your local baby vamp.

former tattoo artist; current blood sucker. shit happens.

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“I just need to make sure we’re all on the same page.” Duke kept talking, letting his nerves get to him. He didn’t know if the rest of the family would be angry with him; running off and hooking up with the fledgling he’d taken with him. Maybe they’d think he took advtange of Levi. Maybe he had, a little. “I don’t want anyone thinking I left them just to have you to myself.” Duke paused, glancing over at him. “Not that I mind.”

“It’s going to be alright,” Levi insisted with a warm smile. One of his hands settled onto Duke’s shoulder then, and he gave an affectionate squeeze. “I’m on the same page. Promise.” His smile turned into something of a wry grin at the other vampire’s explanation, and he snickered. “Don’t worry about them thinking anything about me. You can’t help any of that. Just worry about yourself--and you don’t have to worry too much about yourself, either. Everything’s going to be okay.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“We hunted Dana. We found her. You were released from your sire bond, I was released from my friendship.” He shrugged, listing all of the things they’d done. In truth, he was leaving quite a few things off the list. They’d fed together, on one another. They’d lied in bed together and smoke quietly in a hotel room all to themselves. They’d… built something. “I just want to get back to normal first.” Duke clarified, moving his hand to Levi’s hip and squeezing gently.

Levi nodded at Duke’s recounting of their trip, though it was obvious he’d left out several details that the younger vampire might’ve considered major. But he’d leave the talking to the elder, he supposed, until he had firmer standing in the household. His lips pulled up to one corner, and he nodded again. “I get it. And I’m all for it. Fix shit with the family.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“They might.” Duke admitted with a grin, leaning into Levi’s touch a little. He looked over at him, eyes moving over her face thoughtfully. There were a lot of things that had changed over the past month and how he felt about Levi was probably the most shocking. “… I should.” Duke bit his lip, glancing up at the house before leaning towards him. “Do you think we can keep some of this between us for now?” He asked lowly, reaching to hook two fingers into one of his beltloops. “Please?”

“...They’ll probably want to know something about what we’ve been doing these past couple of weeks,” Levi replied with a sheepish smile. The fledgling vampire was still not close with the family, and so his anticipations could be based only off of what he expected out of most people. “But, I’ll tell you what--I’ll just follow your lead. We can keep down whatever you want to keep down.” 

[grexsed]

“It’ll be fine, Levi.” Duke was saying to Levi as they pulled up to the mansion. He’d forgotten how much he missed the smell, the aesthetic, the way it made him feel. The two of them had been gone for a little over a month and not much had changed except now the humidity was even more thick. He sighed, parking and stepping out of the car. The sun was low in the sky, casting an almost angelic glow over the land. As if the sky was trying to remind him how magical home could feel. 

He slammed the door shut and looked over at Levi, a small smile on his lips. “They probably won’t even care that we’re back.” Duke shrugged, going to grab his suitcase from the trunk. In his heart of hearts, he knew that wasn’t true. Their family was too close, shared too much, for them to suddenly not care anymore. If anything, they’d be happy to have Levi and they’d tolerate Duke. 

But he’d never underestimate their ability to be kind.

“Do you want me to carry this for you?” He called when the trunk swung up, revealing both of their bags. 

[levireynolds]

“Of course it’ll be fine.” The fledgling offered a cheeky grin to the vampire in the seat beside him as they pulled up to the home, though he felt as though he’d put a slight act on. Levi had been encouraging Duke to return home since he’d initially pulled out of the driveway weeks earlier--and though he was still confident that Duke would be welcomed back, the reality remained that he didn’t know the others very well. He only hoped that the idea he had of the family stretched into a reality. “You’re kidding, right? They’re gonna lose their shit. In a good way!”

Jumping out of the car, Levi came around to the back and looked down at the two bags. Clasping a hand onto Duke’s shoulder, he smiled again. “Why don’t you let me do it?” He nodded in the direction of the house, and added: “you should probably go inside, see everyone, you know?”

[levireynolds]

bloodxwitch:

Paris was just the start of it. The redheaded witch had been experiencing temporary amnesia over the past month and began to forget simple spells. Red had woken up with a terrible headache, traipsing to the kitchen to brew herself some tea (by hand of course since she couldn’t remember her spell for fire); her gaze perked up when she heard footsteps approaching, looking at the figure quizzically before speaking up. “Who are you?” 

Levi had walked into the kitchen in search of something to drink, and while he was unbothered to cross paths with Red, it didn’t occur to him that she might not know him. (He had never been formally introduced to her, after all...though after a few weeks with Duke, he felt like he knew her.) “Shit, my bad!” Levi offered a sheepish grin. “I don’t know where my brain’s at! I should’ve made sure I introduced myself to everyone. It’s Levi. You’ve heard of me, maybe?”

[thebigentleman]

[levireynolds]

“So, here’s what I’m thinking. Maybe...maybe, if you it wouldn’t be too much on you guys, you could teach me how to get some of...” Levi made a face as he struggled for the terminology, and gestured to himself. “...This under control. Because I know I can’t just stay and mooch off your generosity, and I don’t want to be hurting people...” he also knew he was not particularly wanted by the whole household, and he wasn’t interested in causing strife. “If I get good enough at it, maybe I can head back home--a whole return from the dead thing, you know?”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“Drop it.” Duke ordered, screeching around a corner. “You don’t know anything about me or my family other than the little you’ve learned while staying here. Do not lecture me.” He pulled out his phone while speeding, driving carelessly as he looked at the GPS.

“It isn’t a lecture,” Levi answered with a frown. “I’m just saying. I’m not giving up on Dana, so you know, don’t give up on your family either. That’s not what you do with the people that you love.” As Duke’s driving grew more reckless, Levi’s hand shot out and steadied on the wheel. “I’m not dying in a fiery explosion because of your relationship drama. Slow down.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“He’ll get better.” Duke whispered, trying to convince himself that they’d all be able to survive apart. “… Shes gotten involved with nazis and has decided to try and gain control through their methods.”

“Maybe he doesn’t have to just get better,” the other man suggested. “Maybe if you go back, everything’ll just be okay again? After a little while, I mean.” When Duke responded, Levi’s gaze narrowed. “Be serious.” 

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“Them.” Duke whispered, foot pressing down harder on the gas. They were going too fast, but Duke didn’t hear any police scanners near by and hoped he was right. The fast driving made him feel better at least. “… Stupid shit.”

“Elias didn’t sound like he was happy for it,” Levi commented. He noticed that the car was moving faster, and shifted uncomfortably, but he didn’t say anything yet. “What kind of stupid shit? I need details. I need to know what I’m walking into.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“It’s better this way.” Duke repeated, swallowing. Maybe if he kept saying it, the idea of leaving would be less painful. “I don’t know if she’ll survive long enough for you to return to her.” He explained softly. What she was getting herself into was beyond him.

“Better for who? You? Or them?” From the way Elias had sounded, it didn’t feel like the other vampire had wanted Duke to go--and Duke’s tone didn’t exactly scream to Levi that he was itching to get out. “What do you mean by that?” Turning in his seat to look more fully at Duke, Levi asked: “what’s Dana really doing?”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“We did.” Duke whispered, wishing they could go back to that, but Dana had ruined that. She’d come back into his life and made him doubt everything good he’d had made over years. “You’re not going back to her.” He told him quietly, offering the joint without thinking. “That’s ridiculous.”

“That doesn’t sound like someone who wants to throw in the towel,” Levi added. “Don’t you think?” He took the mostly-finished joint that Duke had extended, and took a long hit off it. Exhaling the smoke, he replied calmly: “of course I’m going back to her.” 

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“It’s better this way.” Duke mumbled, putting the car in reverse and pulling out. “Chakawhat?” He blinked, shaking his head. “You’re not… I swear. You don’t know what you’re getting into, kid.”

“I don’t think so,” the fledgling replied--seemingly blissfully unaware of whatever boundaries he might have been traipsing right over. “Seemed like you guys had a good thing going before we showed up.” A frown tugged at his lips, and he slumped in the seat. “Guess that’s partially my bad. But, like I said, I’ll be out of your hair once Dana and I get back together. So whatever I helped ruin...might get fixed.” As an afterthought, he clarified: “chakra. Heart chakra, specifically. They’re energies that run all through your body. I used to go to acupuncture all the time to get mine balanced out back when I was alive.” 

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

Duke didn’t want to answer, didn’t want to think about the why. He’d told Gia that he’d only stayed alive this long because of them, but it was becoming apparent to him that… they didn’t deserve that. His lovers would be happier without him, he was sure of it. “If we find Dana, we’ll figure out what to do with you then.”

“I guess you’re keeping that answer to yourself?” Levi inquired, one brow raised. “It isn’t good to keep shit bottled up, man. Fucks with your chakra and shit.” He nodded at the elder’s words. “When we find her--I’m staying with her. No matter what.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“Don’t you need to grab clothes or something?” Duke asked, hoping the vampire would be dumb enough to hop out of the car so he could drive off. “You really don’t know what she’s trying to do, do you?” He asked softly, narrowing his eyes. It would be impossible to tell Levi what Dana was doing and still be able to be civil. Duke was sure the fledgling would be compelled to agree with him.

“I’m not getting out of this car,” Levi replied plainly. At his follow-up question, the fledgling grew quiet for a moment. “No. It wasn’t something she told me about.” Another quiet moment passed, and Levi turned to the elder vampire: “why are you leaving them, anyway?” He’d overheard the argument that had passed between Elias and Duke--a lot of it had been about him. “If we find Dana, I’ll leave with her. I know you don’t want me around. I get it.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

Duke rolled his eyes as he let out an annoyed groan before smoking the rest of the joint. “This cannot be fucking happening.” He whispered to himself, shaking his head. The last thing he wanted was a shadow, but he knew a fledging would never give up the chance to find their sire. Duke should’ve kept his mouth shut. “… Fine. Fucking hell.” He growled, pulling open the door and sliding into the drivers seat. “But you listen to everything I fucking say. You step out of line once and I’ll kill you.”

Levi dropped down into the passenger’s seat, and shut the door as the elder vampire entered the car. “Fine,” the younger man agreed. “But I’m not going to do anything stupid. I don’t see why anyone has to get hurt. We just go and get her, and then...” Levi trailed off, unsure of what would happen next. Whatever Dana wanted, he supposed, would be their plan. “...Whatever comes next.”

[levireynolds]

grexsed:

“Well, you did.” Duke told him matter-of-factly, taking another hit of the joint as the kid spoke. Why was it, after all these years, the random vampire came to stop him from leaving? Did no one else care? Or did they just not notice? “No.” He insisted, straightening. “Absolutely not.” Duke shook his head, exhaling smoke. “I’m going to stop her. You won’t be any help.”

“Yes,” Levi argued, one hand already on the passenger’s side door, “absolutely yes.” The fledgling looked at the other vampire, a serious expression on his face. “I can fight. I can help. And I am coming with you. Or you can stay here--and just tell me where to go.”