Jonovan gains a wicked, but well-intended smile as Anton dances around the veritable, if sparse, minefield that is his personality.Ā āYou arenāt completely in the wrong for being afraid, young one,ā he hums rather cryptically, his lip drawing back in a more toothy smile than the others. His mouth is lined with bright, sharp teeth, and as friendly as the gesture is, something about it is inherently spine-tingling.Ā
āItās fine to not trust me. You donāt know me,ā he assures, still smiling slightly,Ā āAnd I barely know you. I could know you, if youād allow meā¦ā He outstretches one hand, pale with thin skin, fingers tipped with those long, black talons, palm up. Paired with his gentle smirk, itās not the most trustworthy of gestures, but itās clear that heās trying not to impose.
He then, after a few moments, draws his claws back to listen, leaning in.Ā āOh, naturally. I follow the same logic. Of course, you probably have to feed more often than a few times a month.āĀ
Anton mentions a demon, and the degree to which Jonovan is invading his space quickly becomes a slight bit overbearing.Ā āA hunger demon? Mmm, that explains itā¦ā He doesnāt dare elaborate, his already-small pupils cutting that slight bit tighter for a moment.Ā āIntriguing. I may have pegged you wrong at first.ā
Well, if the man meant to calm him with those words and that manner of response, it in fact did the opposite. Anton was already beginning to regret his invitation, but saw no way to rescind it without potentially angering his strangely intimidating company.
Heād have to think of something later.
āI prefer to know people through words first, before anything else. But thank you for the offer. That said - no. I donāt know you, not at all. Not even your scent - though Nigel might. Heās older than I am, though I know not how much.ā Enough that heād been serving the family for a long time, judging by paintings and photos heād found.
Nigel himself had implied work with multiple families, so a good few hundred years sounded accurate.
āEvery few days, at minimum. My desire to keep the publicās panic down, aside; I prefer it that way anyway - having been human once before, itās hard not to try and keep to that same schedule.ā He even had yet to break the habit of eating regular food, even though he didnāt need to. āCan you blame me for sticking to a schedule Iām already comfortable with~?ā Nigel didnāt seem to care.
Perhaps it was something that changed with age?
āHe would hunt regularly - I would drink the blood of his kills, and he would then eat the body.ā Anton continued, eyes narrowing once again at the Countās sudden closeness. He couldnāt help but lean away, wildly uncomfortable with the invasion of his space. āIt was something of a symbiotic partnership. I wouldnāt say itās harder without him, but itās certain become quieter.ā Mostly in good ways. Good lord but Clive and his girlfriend had been⦠loud.
āIām sorry, but can I help you with something?ā His tone was the smallest bit clipped, Anton once again tense. If he didnāt feel so endangered, Anton would have snapped for the intrusion of his space. āAnd how exactly did you āhave me peggedā that my choice of roommate over two years ago, changes it?ā
āEvery few days? My, you are young. So high-energy.ā Heās ponderous, still with that smile. Heās trying to not be threatening, but itās difficult when itās in his natureĀ to be.Ā āThis Nigel...perhaps I should speak to him. He seems to be well about his wits, but, no, I canāt blame you for staying in your comfort zone. Youāll find a better pacing with time.ā
This hunger demon, though, perhaps thatās why Anton is so...the way he is. Every few days with the feeding, a smell lingering on him that whet the KrsnikāsĀ appetite with a new edge that he hasnāt felt in a while. Not to mention this vampire has a beating heart. Thatās new. A beating heart, lively eyes...he is the perfect mix of alive and undead.Ā āAh, the perfect partnership, if a tad clumsy and sedentary.āĀ
Thankfully, he pulls back, having gotten the closer look he wanted, even with Anton backing away.Ā āSorry,ā he starts, genuinely apologetic,Ā āI donāt mean to frighten you. Iām something of a monster in the closet, you see. I donāt stray from my manor all too often; my social skills have suffered for it. Do pardon me, Iām simply curious about you, and I occasionally fail to recognize that unfamiliar people may not care for my encroachment.
āBut, how I had you was a simple, young vampire. The whiff that lingers on you stirs something in myself that leads me to believe that you are more than what I can glean. Iād like to get to know you a bit better, young Duke. I will take you up on your invitation in the near future. Perhaps speak to thisĀ āNigelā fellow you keep carrying on about.ā