We need to talk.

[lostinsecrets]

Lylith stared at her homework in contemplation for a good ten minutes before deciding she really didn't want to do it. She picked up her phone and contemplated calling Bartholomew, but then it occurred to her that seeing him would probably put mixed feelings in her head about Ethan. She really missed Lo, but she knew if she talked to him then Ethan

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[timebombe]

Joshua's cellphone jolted into life, vibrating with a loud growl. He glanced down at the number, told Jennifer he would brb on instant messenger, and slid the cellphone up as he put it to his ear.

"Yo. What's up, my main squeeze?" he said through a grin, obviously making an attempt to use shitty ghetto.

[timebombe]

"He's not killing people, christ!" Joshua amended, nose crinkled at the thought. "Lo isn't a murderer. His mother didn't raise him that way. "He's just doing less of the whoring and more of the drinking. You know, alleyways and dark corners and heavy mobster shit. Maybe I should've said Louis instead of Lestat?"

What could he say? Vampires weren't his forte.

[lostinsecrets]

Lylith rested her head in her hands, her words coming out somewhat muffled as she spoke. "I was going to let him start drinking from me. I told him I would, but last time I got scared. I thought I would let him... but not if he's..."

She sat back, shaking her head in frustration. She didn't know what to do. She didn't approve of what Lo was doing, at all, but she couldn't do anything about it.

"I don't want it to be painful, I don't want to have scars, and I don't want it to be awkward. I know it seems like a lot, but Christ!" She let out an irritated exhale. Why was this bothering her so much. Maybe from the beginning she was jealous of all of his clients not because they were having sex with him, but because they were providing him with something she couldn't. Maybe that's what was bothering her now with his new form of... hunting.

[timebombe]

Joshua's eyes glinted with a hint of pity, but little else. She was sad, in her little dress of jealousy, but he couldn't feel too much pity for her - not when his best friend had sacrificed a lifestyle he was comfortable with in favor of something more dangerous just to silently appease the her.

Licking his lips, the sugary coke tasting like chemicals on his tongue, Joshua leaned back against the back on the couch, letting his head fall backward as he searched the ceiling for nothing in particular. "He's gotta drink, Lylith. Same way you've gotta drink water, or eat food. If you aren't giving him blood - and god knows he wouldn't ask you to give it to him - he's gonna get it from someone else." Maybe she just needed to bare truth presented on a silver platter. Well, here it was, because frankly, Joshua wasn't a fan of sulking attitudes. "If you don't want it to be painful - tell him. It isn't, the whole bite thing, it isn't painful. You don't want scars? Here, check out my neck," and he tilted his head to the side, exposing his

[lostinsecrets]

She stared at his neck for a few seconds then looked away again, dragging a hand down her face. "So. How exactly do I bring something like that up? Do I just ask him if he's thirsty. And even if he does drink from me, will it stop him from doing what he is now?"

[timebombe]

"Probably not." There was no need to lie to Lylith - that would come later, if Bartholomew chose to avoid sharing the truth with her. "Lo won't bring it up. As far as he's concerned - and no, I'm not putting words in his mouth, I'm repeating what I've heard him say - you don't want to talk about it. So he figures it's best to leave it be. Hell if I know how to bring it up though."

[lostinsecrets]

"Well. He drinks from you. What starts it. Does he just tell you he want a drink by this point or what?"

It was a valid question, a bit dumb, but valid none the less.

[timebombe]

"Depends," he began, tone nonchalant, "Sometimes he asks, sometimes he just tells me that he's thirsty, other times I can just tell and tell him to drink up. Most of the time he initiates it, though, but to us.. it's just as normal as playing a video game together."

[lostinsecrets]

"Okay. Thanks."

She grumbled as she rested her head on the back of the couch, closing her eyes. "This probably wouldn't be as compicated if I didn't believe in vampires."

[timebombe]

"If you didn't believe in vampires, you'd just assume Bartholomew and I were clinically insane." Joshua poked Lylith in the arm, offering her some of his coke. "He's not a bad guy, Lylith. He's been there for me more times than I can count, and he wouldn't intentionally try to hurt you."

[lostinsecrets]

"I know, I know all that. I'm just... frustrated." She grabbed his coke and took a big gulp of it, handing it back with an irritated frown.

"Do you know if he has any clients tonight? I think I'll invite him over." She quickly glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow, another question racking her brain. "What if he's not thirsty? Or what if he lies about it? He lies a lot."

[timebombe]

Joshua stopped himself from correcting her - it wasn't of any use to her to know that Joshua was the pathological liar, not Lo. "He should be free - I was planning on seeing him tonight, but I'll just tell him I got busy with that cousin of yours." He winked, teasingly.

[lostinsecrets]

"She'll be please to hear that." She rolled her eyes and looked over at him. "We hardly ever talk, and now all of a sudden we're like, best friends because I know you. It's sick. She won't shut up."

[timebombe]

"Hey, hey, don't diss on Jenny. She's a sweet girl - got a sweet ass, too," he added jokingly, winking at Lylith in a manner most lewd.

[lostinsecrets]

"I've heard all about it, trust me. I play soccer with her. All she talks about half the time is how everybody wants to do her. Her ego rivals yours, and I'm not kidding."

[timebombe]

Joshua bristled at that. Something like a low growl bubbled out of his throat, something an alpha male would do. "Yeah, well, they can keep their grubby hands off. She's not up for grabs."