Everybody loves a good story

Jasper Long has long since grown tired of small-town life. He wants to see the world and have fun. Life can be one neverending party. To pay for his adventures, he sells his (faux) magic skills ranging from good luck charms to palm readings. Indie journal for OC Jasper Long.

[darknessmolten]

Stephansdom

[darknessmolten]

It wasn’t quite guilt that Nicolas felt, but he couldn’t shield himself entirely from Jasper’s thoughts right now and at the very least they ensured that he felt responsible. He would at least make sure that he got home safely. That’s what he got for playing with his food.

He smiled at his own morbid thoughts and sat down in the chair across from Jasper, keeping an eye on him just in case he’d end up sliding to the ground. “Don’t ever judge a date before the next morning, mon ami, has no one taught you that?”

[i-have-the-mojo]

He chuckled, appreciative of the joke even when he felt miserable. “Is that a promise?” he asked, brows playfully arched. He might have pursued that avenue further, at least in jest, if he hadn’t been feeling so miserable. After all an one-night-stand would provide both fun and a free place to sleep. Breakfast, too, if he got lucky.

Jasper flashed him a crooked grin. “Because honestly, I’m afraid I’ll need an oxygen mask if you’re gonna put me through the paces.” Stupid body betraying him. He grimaced. “Fuck, I hope I’m not getting sick. I couldn’t pay the hospital bills.”

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

[darknessmolten]

“Music Boy?” As far as mocking insults went, that was on the pathetic side. Nicolas shook his head and bent down to pack his violin away properly. He had no idea that Jasper wanted him to abandon his post, otherwise he probably wouldn’t do it. As he was he really just had enough for the night and Jasper’s presence at the very least didn’t make hanging around more appealing, even if he found him to be less annoying than the man probably thought he was. At least he broke through the boredom.

“Good. I want you neither swooning nor fawning. Also, just for the record, the reason violinists are renowned for their fingers is that a violin is a lot more delicate and temperamental than any cock I’ve ever handled. It’s a lot easier to draw pleasing sounds out by fondling a cock. Doesn’t need talent or practice. Although once you have that, it certainly helps.”

With that unambiguous statement, Nicolas shouldered his violin case and turned to walk away. There was no goodbye and he didn’t look back once.

[i-have-the-mojo]

That was... Jasper was left to gape, and stand there feeling very, very confused.

He pulled his wizard hat off and scratched his head. “Woah, people in Vienna are weird,” he muttered to himself as he watched his retreating back.

He might have won his street corner, but something told Jasper that the fiddler had won their spat. Losing sure as hell wasn’t an enjoyable feeling.

Jasper shook his head and forced himself to focus on business. He needed to get back to making money if he wanted both dinner and a place to sleep tonight. But maybe he wouldn’t mind running into the fiddler again. He had been something else, and Jasper still had to inform him that whatever skills he thought to have as a lover were bound to be second to Jasper’s own.

Yeah, that would show him.

The End

[darknessmolten]

Stephansdom

[darknessmolten]

“Possible. Or you are under the weather. Severely.” Maybe he should just leave. He could still talk and joke, there was no doubt that he’d recover in due time. Meanwhile Nicolas felt his hunger awakened and he was eager for more. It was always that way with blood, there was no such thing as being sated.

But for some reason he didn’t take off yet. Instead he helped Jasper along, so they could at very least get out of the way of the stream of people. They did end up walking into a coffee house. In his defence, this was Vienna. It was difficult to avoid coffee houses.

It wasn’t a proper coffee house, instead there was a counter where he let Jasper order while he looked for enough change to pay for it. It wasn’t as if he usually helped his victims recover, but Jasper stood out because he was at least a passing acquaintance. It was peculiar.

[i-have-the-mojo]

It was a testament to how utterly miserable Jasper was feeling that he didn’t even feel an inkling of triumph that after such a long wait, he was finally getting invited to the cup of coffee he had demanded all along.

He just mumbled a thanks as he accepted his moccacino with extra caramel syrup, warming his hands on the paper cup. “I’m cold,” he said quietly, still leaning slightly against Nicolas, but mostly against the counter. “I feel like...” He ran a hand through his hair. “Fuck, I feel like crap.” He snorted. “Woozy.”

He led the way, more like staggered along to one of the rickety little chairs grouped around equally rickety little tables. He gave a snort as he sank down on a chair. “...and here I thought Vienna is the city of fancy coffee houses.” His lips twitched. “As far as first dates go, this one leaves room for improvement.”

But God, he was glad that Nicolas was here, weirdo necking hallucinations or not. In real life he was just here, helping him through a crappy situation, and Jasper didn’t think he would ever be able to tell him just how much he appreciated that.

@darknessmolten

[darknessmolten]

Stephansdom

[darknessmolten]

It would be easy now to get to know Jasper. There was always this urge to know a victim, to love them. What they did had nothing to do with feeding in a biological sense. Sure, blood was ingested, but there was a reason that it had to come from a living body.

But Nicolas only saw the images flicker past, memories of Jasper’s life, glimpses of emotions. He didn’t delve in deeper, just as he held himself back as well. When he felt Jasper’s heart slow, he made the decision and slowly pulled away. He bit down on his own tongue, his blood filling his mouth. Sealing his lips against Jasper’s neck once more, Nicolas healed the two little puncture wounds his fangs had left.

Together with the dazed confusion he had left the man in, he could now walk away and he’d never be the wiser, although he really should see about regaining some strength quickly. For some reason he didn’t leave quite yet, instead he stayed, his hand on Jasper’s hip now, to help hold him up.

“Careful. You look tired.” Maybe he felt as if he owed him a little. Definitely not for annoying him the other day, that was pointless and ultimately he wished he had been in a worse mood and a different century so he could have just snapped his neck then and there, but for feeding from him in such a manner, that was at least a bit of a debt.

People were walking by as if nothing much had happened there, as oblivious as Jasper himself was. Dark and mysterious, that’s what he had wanted. Nicolas could certainly provide.

[i-have-the-mojo]

It was like slowly waking up, the blurriness of the world fading away for bright colors and sharp lines, except it was accompanied by the feeling of disorientation you would rather associate with being jerked awake right out of a dream. 

Jasper blinked at the musician, and nodded, mumbling a, “yeah, I’m feeling...” He groaned, brought a hand to his forehead. Yeah, he really wasn’t feeling all that great. Dizzy and weak was what he was feeling, and his legs were wobbly. Even though he didn’t want to, he found himself leaning against the fiddler with more of his weight than he would have cared to admit. 

“What...?” His hand slipped down from his temple to his neck, and through the lingering fuzziness in his mind he vaguely recalled stinging pain, a sucking sensation. It was surreal, like a dream memory. His fingers found nothing but smooth, unblemished skin. The pain was gone, too. He shook his head. “I didn’t take anything,” he muttered under his breath, “didn’t even have a drink.” Weird. He sure hoped he wasn’t getting sick.

His lips quirked into a wry little grin, though the confusion lingered in his eyes. “I think I really need that cup of coffee now.”. And he was still using Nicolas to steady him, damn, he just hoped the man didn’t think he was being a freak for getting so cuddly with a near-stranger. “Blood sugar must be low,” he muttered under his breath.

[darknessmolten]

Stephansdom

Stephansplatz, Vienna. Right in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, tourists and locals were bustling about. Night fell early this time of the year, so even though it wasn’t that late yet, Nicolas had been awake for a while.

This was probably one of the busiest areas of the city, people walking by everywhere. But people weren’t just people to Nicolas, they couldn’t be. There were their thoughts, each mind shaped just a little differently. Often Nicolas isolated himself and denied the mind gift, but some nights his mind was as open and hungry as he was for blood and on those nights he sometimes came across minds that drew him in.

So he ended up standing in the middle of the square, the cathedral itself behind him. His eyes were drawn to the one person around that seemed familiar and he watched him for a while.

Jasper. Not that Jasper even knew that he was aware of his name. He really shouldn’t stand out the way he did, so maybe it was just because he’d met him before.

With a few quick strides he closed the distance between them. There was no hesitation when he put a hand on Jasper’s shoulder and caught his gaze. Nicolas said nothing, but he felt his thoughts and he kept them calm. Relaxed.

Even as he bent down to his neck, pulling him closer while biting down. To any onlooker it would have simply looked like an intimate embrace, but Nicolas tasted Jasper’s blood, felt his heartbeat on his tongue and watched his thoughts, to keep the panic at bay. He could feel him grow fainter and he found himself wondering how far he would go.

[i-have-the-mojo]

Business was going reasonably well tonight, now that he was selling crystals and other polished stones which supposedly held healing properties. Here in the shadows of the imposing church, tourists and locals alike were still milling around, eating their fries, meeting with friends and in some cases, recalling that they needed to bring home a token from their trip. It was a good enough night, though he might just start selling stamps instead if one more harried tourist asked where she could get some.

He nodded to the pair of opera ticket salesmen in their fancy baroque costumes, and waved to the guy with the collection of watches inside his coat. 

Vienna might not be New Orleans, but as cities went maybe it wasn’t half bad. For all his pissing contest with Fiddler Guy, the competition in street sellers and performers wasn’t too hard here, which left the tourists more willing to stop and listen, and buy, than in cities where they would be constantly harassed by flocks of salesmen.

The moment he caught sight of Fiddler Guy stalking towards him like a cat with his tail on fire, his good mood darkened. Stephansplatz was his. “Oh, it’s...”

Arms wrapped around him, and an eerie calm blanketed Jasper’s mind and emotions even when there was a searing pain at his neck. His heart raced, pumping more blood to the wound. Deep, deep down he had an inkling he ought to be screaming for help, or fighting, or something, but everything he felt was that odd calmness, that sense of being perfectly okay with someone mouthing at his neck and that should be so wrong except right now? He didn’t care. It didn’t matter. Every time panic tried to stir within him, it was blanketed in this fog of everything is fine nothing to worry about.

The world turned fuzzy at the edges, his thoughts slowed down to a lazy blur, and still he couldn’t find himself particularly bothered by the mouth at his neck, or the distinct sensation of sucking... sucking his blood? His fingers grasped weakly at Nicolas’s coat, more of a pat than anything else. For an onlooker, it would just appear as if he were returning the embrace.

And he couldn’t even get angry at his own helplessness.

[darknessmolten]

I really don’t think I’ve ever done anything as pathetic as exchanging smack talk with you, Harry Potter.

[i-have-the-mojo]

Harsh. Way harsh, Princess. Now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings. Might even shed a tear or two.

[darknessmolten]

I’m not bullying you. I could start.

How about you head on back over then?

[i-have-the-mojo]

Can’t. Ran out of money back in Portugal. And not planning on it anyway, you got any idea how expensive transatlantic plane tickets are? I’m gonna stay for as long as I can. It could be an once-in-a-lifetime chance!

Also, you, bullying? What are you gonna do, princess? Flick your hair at me?

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

[darknessmolten]

Luckily for everyone who might potentially be involved, Nicolas didn’t explain art to people. Sometimes killing could be an art, but Jasper probably wouldn’t appreciate that line of thinking either. Not that Nicolas cared, not that he ever cared about much of anything, especially once the music started.

Which was also why he hardly paid any attention to what Jasper chose to shout at him, not while he played. His focus was there and only when he ended did he even notice that he had gotten a few more Euros for his trouble. He bent to pick them up, quickly going over the numbers. Good enough.

He turned his head when he straightened back up, looking at this very insisting magician once more. He raised his eyebrows and let out a short laugh. “I already have a lot more dark mystery than you could handle, mon ami.”

But somehow he was still talking to him anyway. Definitely no one with any actual ability to see the future, because otherwise he’d know better. It wasn’t a good thing to have and keep Nicolas’ attention, it really was not. The dark mystery had engulfed and changed him a long time ago and he believed less in the romanticism than the fatalism of it all.

[i-have-the-mojo]

“You mean a stick up your ass, that’s what you have,” Jasper muttered under his breath once His Fiddly Highness finally deigned to grace him with his attention. Hell, if he hadn’t been too stubborn to surrender he would have left when the man completely ignored him in favor of playing his stupid song, but, well, that would have been letting him win. And there was no way in hell that would happen.

He shrugged his shoulders lazily, for just like he wouldn’t leave, there was no way he would admit to being pissed that he’d been brushed off so easily. That would mean admitting he could get to him.

“I don’t doubt you’re all dark and mysterious in your deep tortured soul, Music Boy,” he quipped with a cocky smirk, “but you’ll have to do a bit more than play a song to make me swoon.” His smirk widened, and then widened some more. “I’m not one of these chicks fawning over every long-haired guy fondling his string cock,” he drawled with great relish.

He would have best liked to pat himself on the back. Shots fired, check.

[darknessmolten]

i-have-the-mojo liked your post:

Since it’s Thanksgiving in America, can you name…

Notice how nobody in history has ever said ‘I’m grateful for a fake fortune teller.’? Only thing worse are mimes.

[i-have-the-mojo]

Oy!  That’s called bullying in some parts of the world, ya know!

And Thanksgiving is the best time to be on the right side of the Atlantic. We have turkey!

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

[darknessmolten]

Whatever Nicolas had said that actually came across as encouraging, he sorely wished that he could take it back. He noticed the way he craned his neck and tried to make sense of it, frowning before it clicked. What the hell?

“I’m playing violin on a street corner. If you want someone to be your pimp, whore yourself out to people with money to spare.” That said he decided to make sure none of those predictions would even be close to coming true, because ultimately Nicolas tended to always react the same to anyone telling him what to do. He went for whatever opposite would be the biggest provocation.

In this case he finally started to play, even if Jasper was still standing right in front of him. He improvised, his eyes on the wannabe annoying wannabe fortune teller. At the very least, he’d have to admit, he was quite inspiring. His music had an eerie quality to it, even when he toned it down for mortal ears, but Nicolas didn’t care whether it unsettled or thrilled. It moved him, it moved others and it was art.

[i-have-the-mojo]

Art. Pah. If he had explained any such thing to Jasper, chances were he would have laughed right in his face. Music was the deafening beats in a crowded club, the screech of a violin would at best serve to put a man to sleep. Or more like, just make him want to grab the stupid violin and confiscate it, because standing right in front of Nicolas, it was fucking loud.

He took a step away and rubbed his ears. And yet, much as he hated to admit it, there was... something about this music. It wasn’t easy to dismiss, it demanded your attention and got into your blood, your head, entranced, just like the music to which Jasper danced the nights away. 

But unsettling music or not, he would be damned if he just let himself be dismissed like that.

“Oy!” he called, yelling to be heard over the playing, “not saying I’m not good enough I oughta be showered with money, but that comes for free!” This time, his smile showed too many teeth to be anything but fake. Pretentious hipster asshole, and cheap, too. “Give me some credit, buddy, I’m trying to sell you dark and mysterious magical arts here!”

[housedemarr]

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

[darknessmolten]

“That’s a shame. I don’t play a lot of opera.” At least not on street corners, that definitely wasn’t where the money was. Not that Nicolas ever played anything but whatever had his passion at the moment. He might be immortal, but he time was still too precious to waste even a moment of it on music that didn’t move him. It was also too precious too waste much time on anything other than music.

Yet somehow he was still listening to this idiot. What was he even after?

“If that’s a come on it’s the lousiest I’ve ever heard.” After a moment of consideration, he corrected himself, “Maybe not quite, but you’re nowhere near charming enough to get away with anything worse.”

Coffee. He didn’t drink… coffee. His eyes did linger on the man’s neck for a few seconds, since it was a more inspiring sight than his gaudy costume. “You can’t even predict your own future or you’d make sure to be out of my reach by now.”

[i-have-the-mojo]

This time, the insults helped Jasper’s smile become more genuine, his body language relaxed. This was more like it. If he could turn it into proper banter he would be on familiar territory, he could deal with that. He just had to keep the man from ignoring him.

“But I have already peeked into your future,” he said brightly, “and I have seen that you will be charmed.” True to his word, he flashed the violinist his brightest smile, complete with dimples and bright eyes. 

Having noticed the man’s eyes lingering on his neck, he tilted his head to bring attention to it. Weird fetish, the neck, but fine, whatever worked... He flashed a toothy grin. “I saw that you’re going to take me to that nice little coffee shop around the corner, the one with the fancy crystal chandelier, and buy me a drink before you let me give you a card reading. You’re going to consider it the best choice you made all day.”

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

[darknessmolten]

Pretentious asshole wasn’t that far from a good description. Nicolas looked down himself and lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “I was going for clothes.” Granted, the rings on his fingers and the hair might fall into a different territory, but he thought that at least his clothes today were fairly mundane.

So far Nicolas seemed less annoyed than dismissive. He lifted his violin to pick up playing again, although now the fact that the man was literally standing right in front of him might become just a little annoying.

“I hope you have a good singing voice.” Of course he wasn’t serious. “You make it seem as if you’d like to contribute.”

Who knew, maybe he had hidden talents. Fake fortune telling and his violin unfortunately wouldn’t mix that well. Or maybe that should be fortunately.

[i-have-the-mojo]

The sheer effort of keeping up the smile had Jasper gritting his teeth. Nobody who knew him could possibly accuse Jasper Long of grumpiness, but damn if the violin player wasn’t testing the limits of his near-indestructible good mood. Sing. Right. What a jerk, he wanted to stuff the violin up his ass and make him choke on it.

He amped up his smile into a right proper beam. “Course I want to, opera’s on my list of hidden talents right there with my mad chicken dance skills... though nine out of ten lovers say my Eggs Benedict top the list.” He let the smile curl into somewhat of a smirk, and added a wink. If he couldn’t annoy him by being an asshole, he would just annoy the guy by being his new best friend. Either way, this street corner would be his.

“But right now I’d rather show you what I do best,” Jasper went on, stepping a bit closer with his hands casually stuffed in the pockets of his too-thin coat cum very magical magic robe. It even had stars on it, come on. “Sure you don’t want to know what the future holds in store for you? I’ll give you a discount, and the one-in-a-lifetime chance to have a coffee with yours truly!”

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

[darknessmolten]

“Doubtful.” The words were accompanied by a sneer, although Nicolas didn’t even look up just yet. “I never particular cared to learn about anything my past held for me either. Why prolong the disappointment?”

His attention was on his violin case, propped open in front of him. Nicolas had never cared to make investments or any other such measure so many immortals made use of to ensure financial stability. It wasn’t as if he was stable in any other way, why should that area be different? So he earned his money through his music. He had never intended to strive.

Before he ever looked up, Nicolas had put his earnings into his pocket, just leaving one five Euro note under a two Euro coin as a gentle suggestion toward generosity, as street performers had always done. Only then did he turn his head to see just who had offered knowledge about his future to him.

New face, but mostly the only people he bothered memorizing around here were the ones with talent, so that wasn’t saying much. More than his face his attention was drawn by the man’s get-up. All Nicolas wore was his leather jacket and dark jeans. He had a certain style, but certainly nothing that compared to this magician costume.

“Nice hat.”

[i-have-the-mojo]

At the sheer underwhelming enthusiasm with which he was greeted, holding on to the smile became ever more difficult for Jasper. He scowled at the stupid haughty musician while he put his money away, and just barely managed to force his mouth back into a smile when he finally deigned to look up.

What a pretentious asshole, he thought, even as he upped his smile a notch. He tipped his just insulted hat with a flourish. “Thanks, you’re not looking too bad yourself. What are you going for? Hipster? You European folks are so... what do they call it, no... not burlesque, that’s the nekkid chicks... bohemian! Right, that’s it!” he said in his best cheery bubbly American tourist voice. Okay, screw being nice, but he could be fake nice and that counted, too, didn’t it? It should anyway.

Jasper’s smile actually reached his eyes as he contemplated the sheer irritation he could cause the musician. If he got lucky, he would annoy the guy so much he ran away with his tail tucked in between his legs. Going by his earnings this street corner was a good spot, and it sure called for some quality entertainment. Dying cat music. Blargh.

[i-have-the-mojo]

Nicolas & Jasper

It was going to be one of these days, Jasper decided when he opened his wallet to the sight of a measly 27,38€. So much for Vienna being a tourist paradise... The tourists were stingy, rude, and cared about nothing but music and old buildings. Who the hell traveled the world for that?

He missed New Orleans. At least these tourists had never given him funny looks and asked for museum opening hours when he offered them a palm reading.

He snapped his wallet shut, stuffed it back into one of the many inside pockets of his “mystical” black robe and went on his not-so-merry way.

Not-so-merry turned downright grumpy when Jasper caught sight of yet another one of these blasted street musicians. Violin player, that one. He rolled his eyes. He hated violin players; they were a crowd pleaser. Almost as bad as these ridiculous pantomimes who expected to be paid for doing nothing but standing around and looking stupid.

With the street musician just taking a break, Jasper righted his robe and pointy hat - if one more kid asked him if he was Harry Potter he was going to commit murder - and plastered a concerned smile on his face.

“My friend, you appear troubled,” he remarked, “would you care to learn what the future holds in store for you?”

[i-have-the-mojo]

It Takes a Farmboy || Jasper & Kennedy || Day 07

[gaelachilyalive]

Kennedy cocked a brow and gave the boy a side smile.

“Belfast, yes. That’s Northern Ireland- y’know, where all the religious fanatics take refuge. I’m from the Republic of Ireland, though. Part of the European Union,” Kennedy said proudly, giving him a nudge with her shoulder. “Wikipedia, though. Really? Does the Internet even work anymore?”

Kennedy had been able to use her phone, but the Internet on her device was another story. She wasn’t sure if that was a result of being in the middle of nowhere or because the Internet had just ceased to work since the Outbreak had gotten bad. It seemed Jasper had the same realization, his face going cold and distant at the thought of no Internet, no advances in technology, no ability to share information digitally.

Jasper admitted he trusted her in talking to the others rather than himself. This was certainly interesting to hear. Kennedy had been approached with speculation and uncertainty since she’d happened upon the ranch, but hearing that Jasper thought she was good enough to propose such an idea to the others was encouraging.

“Brilliant,” she replied. “Okay. I can do that.” 

[i-have-the-mojo]

“And still so helpful after I insulted you with the wrong flavour of Irishness,” Jasper quipped, hands raised in mock surrender. “Dublin, not Belfast, I promise I won’t ever forget or get them mixed up. Scout’s honor!”

Chuckling, he put the brush away altogether. Whatever motivation he’d had to coddle the mare, it had passed now that the realities of their circumstances had intruded into his little safe space.

“And for the record, no, I can’t get the internet to work for me, but...” His face turned grim. “It can’t be like this everywhere, right?” he asked, though his voice was laced more with desperation than actual hope. “If it’s an infection... Infections spread. That takes time. Not much with global plane travel, but still! We were able to contain SARS and the bird flu and ebola and...” He gulped. “It can’t be the same all over the world.”

He patted the mare’s neck. Damn, they really needed to give her a name, even if it was only between the two of them. “I refuse to believe that it’s all over the world like here. And as long as there’s still someplace normal out there... Then we can get there, and they will eventually come for us. The... I don’t know, the United Nations will send aid workers or there will be military sent to kill the Walkers or... I don’t know! But somebody’s got to come and help!”

[jdnotawalkeryet-blog]

You?!?! - Jasper & JD (Day 08)

[jdnotawalkeryet-blog]

The expression on her face gave her clear thoughts on his ‘the girls I’ve had a romp with would tell you I’m pretty divine’ comment.  

It was not a nice expression.

She considered him for a moment as he gave her his actual name.  Jasper Long.  Well, she could see why he wouldn’t give that as his name.  On top of the fact that he was a cheat and a liar, it wasn’t exactly exotic.  Jiaolong certainly sounded far more… mystical.  

Of course, her moment of understanding slid away when he continued speaking.  She glowered at him, her eyes narrowing at the ‘fortune cookie wisdoms’ comment.  Bastard didn’t even feel guilty!!!

She was just working herself up into a proper growl when he quickly changed the subject.  Snorting in disgust, she turned and grumbled, “Yeah, well at least puppies would be useful.  Unlike swindlers who prey on people’s vulnerabilities.”

She sighed and shoved her hands back through her hair, forcing herself to let go of her annoyance.  It didn’t matter anymore.  Very few things from ‘before’ did.  

Turning back to him, she nodded and said, “Can you shoot?  Use a knife?  A sword maybe?”

[i-have-the-mojo]

It took all of Jasper’s self-control to keep from rolling his eyes. Nag, nag, nag, what a bore. JD really couldn’t take a joke, could she? Between the complete lack of humour and her obvious scorn for his flirting she sounded like an utterly boring person.

If his choice wasn’t between her and Walkers trying to eat his brains he would have said he could do without her company. Beggars couldn’t be choosers.

He was vaguely relieved when she accepted his change of topic, though he would have had a lot to say about her constant negativity. Chances were, none of it would have endeared him to her, so all the better he didn’t.

Jasper went back to pouring himself a drink, which had after all been his original reason to come to the kitchen. “I could learn to flop my ears and lick my own balls if you’d like, but I happen to have more useful skills, too.”

He sipped slowly on his orange juice, taking secret delight in leaving her hanging. “I can shoot a gun, and a rifle.” Jasper shot her a demure smile, eyelids lowered. “Not half bad, if I dare say so myself,” he cooed.

He hadn’t fired a bullet in years, but that was another case of unnecessary details. “I used to go hunting, back when I lived someplace rural.”