[Location: Taxon City Center][Open] Exploring

[lapsedsaint]

Asher had kept Charlie restrained and weak in the house for days while he learned about where he was. Going back through the tablet's archives explained why the sunlight didn't bother him, it was artificial and lacked the heavy UV component that was so deadly to his kind. He also learned that the replicator hatches could make almost anything. Not

Comments

[roverbait]

Three weeks have gone by slowly. Derek has made sure not to be too intrusive into Jack's life while staying at his place - in fact, he's actually managed the last four days in an apartment he found near the centre of the city, not unlike the one he grew up in. That's not to say he's slept well, but the small comfort of something akin to home has helped. He'd rather have someone to stay with, but the first part of that plan, he thinks, requires actually getting to know these people.

Derek's sat on the curb now, playing idly with the settings of his tablet. He's going over in his head what he wants to say, not really paying attention. Almost everybody seems to know somebody, that's the main thing. Derek doesn't know anyone, and that factor has always been a detriment in his life.

When he thinks he hears someone coming, he glances in his direction but otherwise doesn't pay much mind.

[lapsedsaint]

Asher came up next to the man fiddling with his tablet and quietly sat down. He leaned over a little to see what he was doing, then cleared his throat. "Anything interesting?"

[roverbait]

Derek glanced at him, the sudden invasion of The Bubble making him wary. He tried to shrug it off, though, giving up the fiddling.

"Uhh - not really, I mean - I'm just messing around."

[lapsedsaint]

"They are peculiar things, aren't they. They seem to have a mind of their own." He smiled, then leaned back and looked around. "Still, nice day to be outside."

[roverbait]

Derek rubbed at a spot just above his eyebrow, glancing around the street. Smiling a little bit so he wouldn't come off as avoidant or anything, he shifted and tucked his tablet into his pocket.

"Yeah, 's pretty beautiful out, huh."

[lapsedsaint]

"It is. I have missed the warmth of the sun." Well, it wasn't the complete truth. He'd never truly experienced the warmth of the sun, having been born a vampire. That made all of this a rather novel experience.

"Been here long?"

[roverbait]

He quirked him a half-smile.

"Uhh, not really... about three weeks now. You?"

[lapsedsaint]

"Several weeks. But it feel like only a few days." It was both the truth and a lie. He looked at the other man and subtly licked his lips. Just a few more moments to relax him, then lunch.

[roverbait]

Feeling the need to move a little, Derek stretches his feet out in front of him and leans back a bit. If only he knew that the Haligonian Burg(h)er was today's lunch special, he'd have hauled ass to safety.

"Funny that it can feel faster or slower, right, 'cause it feels like I've been here for months." Derek scratches his head and looks slightly more than sidelong at Asher.

Dude looks a little shifty, now that he pays attention.

[lapsedsaint]

When Derek glanced toward him, he smiled. Then lunged for his neck, hands aimed for shoulders, to pin him to the ground.

[roverbait]

And Derek was down, easy as anything, struggling the best he could.

"What the hell are you --"

And then there was just pain.

[lapsedsaint]

The young man down, Asher closed his teeth on his neck, breaking skin and groaning loudly at the tasty on his lips. He slurped loudly, feeling hot blood fill his belly.

[roverbait]

It was surreal. Detached. Derek could feel the pain, could hear himself screaming, but he couldn't feel himself; his body wouldn't listen and his mind wouldn't work.

"Stop," he heard himself gasp out, even though he knew it was probably useless, "Please - Je - stop!"

[lapsedsaint]

The gasp didn't stop him, it made him suck harder. And he clapped a hand over Derek's mouth. He really didn't want the other calling over any help.

[roverbait]

He thought with one shoulder released that he might be able to fight back, but his arms would barely respond -- he lifted his arm weakly, but it would do nothing against the assault.

Oh God. Oh God, he was going to die, and he hadn't got out of here, hadn't found his parents, hadn't apologised to Shelley. He was going to die by being lunch to a frigging vampire somewhere on the outskirts of the damn universe.

There was another single strong struggle against Asher born from that realisation, probably the last one left in him.

[lapsedsaint]

He pressed him harder against the ground and smirked against his neck. He did enjoy the fight and were they in private, he would let him fight more. But he was a little too exposed for that.

Asher needed Derek out before he stopped drinking.