Thick as Thieves

[Bakery]

His silence on the matter won her half the battle- the second half was won by his blush. Gods, making him blush was one of her favourite things to do- to out vulgar this man was a hobby of hers by now.

She closed her eyes, wanting to feel him rather than see him.

His fingers sweeping her hair back was an action she almost shivered at- but she was able to keep it down. Controlling herself with his lips on her flesh was harder. To any other creature this would be scary, dangerous, but maybe that was amusement she got out of it- or maybe because she knew it was Jem. It wasn't some monster taking her blood- it was James Davenport. A longtime friend. A lifesaver...

She didn't let those thoughts cloud her blood, however and almost as she focused he had already bitten into her. Elidi was careful to keep on the hopeless track as he took her blood- attempting to keep focused on it as he drained the hopelessness from her body.

Jem would never see her like that. Never past the joking and the vulgar words- the playful and dangerous looks were all lighthearted to him. It's all they would ever be...

And then his tongue swept over her skin and it was over.

Opening her eyes back up to the room, Elidi hid the thoughts that still echoed in her mind. She gave a small smile in return to his words- her smile growing as she spoke. "Water would be lovely...hmm, that is understandable. As a fellow creature of the night, I can see how others may not be so understanding of your schedule. But can they really be that bad?" She asked with a smile, crossing her legs once more to shift the weight.

Who was she kidding? Of course neighbors could be that bad. They typically always were.

Speaking of neighbors, a young woman stood at her window, peering at the barely lit house beside her own. A ketsuki lived there- by the name of James Davenport- and she had just seen a young woman creep into his house. "Should we call someone?" She whispered, not tearing her gaze away from the house, "He could be draining her dry as we speak!"

[clouds just clouds]

There was one thing that Jem couldn't help but notice. And that was her shivering. Even if he knew that anyone would have shivered after what he had done, he could help but notice it made his own heart quiver and quicken. Swallowing, he stepped back and fought a blush. This time, he actually won. For a moment, he let himself wonder what it would be like to truly think of Elidi that way.

No. Quickly, he stopped those thoughts. In no way would he ruin their friendship. It was something he looked forward to and couldn't live with giving it up. And when he outlived her--if he did--it would crush him.

The depressing thoughts made him think of other depressing things. Sadness weighed on his shoulders and he smiled lightly at Elidi, but it looked quite sad. "Sorry," he said, already knowing that his emotions were written all over his face, "I was just thinking of sad things."

Shaking his head, he smirked lightly. "They're terrible. Always coming over and asking where I've gone, or even whispering with the other neighbors about me having a secret slaughterhouse in here." He stepped away from her, "I will get you three glasses of water so you don't have to yourself, and I expect you to drink all of them, and after I've done that, I will take a bath."

Leaning down, he kissed the top of her head, "Feel free to check out the guest bedroom. I will return."

With that, he left the room in search of three glasses. After filling them up with clean and cold water, he moved to bring the platter back up to his room. There was an extra glass for him, a special bit of wine that he had for himself. It was blood wine. While he wasn't obsessed with it, it helped him relax.

And it sounded good for his bath.

Jerald let out a sigh, but (s)he too was looking out the window. "What if he went in, saw her, and killed her? Oh, what if he saw her, killed her, and then started going at her dead body." Then Jerald turned to look at the young woman, with brows rising, "Or, you know, he gave her a key. And paid a very reasonable price for her." Jerald's gaze flickered back to the lonely house that had "haunted" written all over it after that ketsuki had moved in there. "I wonder how much..." The mutter was to (her)himself.

[Bakery]

Seeing him saddened almost broke her- she hated to see it. It made her feel sick with anger at the world- especially after hearing his earlier story.

Elidi had wanted to stand up and comfort him, to take him into her arms and cuddle herself against his strong body. No, no more sad things.

She'd kiss all the sadness off of his flesh if she could. Yet , she knew it was not her place...it probably never would be either.

Destroying any thoughts or glimmers of hope at being anything ore than a friend to him, Elidi nodded and gave a small smirk back, "Well, don't you? Come on now I know you've got some embalming tools aroud this haunted house somewhere. Let's not put things away- bring all of your skeletons out of your closet." Elidi smirked and shook her head with a glare. "Don't think because I helped you that you can make me do anything, Jem." She teased, but there was a streak of defiance to her tone, "I shall drink no water if I so please and there is nothing you can do to stop me- now go bathe before you bring your neighbors over here claiming it smells rotten." She laughed and sat up, walking towards the door.

Why did he torment her so? He should just stop touching her for good- no more comfort, no mor head kisses or sweeping her hair out of her face- it was torture..

She didn't stop o see if he had anything else to say. No, know she was venturing the halls, her finger trailing along the wall as she walked. It was quite an old house, moderate tastes. Nothing too personal- nothing that really gave away anyone loved here.

It was a house, not a home.



"Jerald, that's- oh no...that poor girl...do you think we should call someone? J-Jerald! OH MY GODS! Did you really just- just suggest that?!" Carol asked, her eyes wide with shock and anger- with a tiny dash of fear mixed i for good measure. Living next to a Ketsuki gave that to you- if you asked Carol, that was.

Carol couldn't ignore the blush on her face and just shook her head.

"Please, please, please don't tell me you're thinking about asking him..." She sighed heavily, her hand slapping against her forehead.

[clouds just clouds]

Jem was never one to argue with Elidi. But, if she drank no water, he would punish her. By not speaking to her, of course, and ignoring her. That was the best way to punish her, he thought. With a light smirk, he took his wine into this bath and turned on a furnace to begin heating up enough water for his bath. Setting the glass down beside a table by the bathtub, he walked out of the room and back into his own.

There, he grabbed a fresh outfit to wear. He certainly wasn't going to wear his pajamas around Elidi--especially since his pajamas were... well. Nothing. Not entirely nothing, really. Some nights he wore shorts. It's just, buying pajamas seemed worthless to him, so he never had. But he had bought a robe. And that much could count for a lot.

He loved that darn robe.

With his folded clothes on another table, he started peeling off his clothes and tossing them in a basket that usually got taken care of by the woman who cleaned his house. After checking the water to see if it was warm enough, he pressed a lever that made the steaming water fill the bathtub. With a small smile, he felt bad about leaving Elidi alone.

But he really needed this bath.

Even if it meant to clear his mind an relax. Truly, he hoped he didn't fall asleep and force Elidi to pick the lock and come in and find it. With a smile, he eased into the hot water and let out a sigh, enjoying the heat of the water.

Baths were the one thing he absolutely could not give up. For the longest time, they were only something of a distant memory, but now he was able to enjoy them fully, whenever he wanted. It was one luxury he allowed himself, enjoying the heat of the water.

After a bit, he finally began washing himself, using soap that hinted coco butter.


Jerald couldn't help but laugh at Carol's squeamish reactions. "No! No! I wouldn't ask." She tried to give the most innocent expression that she could muster, before bursting into more laughter. Shaking her head, she tried to peek through the windows. "You know, we could always go over and I don't know, inform him that there was an intruder in his house and see what he says." Her eyes flickered over to Carol's, though fear underlined them.

What if he tried to catch them and feed off them, too?

They could run away, couldn't they? Definitely.

[Bakery]

Elidi wandered down the halls, searching every room nonchalantly, leisurely. It wasn't homey but it was interesting to look at.

Jem lived here. Slept here, read here...some of his life was in these walls.

Maybe if she walked through and saw enough, she could find a way in to his life herself...maybe...

Such thoughts were silly and quickly cast away from her mind. Nothing more than friends. Nothing more.

Nothing less.

With a sigh she had made it down stairs, now beginning to explore the vacant areas.

It was almost sad in a way...which fit. Jem's own internal sadness painted on these lonely walls...



Carol glared at Jarold harshly as she laughed at her- but quickly agreed as she suggeted going over there. "And maybe stop him from killin her? Poor thing must be so dumb...or new to the area. To know to not go in there- the danger that lies within...oh Jerald, now we have to go! That poor irl could be in serious danger!" Carol by her lip, genuinely worried about that poor girl inside James' house.

They just had to save her from te terrible date waiting for her...

He might already have sucked her dry but still... No one should die like that.

Quickly pulling on her shoes, Carol headed toward the door. "Scary or not that poor girl cannot be left alone in there- we'll just walk over pretending to want to see if everything is fine- and if she's still alive we leave...until day. When we'll come back and see if there's a dead body smell." Carol shivered, fear crawling through her slowly.

Gods thy had to be good people for doing this...

[clouds just clouds]

Even after he finished washing himself completely, he laid in the bathtub, smiling to himself as he laid there with a blank and free mind. Though, his dark thoughts slowly began to tickle him again and he pushed himself under the water, unable to contain the embarrassment and his guilt. He stayed under water, holding his breath until his lungs began to ache, and even longer than that.

He stayed until his body's natural need to save itself forced his head out of the water and caused him to gasp. Leaning over the side of the tub, he breathed heavily. Then, he let his head hang for himself to weep.


Jerald quickly pulled on her own boots, scrambling after Carol. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she followed the other female, making sure to walk beside her, but not ahead because she was too scared for that, and not behind because that would be admitting her fears.

"M-Maybe we should wait till morning," Jerald inwardly cursed herself for the stutter.

Her eyes narrowed as the door came closer...

Oh why had she even offered!?

Pressing her lips tightly together, she slowly followed the way up to the steps and stared at the door, and then glanced over at Carol. "S-So, who is going to knock?"

[Bakery]

"Uhm..me." Carol squeaked and shook her head, "no, we have to do this tonight. She might be sea by morning.." She mumbled as they approached the door.

Uncertain, she have a light knock. Her heart hammered in her chest and she stepped an inch closer to Jarold for comfort.

Oh gods what was waiting for them?


Elidi, now close enough to hear the people on the porch, heard the knock.

Would Jem be upset if she answered the door? Probably just his neighbors a but what in the skies name could they want at this hour?

Deciding she really didn't care if Jem objected to it or my, Elidi answered the door curiosity, swinging open the door as of she had done it thousands of times before, as if she had lived there.

"Hello?" She raised a brow at the two women standing there- looking scared out of their minds.

"Oh thank gods you're alive." Carol exclaimed and put her hand on her chest, over her heart, letting out a sigh and looking relieved. "Whew. I was scare there for a moment. Uhm, we're James' neighbors- I'm Carol and this is Jarold."

[clouds just clouds]

Jerald swallowed thickly and jumped slightly when the door opened so abruptly. Shock caused her to blink a few times before glancing over at Carol, a small smile flickering onto her lips before looking over at the woman. "Hiya Miss, I would like you to know that the man in here is a ketsuki. You might be new around here but..." Her words came to a loss when she heard a door open and shut.

She glanced over at Carol, her eyes widening. He's coming.

And in fact, he had. It didn't take Jem two seconds to figure out who might be knocking at his door. It was his neighbors. Them, or the cops. He hoped it wasn't the latter. Pulling on his robe, he pushed open the bathroom door and quickly descended the winding stairs, only to stop in shock to see the door was already open.

Jem cast Elidi a small, curious smile before walking over to the door.

Jerald stepped in front of Carol. Even if she didn't offer that much of a fight, she would sacrifice herself so that her sweet, innocent Carol could run away. Crossing her arms, Jrrald raised a brow at James. But her eyes had a hint of fear within them. "Mr. Davenport."

"Why hello you two, excuse me for my indecency, but I frankly wasn't preparing myself for guests," Jem stood beside Elidi, watching them with a raised brow.

Jerald let out a whistle, "How much did you pay? Is tonight a sale?"

Despite herself, and her fear, she looked James Davenport up and down. Of course, he always looked crisp in his formal wear that he always seemed to wear, but in a bathrobe. If he weren't a scary ass vampire-man would Jerald be jumping on him. Despite the hastily tied robe, she could see a peek of his defined muscles beneath, and even light scars that only came from years and years of living.

[Bakery]

Elidi looked from the shorter smaller woman to the taller one- and was immediately confused.

Thank god she was alive?

The taller one spoke- and at the utterance of her explaining Jem was a Ketsuki, Elidi blinked twice.

So these had to be his neighbors. Huh.

Yeah, she'd want to move too.

Jem's hasty appearance lit up a playful hint in her red eyes- there he was again, looking ever so indecent. Was he doing it on purpose? His own twisted way of teasing her?

How unfair.


Elidi hadn't been paying much attention- but se did hear the word payment. "Excuse me?" she asked, her eyebrows raising in shock.

Did this woman really just look her over and suggest that she had been paid for by Jem? How in the night stars- actually, she could work with this.

Her shock melted away into a playful look, Elidi turning to Jem with another wink.

This was going to be so much fun.

"Jerald-! Oh my gods! What she means to say is that we came over here to make sure this wasn't a break in." Carol quickly sputtered, her hand falling on Jerald's arm as she pulled her back, "We just saw some strange woman come into the house and since we've never really seen anyone come into this house, let alone a woman like her or a woman at all- we, we got worried. I mean- not that she looks like a thief, she looks quite charming and lovely- but with your lack of company-" gods she was making this worse.

And te only thought that could make this he worst possible situation was that Jerald had looked over both of them. Did Caol dare even satiate the thought that Jerald had been satisfied with what she saw?

Oh gods he was going to drain them dry.


Elidi couldn't help but smirk and wrap her arms around Jem slowly, leaning against his strong body as her fingers brushed across the available skin of his torso. If she could, she tucked her head under his with a sultry glance toward the two women. "No, no. No break ins- but I would advise he get a new head board after tonight. Seeing as it might be broken by day break...don't mind the noise- everything's just going as planned~. With such a big appetite a man has to be fed only the best. And I won't leave him to starve this whole night with such cravings."

She let her eyes wander over Jem's body, a faux lust dropping from her tone as she spoke. "Of course I can't go I satisfied either- but if you find you can't sleep tonight de to our noise, I will be happy to have paid you for the inconvience... I can be quite loud."

[clouds just clouds]

Jerald glanced back back at Carol, her brows raising to her hairline before flickering back over to James and this strange woman. Except, she couldn't help herself with what Carol's was saying. With his lack of company? Carol might as well flat out said that James here had no luck with the ladies. Her lips pressed together in a tight line to stop the laughter from slipping out.

The bad part was that it was written all over her face.

Oh, Gods. Carol...

Jem's brows raised when Elidi wrapped his arms around him. "E-Elidi?" At their closeness, he couldn't help but really feel that there was one layer between his nakedness and her. A blush patted his cheeks, and only strengthened when her fingers started exploring his skin. Which, might he mention, felt a lot more sensitive for some particular reason.

Her words hit him with shock, and he could feel his blush growing and spreading on his face, to his eyes, and even reddening his neck. Elidi might be selling this, but Jem certainly wasn't. Her wandering eyes hadn't helped anything of course.

Gods, Jem has never felt this way about a woman.

"Sweet dragon babies," Jerald murmured and snapped Jem out of his own blushing "misery". "W-We'll just... leave you two be, then..."

"Dear Gods, Elidi," Jem muttered as he reached to wipe a hand over his face. "What are you-" He shook his head and he let out a long sigh. "Well, if it wasn't as desperate before, it is now. I have to move."

That caught Jerald's attention. She had started to gather her little duckling, to gently ease her away, when she heard James' words. Panic shot through her, and then anger. When she turned her full attention to the ketsuki, he had started to try and peel himself away from Elidi. Stepping into the threshold of doom, Jerald shoved him as hard as she could.

Which really wasn't much. Jem didn't even stumble, but look at her in shock. "Move!?" Jerald screeched. "Move!? You're going to move!? Might as well put us on the streets! Guess I'll start up my business again, huh?" She snapped savagely, but in her eyes burned desperation.

Carol couldn't last on the streets.

"James, what about us? You're our income! Don't tell me I've washed your knickers this entire time for nothing! What the hell do you think-" She cut herself off, finally realizing her place.

She disappeared from view.

And Jem looked down to realize that her shoving had exposed more flesh than he wanted anyone to see. Flustered, Jem quickly adjusted his robe and tightened it. Jerald reappeared beside Carol, her lips pressed together in set determination.

"Jerald," James let out a sigh and crossed his arms. "I can give you a bonus before I leave, and even find you a job-"

"My apologies for knocking so suddenly," Jerald said angrily, taking Carol's hand. "We'll be on our way, Mr. Davenport." She tried to tug Carol after her, stomping back towards their home.