friend and he wasn't going to hurt him but he didn't really want to be touched right now.
"That sounds amazing my feet hurt," he looked down and wiggled his toes, "Well my everything hurts." He sounded in happy he was all the time but he could shake the feeling something was off. Once they got inside he slowly made his way to the bathroom and started raining water to get it hot, his body ached to be surrounded by a blanket of liquid. "I can't remember what happened to me all I remember was some guy coming into Speedys and after that is hazy."
Slowly peeling his clothes off-they needed to be burned, he exposed his wounds, he had been a vampires toy for some time and was clueless about it. He slowly crawled it to the water as it filled drawing his knees to his chest. It was so relaxing for a moment he forgot about his worries.
Ryland wasn't going to ask what that meant--that everything hurt. Sebastian looked like he'd been partying for a week straight and he kinda smelled like it, too. There was definitely something... er, musky about his scent, like he'd been doing more than having a little drink. Still, Ryland didn't press. It wasn't his business and he'd only come across Sebastian on accident. Really, they hadn't been too close for a while now. Like most of the people in his life, when Ryland became involved with Aldon, he went mysteriously missing from his life. It was like people hated Aldon. Worse, it was like they hated Ryland for the person he must have become with him.
He wished he could see what happened from the outside, from outside himself. He wished he could see what others saw when he and Aldon were together. All Ryland saw was Aldon when he was around and no matter what was happening or what relationships it seemed to ruin, he was always drawn right back into the flame that was Aldon. His eyes when he stared at him, his smile when he was pleased, the sound of his voice when he wanted only Ryland to hear him... Ryland swallowed hard. He missed him, it was true.
Again, he found himself left behind, confused. Whatever was happening probably had something to do with the pack and that Gregg guy. Ryland wrinkled his nose and looked away, not because of Sebastian's state of undress, but because he didn't want his expression being read. He moved out of the bathroom and stood outside of it in the hallway.
"Let me know when you're done. Towels are in the cupboard."
Sebastian might not have been all there but he could tell Ryland had a lot on his mind and it killed him inside not being in the right mind to help him. He just wanted it to all stop for a moment and to feel normal again. He soaked in the bath until the water was cold, taking a deep breath in before he stood up he steps out of the tube. He went to the cupboard to grab a towel and dry off. His clothes smelled foil and he didn't intend to put them back on. They should be burned no telling what is on them.
He wrapped the towel around his waist and headed to find Ryland to get something to put on. He felt better but not 100 percent at least he could think straight. "Ry," He called out with concern.
He quickly looked for Ryland to share what he saw when he got out of the tube it was frightening his bare feet made a pitter-patter on the floor as he walked down the hall to find Ryland. He was all marked up he looked like he jumped into a cactus. Once he found Ryland his face said it all, well more like his body did, all the marks on it. "I think I might know what happened..." He trailed off.
"Yeah?" Ryland called back, turning toward Sebastian as he made his way over in nothing but a towel. Uh yeah. Whoops. Ryland left him in the bathroom with towels and all but... not anything to wear. "Oh--" he started, about to say he'd get him something to wear but the look in Sebastian's eyes silenced him and he stilled. He wrapped his arms around his own waist and despite not trying to, his gaze skirted over Sebastian. There were marks on Sebastian's body. More importantly, there were telltale twin marks all over him--on his arms, on his shoulders, on his throat. His throat. Ryland opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the right words for it.
They must have done a number on Sebastian. Vampires. Did Sebastian go willingly or did they use their hypnotic gazes on him? Was there more than one or did a single vampire do that much damage to Sebastian? He was pale. Why hadn't Ryland noticed that? Maybe he did; he was a bit wan but Ryland just thought that was something else, drugs maybe, alcohol. Partying too long, too much.
"I think so, too." His gaze softened. Whatever happened, he had a hard time blaming Sebastian for it. Slowly, he reached out and gently touched Sebastian's upper arm, just a light brush of fingertips before dropping his hand.
"Hey, let's get you dressed." He gestured to his open bedroom door.
Sebastian didn't want to know what happened he was happy he didn't remember it why would he want to? He nodded, "Yeah, that sounds good and some OJ." He laughed making a joke about when you donate blood. He was in good sprite spit his lack of blood and memories.
He put on some sweats and a v-neck t-shirt his hair was slicked back still wet. He turned to his old friend ready to talk, "This might be a lot to unload on you right now but I kinda just need someone right now," His stomach felt weak and his eyes watered up. "I have no idea what happened or who I was with. I lost so much time it's like I was just not there. I just don't want to be alone I don't want to be alone with my thoughts."
He let some time get between the two of them but he still felt close to him and close enough to let him in on what he was going through. "I don't do how I got wrapped up in the vamp shit, I was at work then... some guy came in and it's just fuzzy."
"Heh. Yeah."
He got the OJ joke but he wasn't sure how he felt about it. Sebastian was probably trying to keep things light but Ryland's head was buzzing with worry and concern. Vampires? How did Sebastian get himself mixed up with them? Not like Ryland could condemn him for his choices (if it was even a choice) since he had gone all head over heels for a werewolf. Knowing what it was like to have people look at him with disapproval over that was enough to keep him from admonishing his friend. Besides, he wasn't convinced yet that it had even been a choice and that was far more worrying.
After Sebastian was dressed, Ryland gave him a thumbs up and a quick smile. There. He was all dressed. His smile softened as Sebastian's eyes grew bright and Ryland reached out to give Sebastian's shoulder a companionable squeeze.
"It'll be okay." Actually, he didn't know that. He didn't know which vampires Sebastian got tangled up with but it didn't matter. Ryland would help Sebastian out. He frowned, however, as Sebastian began to describe his encounter with some guy. A vampire, no doubt.
"He used you," he said, anger tinged in his tone. "Do you remember who it was?"
Sebastian gave him two thumbs up, "Yeah, it will be thanks to you. I really don't think I should be alone right now." He ran his hand through his wet hair trying to keep it out of his face, he didn't like the way wet hair felt. A pet peeve of his, he usually blow-dries his hair immediately after his shower.
"Yeah, I would say so," He looked at his wrist they both had marks, he tried to remember anything, "He was Asian," not that meant a lot, "But no, I can't remember who he was, I've never met him." He stared off in the distance as he thought his eyes glossed over, "A big house..." He trailed off. It was like rewinding a video to rewatch the past few days of his life, the life that this vampire took from him or charmed him into some drugged out zombie to be his feeding bag and much more.
A face popped up but he didn't know him or if he did he made him forget him, he did who ever remember seeing him at the Watermelon Social at that time he didn't know he was a vampire.
Asian. Vampire. Ryland thought it could be anybody but he wasn't personally involved in the business of vampires. They came out at night, when Ryland was busy doing work for classes or going out with friends. But he'd heard they were wreaking havoc on the small town of Hazleton. There was some kind of report about the barricade now but Ryland only knew vampires were involved because of the network of people in his life--the supernatural ones.
"A big house?" Ryland repeated, trying to think of all the big, fancy houses in Hazleton. It was a small town so it wasn't hard to narrow it down to a handful. There was a full community of them away from the main center of town. There were also a few sprinkled around on land that used to be farmland.
"Isolated?" Ryland asked. "Or was it part of that gated community past the woods?"
"No, not isolated, it's downtown in Hazelton Heights." H.H. was where the million dollar homes where the rich folks. Sebastion only delivered to home's there he didn't know anyone that lived there though. "I was really out of it when I left but I'm sure if I looked for it I could find it." The place was one of a kind for sure. He shivered thinking about the place again. He really didn't want to believe what happened, happened so the less he remember the better.
"How are you and Aldon?" Sebastian asked not knowing Ryland's current situation. He really hoped for the best for them but he couldn't be a part of it. He knew Aldon wouldn't change and Ryland would keep going back and he couldn't keep watching it.
He was trying to get all the attention off of him for a moment and being Aldon was sure to do it.
"Hazleton Heights..."
Ryland didn't know anybody who lived there personally, either, but he could imagine that some creeps lived there. Mansions could hide a lot of dark shit that Ryland honestly didn't want to have to think about. But he also wanted to help Sebastian out so he tucked the mental note away. He'd likely end up sticking his nose where it didn't belong to figure the mystery out, even if Sebastian didn't want him to. Then again... Ryland didn't want Aldon and Alva to go poking around the suburbs and look what happened to them! (Ryland knew it was only a matter of time before he followed them, though--he hadn't heard from either of them in so long, he just knew something bad happened.)
And of course, like Sebastian could read it on his face, Sebastian asked him about Aldon. Ryland made a slight face, trying not to express his worry and knowing that it was probably written all over his face. Quickly, he hid his face by dropping his head and rubbing his shoulder in a distracted way.
"Ah... well... I haven't heard from him in a while, actually..." He glanced back up at Sebastian, unsure of how much to share with him. Hesitantly, he asked, "Did you hear about that stuff happening in the suburbs...?"
"No, what's going on?" Sebastian was taken before all this shit happened and was missing for a while. Concern fall cross his face what had he missed while he was missing? For some reason he felt like vampires had something to do with it. Before he went missing some shit was going on but that seemed to clear up and the inn was closed. Things were getting back to normal but it felt luke Ryland was going to inform him otherwise.
"Is it vampires?" Shaking his head, "How the fucked did I get caught up in this? I don't play with vamps they are not my thing. I hate the bloodsuckers!" Sebastian was a little heated he was free now and that's what mattered, right?"
"Do I need to see a doctor what if those freaks gave me a disease?" He looked over his body and his wounds he felt fine but he needed to know. He felt so dirty thinking he was part of that.
"Heh." Ryland made a small amused sound and nodded. Vampires? Yep. At least, that was the story he was getting from the supers that lived nearby--and those that he could get a hold of. Ryland perched on the edge of the window-seat that looked out on the street below, the very street he'd found Sebastian wandering on his own.
"I guess there's a group of vampires with a barrier around part of the Hazleton suburbs," Ryland said, nipping idly at his thumbnail. It was hard to get the full story since Hazleton still tried so valiantly to hide what their community was mostly made up of--the supernatural. Quickly, he dropped his hand and moved to Sebastian's side.
"Hey, no. You probably have nothing to worry about." He glanced at the marks on Sebastian's neck. Okay, maybe he did. Ryland had no idea what happened to Sebastian and it seemed like most of Sebastian's memories were hazy. Still, it couldn't hurt to get him to talk about it. Maybe something Ryland asked would jog his memory. Maybe it would loosen up something and they'd get to the bottom of what really went down.
"Do you remember if they made you eat or drink anything?" Ryland asked. "Do you taste anything... metallic on your tongue?"
Sebastian tried to wrap his head around all of this, his vampire mustn't have been a part of what was going on since he was able to leave, no barrier stopped him from leaving the house. He now wondered if the vampire let him leave or if he escaped. He could kinda make out a face but mostly his eyes they were very sharp and narrow. He shook his head and came back to reality. "I can kinda see his face in my head. But not that I remember, no metallic taste."
He tried to recall anything but he didn't know if the flashes he was having were memories or his mind running wild about the event's that took place. He closed his eyes and tried to remember anything, anything that could help him piece the puzzle together. "What would a vampire want with me? Maybe they liked my blood type," why was he joking with himself? This was no the time for it.
Sebastian's eye popped open and he shouted, "Oh, oh, he surrounded himself with a lot of young men, And I saw him at the harvest festival!" He pointed his index finger at Ryland proud that he was able to remember something. It was weird not being about to remember anything from the past few weeks. He felt vulnerable to think someone could take his memories away am made him frot get them.
"Where you there? Maybr you saw him too!"
"Oh, good!"
Ryland immediately reached out and lightly squeezed Sebastian's shoulder. Not that he hated vampires or anything but transitioning into one sounded like hell. In all honesty, Ryland didn't know if Sebastian could even be turned, since he was a shifter. Could he? Ryland had never met a hybrid--or at the least, he'd never met one that he knew of. Usually, people were one thing or the other. Besides, things were complicated enough for Sebastian without adding in a transition on top of everything else.
Relieved to hear that Sebastian was just the same old Sebastian, Ryland relaxed and he started to smile before Sebastian suddenly grew more animated and pointed at him. He remembered something! Ryland quickly straightened. Maybe this guy would lead him to whatever happened to Aldon and Alva.
"The harvest festival?" Ryland made a slight face and turned away. The harvest festival was kind of a sore point for him. "I don't think I saw him."
Even if he did, it was doubtful he would remember him, what with all the other dynamics at play at the time.
"But lots of young men... That sounds unique." He brightened. "It's a lead!"
Just... one that he couldn't currently connect to anything...
"Why do you ask?" He was now wanted to know why Ry brought it up, he arched his brows as he worked his head around that one too? was it a spell or something?
When Ryland turned away Sebastian knew something happened there it must have been Aldon! He was not the right guy for him but it was his life so Sebi let him live it. He reached out and now comforted Ryland, "You wanna talk about it?" Ryland might feel like he as to be there for him but he was there for him as well that's what friends did well at least true friends. He felt like a bad friend now, stepping back rather than being there for him.
"I mean I will be happy to never see the guy again but I am with you to kick his face in." He playfully slapped his thigh. "I think you have a lot going on you don't have to worry yourself with me," he said his a semi whinny voice feeling guilty for stressing his already stressed out friend.
Ryland shook his head. There were a lot of people and things going on at the Harvest Festival so he couldn't say what might have gone on. What got to him, though, was the fact that Sebastian was now worrying about him for some reason! Quickly, he smiled sheepishly and gently shrugged Sebastian's hand off, so he wouldn't think he had to continue comforting him.
"No, no. It's okay."
He paused. Ryland wasn't much of a talker when it came to things that bothered him. For the most part, he left things unsaid for as long as possible. Forever, if he could. But when it came to people he was close to... Well, he didn't always let them in immediately, either. That was a problem. He bit his lower lip. Yeah, it was a problem but he also didn't want to set people off over concern that was misplaced. Ryland's problem was just with himself. Kinda. It was between himself and somebody else, though. Sebastian's problem was a lot worse and it had to be the focus of their attention.
"Too late," he declared. "I'm already worried. Besides, this guy could be going around kidnapping guys. What if those guys you saw were... what do they call them? Ghouls?"
"Okay." Sebi wasn't going to push but he also wasn't going to let him go looking into the vampire alone. This was his problem. But if Ry wanted to help that's fine. He couldn't help feeling like he was also doing this to mask what he was going through. And if it worked cool. He just wanted Ry to be okay. He pulled his hand back to himself he could see he was making Ryland uncomfortable.
"I get you but I want you to know I just want to put this in my past." He didn't like others worrying about him. Maybe he and Ry understood one another better than they lead onto. "Yeah, I think that's what they are his bitches." He shivered, "He is so gross how does he get away with it He is sleazy is what I mean?"
Brightening at Sebastian's agreeable response, Ryland bounced away from him and started to rummage around in the kitchen cabinets. His stomach growled as if it knew exactly what he was doing and why. He looked over his shoulder at Sebastian and pulled out a box of tea. Ryland's mother swore by tea. If it were up to her, it would cure everything from world hunger to death. Unfortunately, it couldn't but it could calm frayed nerves, which was something he thought both of them could benefit from.
As he filled his tea kettle with filtered water, he shrugged at Sebastian's words.
"Somebody like that can't keep going on that way, right? If it's not us, somebody's going to come after him."
While the water heated up, Ryland leaned down and opened another cabinet.
"I got ramen," he said, pulling out a couple of plastic cups with colorful packaging. Nongshim. His favorite. "Want some?"
"Your right but what are we going to do? I mean to make him stop kidnapping men." Rylen was busy in the kitchen while he sat in the living room he made himself comfortable on the sofa. Surrounding himself with the big pillows hugging one of them as he sat alone in the living room.
"I'm starved I could go for shrimp noodles." He glanced over to see if he could see a pink bowl. "What kinda tea you making?" He asked curiously as he dropped the pillow he was just hugging to accompany Ryland in the kitchen.
He couldn't let this set him back it happened and it sucked but he had to move forward from it. I mean how bad can it be he forgot most of it so he could just forget it ever happened but Ryland seemed like he wasn't going to let it go.
"Uhhhh..." Ryland didn't actually have a response for what to do about that vampire guy kidnapping people. What could he possibly offer up as a solution? He couldn't kill the guy, even if he was already technically dead. Just the thought of it made him sick to his stomach. He frowned slightly to himself. Maybe they could chase him off. No, well. Maybe? He didn't know so he didn't offer an answer. Instead, he focused on the tea question--that was a lot safer.
"Chamomile. It's what my mom always makes when she wants to calm down."
He opened a cup of noodles for Sebastian. When the hot water was done, he poured some into the cup and then into a couple of mugs for the tea. As he set everything down on the island counter in his kitchen and sat across from Sebastian, he drew his legs up. He waved a hand over the steaming mug in front of him to dispel some of the heat.
"You should stay here tonight."
Sebastian could see they were not in a rush to talk to this vampire pimp or whatever he was.
"Hmm, do you have honey? and milk?" He licked his lips as he waited for his tea."We can use some relaxing time, for sure." He wished he could sleep for a month so he could recover from all of this. that was going on.
Once the tea and noodles were brought over Sebi took in a big whiff, the aroma of the tea and noodles made his stomach growl and his mouth water. "I'd like that." He said as he wrapped both hands around the mug, the warmth on his hands felt good, it was spring so it was chilly at night. He felt safe with Ryland, he wanted to thank him but he was just too beat to express it just yet, maybe in the morning after he is rested. He thought he would be able to express it better himself them.
He kicked his feet, they dangled a little on the bar stool. He took a few sips of his tea before he began to eat his food, "This is so good, your the best at making noodles. you know that!" He cried out as he was chewing a big bite. He was so happy to be eating, and even happier it was with his buddy Ry Guy.
"Yes. To both." He hid a smile as he turned away to grab the requested ingredients. Personally, Ryland had been raised on various types of teas (everything did something different according to his mom) so he could drink it straight. However, this wasn't the first time he'd encountered somebody who couldn't. Honey and milk could only help, anyhow. It might help Sebastian rest. Handing over the honey and milk so that Sebastian could put however much or little he liked in his cup, Ryland made himself comfortable again.
Amused at Sebastian's enthusiasm, Ryland laughed.
"It's just packaged noodles," he said, "but thanks."
His mom raised him right; he was supposed to take a compliment with grace. (Although... ahem, well it didn't always work out that way with certain people.) Taking a careful sip of his tea, he watched Sebastian eat. It was true, then. A vampire got a hold of Sebastian and he was ravenous now. Ryland didn't know from experience but people did say that even a little blood loss could make people really tired. He wondered how much had been taken from Sebastian. Probably enough to put him in the daze he'd been in when Ryland found him.
Stirring his tea around idly, he added, "It's not just the noodles, though. I bet the tea's helping, too."
"Not just any packaged noodles, they were made by Chief Ry Guy." He added before he took another bite. "Plus any food after not eating for god knows how long will taste amazing." There was always this with food tasting better when someone else makes it too. He and Ryland can make the same noodles and Ryland's would taste better. It's just how it goes.
It was like nothing he had ever experienced before being under a vampires control. He kept getting flashbacks of what happened he didn't want to remember so he didn't tell Ryland. He tried not to stare blankly stuck in his own thoughts.
"Is it wrong for me to want to forget this ever happened?" He finally said after a while, he put his fork down and looked up from his food. "I think the tea is helping." But it won't be able to help forget not that he wanted to say that out loud. He felt like he was hiding so much from Ryland right now not telling what was really on his mind. He didn't want to worry him when he seemed to have a lot going on too.
He didn't realize how much he was going to hurt himself by holding it in and trying to act like nothing happened. That is not how to recover by hiding what he is feeling and moving along like nothing happened. He didn't know if he would run into the vampire again or what he would even do if he did see him again.
Sebastian was good at hiding his feeling and putting a smile on making sure everyone is happy before himself. He wished he could take his own advice to overcome this but he wasn't sure he had it in him to do so. He was tired of trying anymore.
"Yeah, can't argue there."
Whenever he was sick or lacked an appetite, the first bite of real food when it came roaring back was definitely the best thing he'd ever eaten. He smiled as he stirred his tea around to get it to cool down a little more before he took another sip. For a moment, he watched Sebastian eat and the apartment was mostly quiet, save for the ticking sound of the clock above the fridge, Sebastian eating, and the occasional sound of Ryland's cup touching the counter. It was peaceful and Ryland was admittedly already tired from all the worrying. So when Sebastian spoke again, he nearly jumped.
"Oh."
While his heart started to beat at a normal pace again, he fiddled with the handle of his mug. If it were him that had been absconded by a creeper vampire, would he want to just forget it? Maybe. But... Ryland frowned.
"I know... and I get it but... what about other people? Or do you think we should just leave it to guys like..." Susumu, was the name he almost said but he didn't think Sebastian knew him. "Those guys who hunt hunters. Have you heard of them?"
Sebastian tried not to laugh when Ryland jumped. I guess both of them were off in their own world. The room was filled with background noise but they weren't really talking it was the company they, didn't have to talk all the time. They were good friends like that and even though they took a little break it didn't feel awkward it was like they never skipped a beat.
He shook his head, "No, not that I can think of." He heard of them but didn't he didn't know any himself to just leat it to "them" It sucked this happened to him and others but to concern himself with EVERYONE he wouldn't be able to live his life without constant worry. Sometimes he had to just think of himself he is only one man he can't save the world. "Why? Do you know any of them?" He then asked in hope that Ryland could fix his problem.
He was done with his food and tossed the bowl and put his fork in the sink he returned to the counter to finish his tea with Ryland.
"Um... kinda?" Ryland made a face and then lifted his hand to make a shifting movement. Kinda was right. Ryland pretty much just knew Susumu's name and that Alva was dating him now and that he was a hunter-hunter. It sounded nonsensical in name--they should really choose a cooler sounding name. But it was also kind of a good idea... if one liked killing people. Ryland didn't but he almost felt like he understood why Alva hero-worshipped him. After all the supers they'd lost, it was nice to know somebody was on their side. Just... couldn't they protect each other without killing? It felt to Ryland like they were just using the hunters' own medicine against them--making them no better than them.
"My cousin is dating one. But I haven't heard from my cousin since that vampire barricade thing... And if he went, his boyfriend probably went, too..."
"Well, that put's us in a pickle." Sebastian rubbed his chin. "Wow, that's been some time." He could now understand Ryland's current mood. He wondered if he had been gone for that long too now, not that Ryland would know they weren't really talking daily before now.
"What is going one with this town? do I still even have a job?" He fessed up worried he had been missing a long time. Had they been looking for him? did they think he died? was it only a week? "How long had it been, do you know anything about your cousin?"
He felt like it was going to talk some time to make his way back into his life after this and he didn't know how he would share with others what really happened, he could say he was camping and got lost? it could be a believable story. He knew Ry would keep his secret he didn't want the world knowing he was some vampires play toy for a few months. His dignity was ripped away along with his pride. What if the vampire paraded him around and everyone already knew and he was the last one to know about it. Sebastian filled his head with unforeseen situations that could occur that haven't.
He just wanted his life to go back to the way it was.
"Exactly."
Ryland was worried for good reason. Something happened. Or if it didn't... then something... No, something happened, Ryland was sure of it. He frowned, his heart aching as he recalled the last time he'd seen Aldon. He promised. He promised. But maybe he couldn't do anything now. His pack came first, always. Before Ryland. And Ryland couldn't even blame him for that because Ryland's family came first, too.
"It's been almost a week, nothing. Nothing from him, nothing from Ald."
He wrung his hands around the warm mug, trying to derive comfort from it.
"We can figure this out later, though. I think we both need some sleep, yeah?"
"Yeah, we can later. I think we both need to sleep." Sebastian was tired of even thinking he awaited the comfort of his dreams. "See you n the morning?"
"Yeah. You don't mind taking the couch, do you?" he asked as he stepped off the stool. He drank the rest of the tea and brought the mug over to the sink to set it inside. "I mean, I have room in my bed if you're feeling really crappy but..."
"No, I don't mind. I just hope I don't snore and keep you up or something." He laughed tiredly.
"Don't worry about it. It doesn't bother me." He rummaged around in a cupboard and brought some blankets and pillows out for Sebastian to use.
"And if you need anything in the night, everything's yours. Bathroom, food, whatever. Get me if you need anything else, okay?"
Sebastian took the blankets and pillows and put them down on the couch then turned back around and wrapped his arms around Ryland and hugged him. He held him tight and lit out a sigh. "Thank you for finding me Ry." He said before to let go of Ryland he really meant it.
"I know where everything is, I practically lived with you at one point." He said playfully. "But go get some sleep with can catch up later." He said warmly and patted Ryland's arm before he plopped down on the couch.
"I'm glad I did." He embraced Sebastian back. If he hadn't come across him, then who knew where Sebastian might be now? That was a sobering thought. After a moment, he finally stepped away and smiled encouragingly at his friend.
"Don't remind me," he groaned, still smiling. "But... goodnight. Remember, you can wake me up or something if you have a nightmare!"
He gave Sebastian one last pat on the head and then padded back down the hall and into his own bedroom. He quietly closed the door behind him, let out a soft sigh, and then stumbled towards his bed, dropping into it. How could one person be so exhausted and still have such a hard time sleeping? Still, he closed his eyes and for once... he thought he actually got some sleep.
(I think this is the end of this thread. :sleep: )