[open] My heart’s aflame, my body’s strained, but God I like it

[im_apimp]

Alec hunted at night, just because it was easier. He didn’t have to worry about the civilians back at the barracks seeing him in all his X5 glory and thinking he was part of the forest mojo, and the deer didn’t exactly see him either. Technically, he probably didn’t even have to hunt. He could eat the food that was delivered at the storehouse

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[virginvampire]

Jessica had been out wandering the woods at night when she had smelt the animal blood and fire in the air. Even though she could go out in the sun here, she still found herself keeping noctural habits more often than not, mostly out of habit. Who knew when she might get zapped back home, where the sun could kill her? It was best not to get too used to things

[virginvampire]

She laughed a little at that comment. "You do seem rather good at that. You gotta a lot of experience in that? Huntin', I mean?"

It seemed like a good enough way to make conversation, at the very least. She liked talking to Alec. He seemed like a good guy.

[im_apimp]

He hesitated, unsure for a moment of how much to tell her, but he hadn't lied to her yet, so he wasn't sure he wanted to start.

"They trained us to hunt. Or, at least to hone the hunting instincts and directing it towards their purpose. I've been killing since I was old enough to learn the mechanics."

[virginvampire]

"That ain't right? You musta been real young when they were doin' that to you," She said, frowning in thought. She knew what it was like though, sort of. That kind of instinct being forced on you at such a young age. After all, she hadn't asked to be a vampire. She had been kidnapped, turned against her will. It was different, but the same somehow.

"I'm sorry they forced that on you. You shoulda been given a choice."

[im_apimp]

"I was eight," he admitted, his eyes on the fire as he just started talking, rambling without a clear end point in sight, as he was wont to do. "And sometimes I think that way, but ... they built us with a purpose in mind. If they intended to let us choose, then they wouldn't have bothered, because what kid in their right mind would agree to going around and killing people for hire? And then ... they wouldn't have bothered to build us, so I wouldn't exist."

He then turned back to her and shrugged. "My life my have sucked thus far? But I'd take existing with a crappy life over not existing at all any day of the week."

[virginvampire]

"I guess that's true. I mean, I don't like what happened to me or nothin'..but well, it beats bein' dead. Well you know..dead dead. I mean, I guess technically I am dead, but not, you know?"

She could understand, a least to a certain degree. As bad as things could be, there were always worse situations they could be in. She sat down on the ground now, eyes glancing toward the fire.

[im_apimp]

He shrugged a bit, leaning back on his hands. "It's a complicated thing, I guess. And they may have built me to kill, but I can make my own choices. I don't have to be what they made me to be. At least ... not anymore."

[virginvampire]

"I guess that's true." She wondered if the same applied to her though. She had been made a monster, a killer, something to be feared and disgusted by. Could she ever really be anything else now? She'd like to think so, but she wasn't sure.

[im_apimp]

If she asked him, Alec would probably tell her that anything was possible. But she didn't so he kept that to himself for now.

"Just ... sometimes here, the stuff they taught us can be pretty convenient," he said, before pointing to the roasting meat. "Case in point."

[virginvampire]

"It sure does seem to of come in handy. I bet you'll make yourself real popular once some of the others see what you can do." She smiled a little. Her eyes glanced over to the container of blood, tilting her head curiously.

"Why'd you save the blood like that?"

[im_apimp]

He looked over at her, before giving a bit of a sheepish shrug. "I don't know if you guys do deer? But I figure someone might. And Native Americans have this thing about using all the parts of the animal they killed in order to justify taking the life or something. Figured it was worth a shot."

[virginvampire]

"I ain't ever drank animal blood but I reckon I could. I mean, one of the other vamps I ran into here told me I should." She frowned a little in thought of that bleached hair guy who had threatened her about feeding on humans. "I ain't ever heard that Native American thing, but it makes sense, I guess. 'Spose me can't afford to be wasteful out here anyways."

[im_apimp]

He shrugged. "I'm not gonna force it on you. But the option's there, if you want it."

[virginvampire]

"I'll keep it in mind. Might not be a bad idea. I imagine feedin' on humans would probably bring more attention to me. Even if it was a volunteer." And really, if there were hunters here, she didn't want to give them any kind of excuse to hunt after her.

[im_apimp]

"If anyone gives you any crap about that, let me know. I'll set them straight." And he was serious about that. This was his friend and he wasn't looking for trouble, but he was one hundred percent certain he could kick the ass of any hunter here. "It's my blood, I'm allowed to give it to whoever I want."

[virginvampire]

"That ain't how some people see it," She said, but in spite of that, she smiled a little. It was nice that someone was willing to fight for her, like she was worth that or something. "But no one's given me trouble so far." Mostly because she's been able to avoid most of the hunters. Eventually though, that would probably change.