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[onceaviking]

Eric's room is cool and clean.

His bed is made with white and grey, and there's a tray with a carafe and a glass on a small table closer to it.

He steps inside and turns to face Ganymede with a hungry, eager expression.

Comments

[the_cupbearer]

"Tell me," he says in reply, quiet and warm. Alive, but so far from being an ordinary human; the past events of their night prove that much. "What were they like?"

[onceaviking]

"He was the greatest vampire that ever lived," Eric half-whispers.

"He looked like a boy but he was strong and terrifying."

[the_cupbearer]

"Someone told me once that I was frightening to them," Ganymede says thoughtfully, "Because I look so young, and they couldn't harm me." He'd been half-sure the person in question was joking at the time, but they hadn't been. Seeing the immortality take effect has been noticeable on a great many people.

"But you aren't scared of me." The silent addendum are you? is almost audible.

[onceaviking]

Eric looks at him. "No," he says. "Your destiny has no bearing on mine and you do not threaten me. I feared Godric no more once he had made me what I am but but I knew I could never equal him. And I would do anything he asked of me. Because - he was my Maker."

There is a small faltering.

don't use words I don't understand

[the_cupbearer]

"Do you really believe in destiny?" Ganymede asks, tilting onto his side to talk. He doesn't himself, not really; whatever detiny he might have had has been changed a hundred times over by now.

"You must have loved him."

[onceaviking]

"I believe that free will is firmly boxed in. And that you need to know how to get by in spite of the limitations."

So yes and no.

As for the rest - He almost flinches and then he averts his eyes, whispering, "I miss him so."

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede almost laughs, and gives a considering shrug. "Do you think I have?" he asks.

He finds himself curious about Eric's opinion; for once, someone who doesn't have to take into account not being religious. "You must, the way you talk about him. Why do you think you can't equal him?"

[onceaviking]

"I think that your very existence is cheating both death and life and the Fates as well. But you have still made choices and they limit the next set of choices for ever."

He looks back at Ganymede. "Godric was the greatest vampire that ever lived. I carry his blood within me, but I know that I will never live up to his example."

There's a pause. Then he says, again in that half-whispered tone,"When I go to ground, sometimes I dream that he is still there with me."

[the_cupbearer]

"My existence has cheated many, many things," Ganymede sighs lightly; he isn't upset. He can't be, not after this long of living with himself.

"You're young yet, you know. Even for beings with as long a life as we have, you're young. You could be many things."

[onceaviking]

"I have no desire to rise in the ranks of Vampire Society. I like where I am. Well, not the physical location but -"

He manages a shrug, even stretched out on the bed.

"I keep up with the times. I love cell phones, I hate CCTV. I am one of the oldest of my kind in the States now, but I like to think that I am far more adaptable then the others."

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede chuckles and settles down for a moment, stretching out beside Eric; they're the pictureof comfort, really. "I'd say you are, but then...I may be slightly biased. I can't see you being anything else, at this point

[onceaviking]

Eric smirks.

"I can't be bothered by all the posturing that goes into politics.if they just stay off my back, it'll be just fine."

[the_cupbearer]

"What, am I the only one allowed to get you on your back?" Ganymede laughs, knowing full well Eric will catch the innuendo. It's possible he enjoys making them because he enjoys seeing the vampire laugh, in whatever way that happens.

"Maybe I like it when you posture for me," he says indulgently.

[onceaviking]

"I'll make the occasional exception," Eric says with a small chuckle.

"And believe me, political, vampire posturing is incredibly tedious. It was sp much easier when we'd just go at it, hand to hand, and get things settled."

[the_cupbearer]

"Most political posturing is tedious, I believe you," Ganymede murmurs with a tilt of a smile. "As someone who's had to do it fairly regularly for one reason or another."

[onceaviking]

"My sister is the political animal, not me," Eric murmurs.

"It bores me."

[the_cupbearer]

"You have a sister?" Ganymede laughs, as if surprised by the idea.

"How the hell did you hide that one?"

[onceaviking]

"I rarely see her. As I said, she's the political animal. And I don't need to broadcast that I have friends in high places."

He smiles a little.

"Godric turned her back in the 1600s. Because I asked him to. I wasn't ready to be a Maker then."

[the_cupbearer]

"Ahh, your vampire sister," Ganymede nods, settling with his chin resting on Eric's shoulder. "What made you ready to do it when you did?"

[onceaviking]

"Pam was - very insistent. And attractive. And not afraid of me at all."

Maybe he had liked that best of all.

"And she slashed her wrists, so I had to make a snap decision."

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede laughs. "Well, that's one tactic," he chuckles. "Would you turn me, if you could?"

[onceaviking]

Eric thinks it over. Then he shakes his head.

"I would think that you'd like humans too much.?

Just like Nora. He prefers not to think about that side of her.

[the_cupbearer]

"You like humans just fine, if the last..." Ganymede cranes his head to look for a clock somewhere, eventually rolling back. "Several hours is any clue. Besides, I like cows and I eat them too."

[onceaviking]

Eric snorts.

"I don't think you'd be able to be cruel enough. I'm not talking about sex, I'm talking about caring."

Something Eric does not do. At all. Ever.

[the_cupbearer]

"Oh, yes, you're one to talk about caring," he chuckles. Waiting patiently for him to awaken after dying, stopping drinking blood when asked without force...he could go on.

"Were you cruel, when you were human?"