The Following Day

[onceaviking]

Eric's house is quiet and cool when Jay arrives the next morning.

There's a note on the counter and an envelope. The note reads,

Jay ,
A couple of things will acquire my attention tonight, so come to Fangtasia after 10 tonight.
I will get you home then.

If you do not get done this time, we will have to talk about finishing the job later.

Eric

His handwriting is quite neat and precise. He learned writing late in life . Or death as it were.

The envelope contains a handful of hundred dollar bills. For necessities it says on the outside in a different hand, elegant and feathery.
Pam.

It looks like it will be a very hot day. It's likely a good thing that the A/C is cranked up inside.

Comments

[onceaviking]

Lafayette looks at the night sky.
"Sometimes," he says, " I help hook people up with a little something, you know? So, Jason got some V-juicce, but I've had o cut him off. He was being far too reckless with it. "

He doesn't feel guilty. Exactly. Just a little in any case.

[runningred]

"You're worried he might have done something dangerous while high?" Jay doesn't react to finding out Lafayette's a dealer. At least not in any way that shows outwardly. "But if you cut him off, he could only have done that if someone else hooked him up."

[onceaviking]

"Not anyone here," Lafayette says. " but there's Shreveport ."

He stubs out his cigarette and slides I the butt into his jeans pocket.

"Whatever it is that's wrong with this town, it is likely not a bad idea to just be passing through. There's tension in the air, I tell you. And now I had better get back to work."

He slides a finger down Jay's cheek.
"Return journey?"
Coming back?

[runningred]

Jay nods and does the same, more out of habit than respect, keeping the DNA on the butt to himself.

He reaches out and cups Lafayette's cheek, pulling him into a slow, farewell kiss. "Keep yourself safe and look after your friends. I hope things settle down for you and yours."

He presses his forehead against Lafayette's, closing his eyes for a moment. "I hope so." And he means it sincerely. Or sounds like he does.

[onceaviking]

"You said it," Lafayette murmurs and then he returns in a slow trot to the Bar. Back to his kitchen.

At Fangtasia, Eric sends off a txt
anytime now, e and lets his fangs drop as a patron asks if she can take his picture. Seconds later, Longshadow pulverizes her phone.

Inside Merlotte's Sookie yells at her friends that they should mind their own business. That she is free to love whomever. And that she loves Bill.

The night is heating up everywhere.

[runningred]

Jay leans against the tree and takes a deep breath as he reads the text. He sends back - On route. There soon. J

He hears the yelling inside but turns away towards the truck. It isn't his business and it's time to get the Eric.

He drives straight there, mulling over when he found out. He pulls up in the Fangtasia carpark, taking a moment to straighten himself and clean up the pick-up. After all, Thomas'll have to drop it back to the hire place soon.

He shoulders his bag and heads for the door, eyeing the surrounding area. Tension seems to be everywhere tonight.

[onceaviking]

Pam is at the door. This time, the skin tight number is black and embellished with thin chains.
Pam knows her audience.

She gives Jay a curt nod.
"He's in his office," she says.
"You're expected."

She doesn't seem in the mood to chat.

Inside, the bar is crowded. And there is definite tension in the air.

One of the vampire staff spots Jay and lets him through the staff only door so he can head down the hallway to Eric's office.

He is at his desk.
He looks tired and Jay may have time to spot it, just as the door opens, before the mask glides in place. Calm, detached, cold.

"Any trouble getting here?"

[runningred]

"Good evening." He touches his forelock respectfully to Pam and keeps moving.

He smiles to Eric and drops his bag in the corner. "No trouble. Just took a detour on the way here." One Eric may be able to smell on him. "Found out a few interesting things that maybe of use to you."

[onceaviking]

"Do tell," Eric says, getting up and moving around the desk.

His nostrils flare a little. "Been busy, have you?"

[runningred]

Jay stands still, letting Eric come to him if he wants too. "It's been an eventful evening."

"Once before, you mentioned a blonde. A strange one who belonged to another vampire. Was her name Sookie?"

[onceaviking]

He does, stopping a foot or two away from Jay.

"Yes. Short, impressive rack, laughs when she's nervous. "

[runningred]

"She's a telepath. A wild talent and powerful too but completely untrained." Jay shakes his head. "I'm amazed she's still sane. She has no shielding, none at all."

[onceaviking]

"So, she reads minds," Eric says, thoughtfully. "That could be very useful."

Incredibly useful. He reaches out and pulls Jay close. He's noticed how he has begun to hover. Might as well stroke that fire. Just a little. Just enough.

He dips his head, and whispers, "Thank you," into Jay's ear.

[runningred]

Jay sighs softly, tilting his head slightly to expose his neck. "No worries. Here to help." He reaches out to rest his hands on Eric's hips, almost as if to steady himself although he's perfectly stable. The scent of arousal gets just a little stronger.

[onceaviking]

Eric dips his head a little lower and runs his lips along Jay's exposed skin as he puts a heavy hand on Jay's shoulder.

His fangs come down with an audible click, a cool pressure against Jay's neck.

"I am really busy tonight," Eric murmurs. "I should let you get home."

[runningred]

"You're also exhausted and running on empty judging by how cold you are." He reaches up to cup the back of Eric's head. arching a little against the cold press of his lips. "I've got nothing planned for tomorrow but sleep. Take what you need."

[onceaviking]

Eric makes a small, soft sound and bites down. Hard.

His arms go around Jay, tightening a little. Holding him.

He drinks, quietly except for the wet sounds his lips and tongue make.

[runningred]

Jay moans sharply as Eric's fangs break the skin but he too quietens after that, just breathing deeply and enjoying the feeling.

He holds Eric, his arms wrapped around that beautiful, marble cold body, just letting him take what he needs. After all, what are friends for?

[onceaviking]

After a while he stops drinking, and bites his own tongue to lick the wounds and let them close.

Gently.

Slowly.

[runningred]

Jay sighs and shivers as he feels the skin knit and heal over. "Better?" He asks softly, his arms still around Eric's waist.

[onceaviking]

"Mmm," Eric murmurs.
"We should get you home. Anything else I need to know? "

[runningred]

Jay steps back and as subtly as possible, adjusts himself. Hard not to get hard from being bitting anymore. "I'm sure you got all my instructions about the security system. If anything plays up, let me know and I'll come fix it but it shouldn't need servicing for at least a year.

"There was something but I'm not sure it's of use to you. Someone I spoke to mentioned that the young man accused of the murders was taking vampire blood as a drug at the time. And that he may have been getting it from a supplier in this town." It's paraphrasing but in part he doesn't want to endanger the wild cook he met tonight.

[onceaviking]

Eric holds up his keys. "I got it. Very nice Ægirshjelm."
When Jay continues, he snarls, fangs suddenly down again.

It's not his sort of playful, sexy snarl.
"Fuckers. They'll live to regret it."

[runningred]

"I'm glad you like it. I figured it suited you."

Jay's breath catches a touch as Eric snarls. Whether from fear or lust is anyone's guess. Hell, even Jay doesn't know. "Sorry to add to your workload but I figured you should know."

He steps back to grab his bag and leave the keys to the pick-up on Eric's desk. "You better send me back, I'm sure you have work to do. I'll get out of your hair."

[onceaviking]

Eric slings his arm across Jay's shoulders and walks him to the door.

"Let's get you home," he agrees. "Hopefully, everything will be dealt with soon and I will see you in Milliways."

He opens the door for Jay.