Second prompt for the Camp Cartoon event run over at @tss-camp-and-coffee! Written for @thecrowslullaby who requested Vampire Janus or Roman failing miserably at flirting with a vampire hunter. Hope you enjoy Janus fumble!
Masterpost | Ao3
Summary: In which Janus certainly does not know what he's up against…
Content Warnings: Vampires, talk of weapons, Ambiguous/Open Ending
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Janus was in his favorite corner in the town’s tavern, at the end of the bar where it was dark enough to hide him from prying eyes, but he could see almost the entire space. Patton, the barkeep, tolerated his presence even if he didn’t spend a lot of money – what need did he have for the food and drink they served now? – and they chatted for a while each time Janus decided to drop by. That night, the tavern was quite busy, however, so Patton hadn’t paid him too much mind, though that suited him just fine because there was something that had Janus’ attention pretty captivated.
Or someone to be more precise.
The stranger’s appearance had sent a cold shiver down Janus’ back as soon as he had walked in. His heavy boots, thick, well-fitting leather shirt and belt equipped with obvious weaponry as well as the big sword strapped to his back, many would have maybe figured him a mercenary.
Janus knew better.
He hadn’t encountered one himself, but as shitty and irresponsible as his sire had been, he had told him of hunters and the dangers they posed to beings such as themselves. Ruthless killers that went after the supernatural beings that wander amongst humankind without mercy.
According to his sire’s instructions, Janus should have slipped out of the building and got as far away from the town as soon as he possibly could, but he’d rather liked this place and his little cottage just outside the woods, a good fifteen-minute walk from town where he was mostly left undisturbed. He really didn’t want to give that up.
So instead, he’s been studying this guy for any hint on how he could deal with him that didn’t lead to his death. Despite his equipment, the man’s stature didn’t look all that intimidating. He had also taken a book out when he sat down and only exchanged few words with the waitress as he ordered.
A study and a loner, Janus surmised. Maybe even a newbie to the job?
If that was the case, he could perhaps simply charm the man out of it again. Even when he was still human, Janus had a reputation as a sweet talker that could get himself out of the trickiest situations with his silver tongue and now that he had a bit of magic behind it, it was even easier.
He waited a few more minutes, observing the man — no he didn’t need to hype himself up, thank you very much — before he elegantly slipped out of his seat and made his way over to the others table.
“Hello, handsome,” he greeted with the most charming smile he could manage. “Came here all alone tonight?”
The man looked up from his book – handwritten, Janus noted – and looked around before raising a brow at Janus.
“It would appear so. Can I help you?” His voice was smooth and kind of cold. Immediately Janus was less confident that this had been the right course of action but now he was here, and bailing would probably only make him more suspicious, so he continued.
“Kind of. I’m also here by myself and wondered if we could keep each other company?”
He leaned on the backrest of a chair, waiting for permission to sit down. The man studied him for a moment longer. Then he sighed and motioned to the chair.
“I will not stop you, however, I have been told I am not pleasant company.”
“Oh, I’m sure that can’t be true,” Janus hummed as he took a seat.
“It certainly can be. I do not waste my time with useless conversation.”
Janus feels his eyelid twitch. This man was as cold as a stone wall and just as approachable. He had greatly miscalculated.
Still, he’s too deep to give up.
“What are useful conversations then?”
“Efficient ones.”
Janus suppressed an annoyed sigh.
“Give me an example,” he said instead, leaning forward and resting his head on his hands as if he was waiting in anticipation for the answer. The man’s face didn’t show any change in demeanor.
“No, as this is not an efficient conversation, I will not continue engaging with you.”
Janus wanted to smash his head against the table. That had to be the most annoying person he had ever had to deal with.
“C’mon, L, give the guy a break, he’s trying so hard to get you not to kill him,” a voice suddenly spoke up from much closer by than Janus had been prepared for. He hadn’t noticed anyone approaching them and he had been paying attention! But now there was a man sitting in the chair next to the hunter, a black cloak wrapped around his shoulders, one arm casually slung over the backrest as he grinned at Janus, amusement clear in his eyes.
“I do not understand what you are talking about, Verge. Why would I kill him? He hasn’t done anything,” ‘L’ replied.
“How would he know you’ve got ethics? He’s still young, wasn’t properly cared for by his sire I bet and you’re most likely the first hunter he’s crossed paths with.”
Janus’ brain was still trying to understand where this man had come from — the door to the tavern had not opened since before he came over to this table, how had he missed him?? — that he almost missed that very crucial part of their conversation.
If he still had blood, it would be running cold by now.
“You are terrifying him more than me, I believe,” L hummed, his piercing blue eyes intently wandering over Janus’ now stiff body.
“Yeah, probably. Sorry ‘bout that, stranger. Let me introduce ourselves. I’m Virgil, but you can call me Verge, and that’s Logan or L for short. I’m a vampire like you and he’s a hunter like you surely surmised but we’re not here for you, so relax.”
Somehow, that little speech was not reassuring to Janus in the slightest.
“Why would a vampire be travelling with a hunter? I was told—”
“Bullshit, probably,” Virgil interrupted. “It’s almost propaganda at this point, though the title ‘hunter’ doesn’t really help, I suppose. L here just makes sure that ‘our kind’ doesn’t go around killing everything that moves or displeases us. You seem quite integrated with the people here considering your little throne in the corner over there. As long as the people here don’t have a problem with you, then neither do we.”
“That’s… hard to believe,” Janus huffed, chewing on his lower lip. “I know humans, I’ve been one for long enough, interacted with too many, they all fear what they can’t understand and what’s more powerful than them. Why would one risk leaving ‘our kind’—” he mimicked Virgil’s tone and hand motion— “alive if we could pose a threat to their fellow humans?”
“I care only for balance,” Logan himself spoke up again. “Humans, vampires, or whatever other species, I do not care for their fears or hopes. I simply ensure that all that is can continue to exist as it should. That is what I came into being for.”
“What— What does that mean?” Janus asked, confused. Virgil’s responding grin sent a cold shiver down his spine once again as Logan raised a brow.
I was reading through the monster hunter Logan fics and wow he is a BAD monster hunter. Like he literally doesn't kill one monster. At least Virgil takes care of the naga. Logan has like all the gear he could possibly want and he's still got a solid kill count of 0
XD I think I've answered an ask like this before but I promise guys, they don't fuck every monster they meet
It's not even a majority case
He kills at least 75% of the monsters he comes across, swearsies
I just found your hunter!Logan AU (incredible, by the way) and I was wondering if you could tell us more about Logan and Virgil themselves? Like how they met, how they first started in the hunting field, and if they've ever gone on missions together? What's their relationship like? Sorry, that's a lot, but have a good day and keep being amazing!
Okay so like
Virgil is Logan's mentor and "handler" meaning he basically listens to the radio, police scanners, reads online newspapers and watches news shit etc etc and sends Logan where he thinks there's a monster. He's not exactly a retired hunter himself, but he doesn't go out unless it's a two-man job
Virgil got started hunting because he was attacked by an incubus and survived. And, no, he doesn't screw every monster he comes across lol
Logan became a hunter because his brother was killed by a werewolf that Virgil was hunting. Virgil took Logan into his care since his parents were already dead, raising him and teaching him how to hunt monsters.
The fact that they both happen to be monsterfuckers is a complete coincidence lol
Is there, by any chance, hope for another naga!Janus prompt? With hypnosis and coils and any side? If not then that’s ok. I don’t want to stress you out, especially those who are demanding something that you don’t want to do. Hope this finds you in a good mood and no stress.
Okay, but why do certain monsters choose to screw the hunters instead of fighting/killing them? I really have to wonder if they give off a vibe that makes them attractive to monsters or something.
And that vibe is called I Wasn't Immediately Shot In The Face
Okay, so to be a monster hunter you have to be magically attractive to monsters? This may be a little lore-y for this blog, but I'm curious, are hunters "bred" for this job? Family lines made up of mixed breed monster f*ckers? Seriously, have Virgil or Logan ever been on a mission that didn't end in smexy shenanigans?
Lol yeah, I promise, they don't fuck every monster
That's like.... A 1/50 shot, they kill most of the monsters they meet
People in this universe become hunters because they experience the monster world and decide they have to protect others from it, not many people are actually born into it
