After the altercation with Pearly

[onceaviking]

He feels heavy and sluggish.
He looked down as he sat down on the bed and lifting his face feels like more of a chore than it ought, but he manages, looking at Pam.

His cheekbone seems to have righted itself, but it is still fully visible.
His flesh is torn, red and charred. His skin is white as paper.

He blinks slowly a couple of times.

Comments

[onceaviking]

Eric nods. He understands her unspoken sentiment.
This is a welcome break from all the shit at home.

As Emcee speaks up, he turns and looks at him.
Perhaps a little surprised. Perhaps not. It is hard to tell.

"Yes? Here or -?"
He might prefer privacy.

[i_am_your_host]

"In the hallway, perhaps?" he suggests.

Then, looking over at Pam, who seems either a bit despondent or just plain sick of this shit, he addresses her.

"Fraulein De Beaufort? It was a pleasure meeting you, and I'm sure we'll run into one another again under less- trying circumstances. Do have a good evening."

He offers her a polite little smile whether she'll take it or not, before glancing up at Eric and slipping out the door into the hall.

[lazy_but_loyal]

She turns her head toward Emcee when he says her name, but that is all he's getting, because she truly is tired of this shit.

It's nothing personal.

[onceaviking]

Eric follows Emcee into the hall, closing the door behind him.
It won't make a difference if Pam wants to listen in, but humans seem to prefer the illusion of privacy.

He leans against the wall and folds his arms, as he lifts one eyebrow just a fraction. Questioningly.

[i_am_your_host]

God, Eric is intimidating when he does that.

Emcee takes a breath and swallows, though he manages to glance up into his eyes from time to time.

"Just- a little clarification, please, if you will," he says in a low tone, somewhat haltingly. "What exactly did you mean when you said- that I was- yours?"

[onceaviking]

For a moment, Eric looks almost a little confused. Then he says, "Oh, that. That doesn't - it doesn't have anything to do with you. As such."

And perhaps he realizes that this makes little sense. Because he continues, "These days, people have all sorts of romantic notions. But really, I just - staked my claim. On you. As food."

He shrugs.

"And in general."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee looks a little confused himself. Especially at the last bit.



"In general....how?" he asks slowly and cautiously.

[onceaviking]

"Other vampires will have to ask for my permission, if they want you. For, well, anything."
There's a loose thread on his jacket. He removes it, carefully.

Not looking at Emcee.

"It's a formality, really. A left over from older times, it is still mostly upheld though."

It doesn't really matter. At all.

Which of course doesn't explain why he is taking so long removing a tiny but of sewing thread.

[i_am_your_host]

He bobs his head in a slow nod, brow furrowed slightly, as he's distracted by Eric's fingers picking at a thread on his jacket.

"...I see."

It dawns on him that something like that would have much more significance in Eric's own world. Certainly not here, when the only other individual to whom that would matter would be Pam.

And Emcee doesn't do romantic notions because romantic notions are for other people.

And neither does Eric, he's sure. That would be silly.

"Well. Personally, should Fraulein De Beaufort want me for anything, I would not object if it was all right with you."

[onceaviking]

"Of course not," Eric replies.
"I will let her know that. "

Of course he is perfectly fine with Pam feeding on Emcee.
He'll just make sure she understands that she cannot be too rough with him.

[i_am_your_host]

He nods.

"All right."

If Emcee knew anything about video games, he would have marked this moment of unlocking an achievement: being claimed by a vampire.

"I should be off, then. I'm glad that you are feeling better. And looking better."

His lips suddenly twitch with a small smirk as he tilts his head, peering up at the side of Eric's face.

"Hmm. Good to know my blood did all that. Nice work, if I do say so myself."

[onceaviking]

Eric's lips twitch a little in answer. He might be amused.

"Go eat," he replies. "I will see you later."

And then he opens the door and goes back inside to Pam.

[i_am_your_host]

Still smirking, he takes a few steps backwards and drapes his coat over his shoulder.

"Have a good evening, Herr Northman."

And he heads off down the hallway.

[lazy_but_loyal]

Pam is still sitting on the bed.

When the door opens, she looks up at Eric.

"Is everything okay?"

With him, mostly.

[onceaviking]

He walks over and lies down on the bed next to her. Sighing.

"Everything's fine," he replies. "He just wasn't sure what it meant. Anyway, if you want him for anything, that's fine. Just - you know."

[lazy_but_loyal]

She shifts a bit, sitting with her back to him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know."

She sighs as well.

"What a fucking night. You'd think we could catch a break here, but of course not."

[onceaviking]

He reaches over to run a hand down her back. Soothingly.

"You okay?"

She had been attached after all. If he ever lays eyes on that fucking maniac again ...

[lazy_but_loyal]

Her eyelashes flutter at his touch. Not for entirely the same reasons as before. But more than that. Much more than that.

"I'm fine."

She turns to look at him, at his face. She never wants to see that sort of thing happen to him again.

And fuck it, she's going to do this just once. Just this once, goddammit.

"Move over."

And she lays down next to him, curling up on her side with her arm slung across his middle and her head tucked under his chin. Holding onto him.

[onceaviking]

He seems a little surprised, but moves when she tells him to.

And then she lies down. And oh.

He lies very still.

And then he puts an arm around her. Holds her. His thumb moving in a small, slow, up and down movement.

Not saying anything. There isn't anything to say.