Elijah/Sharpe - 02 - The irony of looking almost too young to be a student at Tulane as he walked ac

[sharpe_blood]

[cross posted to blood_quarter and elegant_poison
The irony of looking almost too young to be a student at Tulane as he walked across campus wasn't lost on Elijah. He moved through the buildings, inhaling as he searched for Professor Sharpe.

Sharpe could not believe the persistence of the student sitting before him. He had assumed that his chastisement at the bookshop would have been enough to convince the young man that he could not redo an assignment. Yet, here he was, begging for another chance wielding his previous attempt in his hand. Apparently, he was not happy with the failing grade he received. "Look Smith, the course requirements are laid out in the syllabus and this assignment was obviously lacking."

Stopping at the door, Elijah inhaled the scent of the other vampire and then opened the door without knocking and entered.

Catching the other vamp's scent as he burst through the door, Sharpe couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face. Unfortunately, it completely ruined his scary professor persona. "Mr. Wood, take a seat I was just finishing up here."

"Hey D.." Elijah glanced at the human in the room, "hey 'dere professor. Sorry. Thanks." He sat in the chair, eyes twinkling as he watched Richard.

He tried to hold back a chuckle; this one was trouble of the most enjoyable variety. Turning back to the student, he continued, "as I have told you several times, there are no exceptions. If you continue to persist I have to warn you that subsequent assignments will be graded harshly. It is in your best interest to stay on my good side, especially since you will be taking this class again next year."

Damn, that harsh hard voice is nice. Elijah squirmed a bit in the chair. He tucked his thumb in his mouth and chewed on the nail, watching Sharpe.

He tried to keep the strict teacher look on his face as the student turned to leave, but Elijah's movements were successfully distracting his attention. As the student scurried towards the door he called out, "Smith, shut that behind you."

"Yeah Smith," Elijah said giggling, eyes never leaving Richard's. "Hey, sorry about that."

As soon as the door clicked shut, Richard allowed himself to smile, momentarily flashing his fangs, at his new visitor. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this impromptu visit?"

Elijah stood, shrugging up one shoulder as he started to prowl around the office. "I was bored." He looked up at the books on the shelf. "What's your favorite book?"

Watching the other man pursue his space, Sharpe replied, "I don't show too much favoritism with the written word. Though I do find myself drawn to things from my own time, but I'm sure that is true for most of our kind."

"I like mysteries," Elijah said, pulling down a thin volume and flipping through it before replacing it and going back to the chair. "And other stuff." He smiles. "Want coffee?"

Nodding his head and beginning to stand, Sharpe couldn't help but comment, "I'm can't help thinking you might just have an addiction issue with caffeine. Should I worry?"

"Coffee and cigarettes, Ricky," Elijah says with a smile. "If they ever make em blood flavored I'll orgasm myself to death."
The laughter bubbled out of his chest before he could even think to stop it. Grasping the other vampire on the shoulder, he headed for the door. "Lead the way, the coffee houses on campus don't allow smoking and I'd hate to deprive you of your nicotine little imp."

"Smart beast," Elijah said, moving out into the warm, humid night. "Fuck I love this weather."

"Definitely beats the wet and cold of Europe, doesn't it." Sharpe snuck a glance at the man beside him as they walked. "What brought you to the colonies?"

"I love the heat, wish I still sweated," Elijah said, looking up at Richard, frowning flickering over his face. "I had - a - companion. He liked stories about the wild west and shit." He shrugged. "So we came to see the place where cowboys came from."

"That must have been some time ago, the wild west has long been tamed." His hoped that his eyes could convey the sincere compassion he felt for the vampire in front of him. He knew what it was to lose someone you loved. It wasn't pity, but understanding.

"Yeah, it was when we got here too, but it was fun seeing the places from the books. And the desert and all," Elijah said. "So, why'd you come here?"
"I had traveled Europe for a time after my change, but I couldn't let go of the ghosts of my own past," he turned his head away from his companion. "When I found out that my wife had died, I realized I needed a change. I headed for the colonies and haven't been back since."

Elijah looked down, shoving his hands in his jean pockets. "Sorry," he said softly. "You didn't stay after you were bitten? With her? You left?"

"She was a superstitious woman," he replied. "I'd rather her think I died in battle than to think I lived as a monster."

"Do you think we're monsters?"

Sharpe sighed, and paused before answering the other man. "I did at the time. But, life's to short to hate yourself I suppose." He took his eyes off of the cement in front of his feet and risked a glance at the vampire beside him.

Elijah nodded. "Yeah." He frowned a bit, nudging Richard and continuing to walk. "Sometimes I don't mind being a monster, sometimes I do. But," he looked up at the vampire, grinning suddenly. "At least we aren't were." He wrinkled his nose. "And have to contend with fleas and licking our own asses."

Sharpe practically barked with laughter, the imp certainly knew how to lighten a mood. Throwing an arm around Elijah as they continued to walk, he replied, "Thank fuck for that. So where is this place, Elijah?"

"Actually a block back and around the corner," Elijah said, liking the feel of Richard close to him. He laughed. "But, there's a place right there." He pointed across the street on the corner.

"We passed it? Why didn't you say something?" Surely the other vampire noticed as they walked past their destination.

"I got distracted listening to you," Elijah said. "Besides this place is good too and they let you smoke on the patio. It's a great night for it. Kay?"

"Sounds like a wonderful plan. Coffee under the stars sounds positively decadent," his voice was practically a purr.

Nudging Richard again, Elijah plucked at his sleeve. "C'mon then." He started across the street. "You'll have to come by my bar sometimes."

As Elijah moved forward, Sharpe removed his arm and observed the other vampire. He was comfortable in his own skin, but some internal pain bled through into his demeanor every so often. He couldn't quite figure out what was going to happen with Elijah at any point. "I might just have to do that one night," he replied as he followed after the older vampire.

"Good," Elijah smiled. "I'd like that. It's a good place, small but nice."

Sharpe smiled at Elijah and indicated to a table on the patio. "Is this alright with you?" It was off in a corner, outside of the awning and away from the lamp so that they could have a chance to enjoy the evening sky as much as possible.

"Perfect," Elijah said, settling into a chair and smiling. He inhales deeply. "There's a night blooming cereus some where close. Smell."

Closing his eyes and breathing in the pleasant aroma, combined with the unique scent of his companion, Sharpe agreed, "good catch, Elijah. They smell divine."

Elijah nodded. "Yeah," he said with a smile. "Nice." He glanced at the waitress. "Oh hi, coffee and a pecan praline, large one. And whatever my friend'll have."

"Just a black coffee for me, thanks." When the waitress walked away, Sharpe turned his attention back to Elijah. "You seem to have a bit of a sweet tooth," he observed.

"I fucking love sweets," Elijah said, leaning forward, face open and happy. "It's another thing I like about New Orleans. They do spicy and sweet great and those are my favorites. But, drinking coffee with a praline is like a religious experience."

"I wonder what that says about your personality, imp," Sharpe mused. "Spicy and sweet..."

Elijah laughed and then rubbed his hands together as the coffee arrived. "Okay, watch." He broke off a bite of the praline, placing it on his tongue. He held a finger up to get Richard's full attention before taking a sip of coffee, holding it in his mouth a second before swallowing and then chewing the sugary remains of the praline. "Fucking heaven."

Sharpe coughed and shifted slightly in his seat in order to cover his reaction to Elijah's 'religious experience.' "I'm certain that it is delightful."

"You're welcome to some praline," the blue eyed vampire said and then lifted his head and sniffed, mouth watering. He looked at Richard. "Sorry, I only fed a little before going to your office. Somebody around is angry, fighting." His eyes twinkled. "Their blood is pumping."

"Even your food choice is feisty," Sharpe chuckled as he reached across the table and stole a piece of praline from Elijah's plate. "If you need to step away, by all means go," he popped the sweet into his mouth and smiled.

"Uh uh, not yet. Now drink," he said, watching the handsome vampire.

Watching the older vampire over the rim of his mug Sharpe took a sip of coffee, moaning as the flavors mingled on his tongue.

"Yeah," Elijah nodded, smiling and pulling a cigarette out of the pack. "Damn good, huh?"

"Yeah," Sharpe's voice was slightly rough and his eyelids heavy. "Damn good, imp."

Lighting the cigarette, Elijah blew the smoke to the side, crystal gaze never leaving Richard's face. "You - intrigue me."

Cocking his head to the side in contemplation, Sharpe tried to read the vampire in front of him. "And why is that, prey tell?"

Elijah shrugged slowly. "Not sure." He smiled, gap between his front teeth showing. "But I'm glad we met." He broke off a bite of praline and tucked it in his mouth, licking his finger and chewing.

"Me too, imp," Sharpe replied. His eyes soft and kind, his smile welcoming instead of the more natural predatory.

"Eat up, Sharpey," Elijah said with a grin. "Plenty to share." He took a sip of coffee, head tilted. "Have you fed tonight yet?"

The sip he had just taken threatened to escape the confines of his mouth when Elijah let out with his latest nickname. He managed to choke it down before replying, "no... not yet. Bloody meetings before class tonight."

"You ever hunt with anyone or always alone?"

"Typically alone," Sharpe sighed. "I find myself doing most things alone."

"Yeah? Me too, mostly. I've got two others, friends," he shrugged. "Damn near family. We're together a lot.... Why do you like being alone? Or do you?"

"Family is a good thing to have, whether by blood or by choice." Sharpe finished off his coffee and signaled to the waitress for a refill. "And a solitary existence can be a double edged sword for our kind. I think to some degree our very nature craves the solitude but the remnants of our human psyche suffer."

Dropping his elbows onto the table, Elijah rested his chin on his hands and looked at Richard. "Lot of words Tricky Dick," he said with a half smirk. "And all of them pretty, but you didn't answer the question. "Do you like being alone?"

"No," he answered honestly.

Elijah continued to look at Richard and then sat back. "Wanna go hunt with me tonight?"

"I would like that," a small smile tugged on the corners of Sharpe's mouth.

"Good," Elijah said, eyes gleaming.