Reborn Unlife || RoJ, Xavier, Abel, Devlin, Hamilton, & Colleen
Xavier/Abel: Xavier took a deep breath and looked up from the book he'd been perusing. "I can hardly believe that over sixty years ago, I was doing this very same thing," he said as he looked over at the figure on the bed.
It had been about a week since the incident in MJ's RV and the vampire had yet to stir.
Xavier and Abel had brought him up to the attic, to the room that had once been designed to be a prison cell for a demon trapped in a book. It looked different now, of course; it wasn't even the same house.
Rather than a small, dank room with a demon trap painted on the ceiling, it now looked like just another bedroom. There was no difference in standard between it and the bedrooms on the floor below save for the magic that reinforced the space. Nothing could get in that wasn't supposed to and more importantly, nothing could get out.
"Really?" Abel asked. He was sitting beside MJ on the bed, playing with MJ's little treasure guardian while she rested on her owner's chest.
Xavier nodded. "Yes. Back then I was trying to figure out why the former owner of this house had built a prison cell in the attic."
"And did you?"
"Oh, yes."
Abel waited a beat. "...Why?"
"He purchased a book that contained a Russian demon and hid it in the floorboards like Edgar Allen Poe."
His familiar snorted. "Naturally."
MJ: The vampire had stirred somewhere between sixty years ago and something about a book. Had he heard correctly? Probably distracted by the little creature on his chest. A comfort if there ever was one. A blessing. One of if not the best reason to have been dragged back into this house.
"Lenore ... or Lucrecia?" No breath, no stretch or twitch, no groan. Just a dead body with something to say.
Xavier/Abel/Little Woman: Three very different reactions followed MJ's waking declaration:
Abel yelped in surprise, Little Woman squeaked in delight, and Xavier sighed in relief.
Their wait was over.
"Lenore," said Xavier, smiling at MJ. "You're awake."
MJ: "Knew a Lenore. Don't know where."
He didn't bother to open his eyes. He knew whatever light was in the room was going to be excruciating just by what managed to penetrate his eyelids.
Instead, he reached for Little Woman for scritches. "Better not be nibblin' my shirt."
Xavier/Abel/Little Woman: The only sources of light were the lamp Xavier was reading by and another on the bedside table. The room's only window had been blocked with a wooden board and covered with a heavy blackout curtain.
Little Woman was chittering away, greeting her owner and telling him everything that had transpired in the past few days.
"She's been collecting things for you," said Abel. On the bedside table there was a small pile of coins, buttons, and pretty rocks Little Woman had deemed worthy.
MJ: "Course she has." He offered his finger for inspection.
Everything ached like hell. He had questions, but at the same time... nah.
Well, maybe one.
"Where's Ro?"
Xavier/Abel/Little Woman: And inspect she would. He was different. He smelled different, but he also smelled the same.
She nuzzled into his neck. He passed.
Abel and Xavier exchanged looks.
"He's sitting on the stairs," said Xavier. "Should we fetch him?"
MJ: "Where ya fetchin' him to?"
There was that hunger. Worse than that lump in his throat he couldn't swallow. His teeth ached. His stomach felt empty. He needed to feed.
Xavier: "To you, if you'd like to see him."
In the corner of the room there was a mini refrigerator fully stocked with fresh blood for MJ. The finest and healthiest that could be found.
MJ: "Fuckin' - What room is this?" He'd yet to open his eyes.
Xavier: "We're in a room in the attic."
MJ: Finally, one eye attempted - immediately shut. That burned like hell. He stabbed at his eyes with thumb and index finger, rubbing furiously to remove whatever was causing the burn.
He tried again, locking eyes with Little Woman to catch up on the news of the house.
"This a room, or a cage?"
Xavier: "A warded room," said Xavier. Outfitted with every comfort he could think of for his friend.
MJ: "How long am I on lockdown?"
Xavier: "Until we saw how you felt when you woke. Are you hungry?"
MJ: His response was a small, famished growl. He could smell his fancy rat, the familiar, and that delicious demonic blood.
"Needy."
Xavier: "There's a stocked refrigerator for you in the corner, and we have more downstairs if you don't get your fill. Would you like us to leave while you eat?"
MJ: "Can't I just eat you?" He smirked in the direction of Xavier's voice.
Xavier/Abel: "You couldn't handle me." MJ would be able to hear the smile in his voice.
He stood and gestured to Abel. "Come, let's leave MJ to his meal."
"Want Little Woman to stay with you?" Abel asked MJ.
MJ: "She's safe." So long as he could make his way to that fridge. "Come back in ten minutes, X."
Xavier/Abel: “Very well. Don’t get up. Abel, can you get that lamp?” he added, pointing at the lamp on the bedside table.
While Abel turned off the lamp closest to MJ, Xavier arranged several of the blood bags on a platter and brought it to the bedside table.
MJ: "Ro alright?" Whispered once Xavier was within arm's reach.
Xavier: "He's fine," Xavier whispered back. "Just worried about you."
MJ: "I don't like bein' told I can't leave."
Xavier: "I know. And I apologize for quite literally backing you into a corner. You're my friend, and I'm so sorry."
MJ: "Wish I could say m'sorry for throwin' salt in your face."
The bag was brought to his mouth. The eyes which looked up at the demon were... familiar, but not. The same chaotic moss and warm hazel, yet foreign. The greens were richer, the yellowish brown brighter, vibrant even in the dark, like a faint glow.
Xavier: Xavier gave MJ a soft smile. "I deserved it. I'm lucky you didn't have any holy water on you."
Rather like the little treasure guardian, Xavier was beginning to get the sensation that MJ felt different, but also....not.
He sounded like himself, smelled like himself, but there was something there that hadn't been there before.
MJ: "Ya know, I've crashed my RV twice now. Had it burned crisp by my step-sire, lost a tire on the fucker... I think my RV needs a paint job."
The first bag was finished.
"Fuck the ten minutes. Sit back down."
Xavier: "Oh, it's going to get a lot more than that."
Xavier sat with another smile. "With your permission, I'd like to have it repaired and cleaned for you."
MJ: "Repaired, painted, but the guts are mine. I know where everything is." Still very much a man of chaotic order.
Xavier: "By all means," he said with a nod. "It'll look like it just came off the showroom floor."
MJ: "A totally not inconspicuous orange." The second bag was nearly emptied. It was set aside. Little Woman was cupped in hand and brought to eye level.
"Tell me 'bout Rohan, lil thing."
Xavier/Little Woman: Xavier chuckled. "Whatever you'd like. We'll have it glow in the dark if that's what you wish."
The treasure guardian put her little hands on MJ's face, inspecting him closer. Oh, the witch was very worried, very worried indeed. He came in every night and left to sit on the stairs at dawn. He held MJ's hand and kissed his forehead and whispered things only he could hear.
MJ: "So messy," he said to his little rat. He offered his finger again. "Just get it over and done with, huh?" He needed guidance, and she was the only word he would trust.
Little Woman: There was much love with the worry. More love within the ward. Love from the demon and the dog and the maids and the druid and the little boy.
Love was a treasure, love must be kept.
MJ: "You have a soft little heart."
MJ stared at the ceiling, drifting off with contemplation.
"Bring him in, I guess. Ya need t'stay, too."
Xavier/Little Woman: She did, for him most of all. He was just as much a part of her treasure as the coins and buttons.
“Are you certain?” Xavier asked. “You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to.”
MJ: "X, go get him."
Xavier/Rohan: "As you wish." Xavier got to his feet and left the room.
As has become his custom, Rohan was waiting on the attic stairs.
"Abel said he's awake," he said as soon as Xavier was in his line of sight.
Xavier nodded. "He is. He's asking for you. Come."
Rohan was up before the demon had even finished speaking, eager to see his vampire.
MJ: MJ had managed to pull himself upright before their return. The room was dimly lit on all corners by warm lamp-like light encased in domes. The walls were painted in Rohan's favorite color. A sweet, apologetic scent of sugar and cardamom.
Xavier/Rohan: MJ's magic truly was a thing to behold. Xavier couldn't help but feel proud as he looked around at the drastically different room.
Despite the tiredness etched into every line of his face, Rohan was flooded with relief as he saw MJ awake and alive.
"Hey," he said with a soft smile. "How do you feel?"
MJ: "Hey yourself. Heard ya get sick, 'fore..."
MJ spread his hands and gestured over his chest. Little Woman had been placed on his shoulder. The only angel to whisper in his ear.
Xavier/Rohan: "It was nothing. I'm fine now." Colleen had looked after him and he'd been back on his feet in no time.
While Rohan joined MJ on the bed, Xavier ducked his head to give them some semblance of privacy. MJ had yet to tell him to leave so he would just stay by the door.
MJ: "Good, good."
MJ looked between them. His thumb slid across his bottom lip as he thought traded for his middle finger and traced again. Not a usual habit.
"We should talk about the elephant in the room."
Xavier/Rohan: No...it wasn't a usual habit, Xavier thought. Another minute difference, another niggling curiosity.
"Which elephant is that?" Rohan asked quietly.
MJ: "Victoria. We can say her name. She's not Tom Riddle."
Xavier: "Who's Tom Riddle?" Xavier asked.
MJ: "You're a muggle."
Xavier/Abel: "A what?"
"IT'S A HARRY POTTER THING!" Abel shouted from somewhere else in the attic.
MJ: "The fuck you hidin'?" MJ shouted.
Xavier/Abel: "I FOUND A CHEST OF BONES!"
"Those are for rituals, Abel," Xavier called back.
MJ: "Eat one!"
Xavier/Abel: "WHAT KINDA BONES ARE THEY?"
Xavier had to think about that for a moment. "....Horse? Possibly raccoon."
They would all hear a soft 'ew' and the shuffling of more items.
MJ: MJ just smiled towards the darkness beyond the doorway.
Xavier: Xavier shook his head fondly.
"So," he began. "Your Tom Riddle."
MJ: "You're, you mean," the vampire nodded.
Xavier: "I'm sorry?"
MJ: "You're as in 'you are'."
Xavier/Rohan: "....You are Tom Riddle?"
Rohan was frowning. "I don't understand."
MJ: "Ya can't both - both be serious."
Xavier/Rohan: It hit Xavier before it hit Rohan, and MJ would be able to see it in his face.
That was why MJ smelled off. Why he was displaying mannerisms Xavier had never seen before.
He wasn't just MJ anymore.
"You finally melded," he said, suddenly fascinated. "That's what happened before you collapsed." When his eye color had switched back and forth.
MJ: MJ said nothing towards Xavier's epiphany. Rather, he waited for Rohan to catch up.
Xavier/Rohan: Rohan was staring at MJ, but not directly. He seemed to be staring at the space around him, at something only he could see.
His aura was different. No longer lit up in its patriotic red, white, and blue. There were other colors now. Her colors.
"Rohan?" Xavier prompted softly.
"There's one aura."
MJ: "I should thank you both, and Abel, for gettin' it over n'done with."
Little Woman was given a gentle stroke from the top of her head down her spine. "Shoulda been done from the get-go."
Abel: Abel poked his head in again, squinting as he studied MJ for a moment.
“How do you feel? Do you feel like you? Or do you feel like her?”
MJ: "I'm not either...n'I'm both. I dunno how t'explain it. Abel, have ya ever been in two places at once?"
Abel: He nodded. “Yep. This one time when I was hanging out with these really intense dudes from Stockholm who were into astral projection. Felt like I was tripping on something.”
MJ: "Ya split yourself a bit, but ya were still you, right?"
Abel: "Yeah, exactly. I felt like I was like...I don't know. Like I'm me 100%, right? When I was doing that, I felt like 200% me. But I was just me, I didn't have someone else in my head sharing space. How do you feel percent wise? Even split?"
MJ: "There's no sharin'. I guess it's not the same. M'not Victoria, I don't think. M'not really Mayhew, either."
Xavier: "Can you hear her like you could before?" Xavier asked. "Or is the separation between you and her simply gone?"
MJ: "I am-" he sighed. "It's gone. It's a... we, that's an I."
Xavier: Xavier smiled. "You did it."
MJ: Before he could question Xavier's elation, eyes once more fell to Rohan. His hands remained at his side. No effort placed in a physical connection. But still, he said, "Ro?"
Rohan: Rohan offered MJ a small smile. He didn't quite know how he felt. So many months of wanting to get Victoria out and trying to find a way to accomplish it and now...
"Do you feel comfortable, mentally? Do you feel better or worse or?"
MJ: "Still tryin' to understand the lingo for expressin' myself. I feel... like everything's quieter. No more hollerin'. M'not... mad. Ya'd think I would be, right? But m'not."
Rohan: He nodded and held out a hand. "I'm glad. I want you to have peace so badly. You've had enough unrest in your mind to last ten lifetimes."
MJ: "I guess." He looked to that hand, and then to Xavier.
"Can ya now gimmie them ten minutes, X?"
Xavier/Abel: "Of course."
Xavier excused himself, this time making sure he took Abel with him. They wouldn't wait in the attic, they would wait downstairs.
MJ: MJ waited until the sound of expensive shoes faded to a reasonable distance. Little Woman was placed beside her pile of treasure.
"How are ya feelin'?"
Rohan: "This is a lot to process. I'm sure it is for you, too. But I really am so glad and so relieved that you finally have some quiet in your head. Something more permanent than my magic could give you."
MJ: "I've had days t'think about it. Y'all haven't. I get it."
Rohan: Rohan took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry, puiule. I can't imagine this is meant to be a gentle process but I know the way I acted a week ago didn't help. I made you feel trapped and I upset you and I am so, so sorry."
MJ: "How exactly d'ya think ya did that?"
Rohan: "I chased you down the road in Xavier's car. I kept pushing when you told me to stop. I didn't respect your wishes and the only explanation I can give is that I love you beyond anything and I was so afraid to lose you."
MJ: "Ro...han..." Hesitantly, he took the proffered hand. "I don't... know how else t'say what m'gonna say. So m'just gonna say it, okay? The man ya loved... I don't think m'that anymore. M'not Mayhew. Okay? Not really. N'm'not Victoria, anymore. I don't... understand... why ya loved him as much as ya did, t'put yourself through all that bullshit."
Rohan: MJ referring to himself as Mayhew felt just as, if not more, foreign that MJ referring to him as Rohan. It only made everything else MJ was saying that much harder to hear.
"You are still you. Even if Victoria is now melded with you, you haven't stopped being yourself. I know you don't understand why I love you but I do, and I'm not going to walk away from you because of a few rough patches."
MJ: "A few rough patches?"
Rohan: "All the 'bullshit' as you call it."
MJ: "No, I'm just thrown that you just see it like - Ya chased me in a stolen car."
Rohan: "Borrowed, and at the risk of sounding clingy, I'd do it again."
MJ: "But, check it, Rohan, I don't want ya doin' that anymore. That ain't the first time runnin' away."
Rohan: "It was precisely because it wasn't the first time that I lost my head. What am I doing wrong, MJ? Why do you feel like you need to run from me?"
MJ: "I have shit I need to figure out, okay? I wanna do... whatever this is now, I wanna do it with a clean slate. Okay?"
Rohan: Rohan nodded. "Okay. Clean slate. What does that mean for you?"
MJ: "It means," the new MJ swallowed, "means I wanna start with just bein' friends again. Just... friends."
Rohan: He took a deep breath. It was a reasonable request. Probably necessary under the circumstances; they didn't quite know what had happened and it would be reckless to just assume things would go on as usual.
He just wished it didn't hurt.
"All right. Friends."
MJ: "Yeah? I mean it. Friends. Not strangers." He was aware this would hurt. As much as he was aware it was going to hurt Peter, too. Both men deserved an explanation and a new beginning.
Rohan: "Friends," he repeated, smile not quite reaching his eyes. "If we're going to be friends, there's just one request that I'd like to make."
MJ: "What's that?"
Rohan: "If you ever have shit you need to figure out or need a change of scene or anything that involves leaving for a while, please just tell me. Don't say cryptic things and climb out the window."
MJ: That made him smile. "Yeah. No more climbin' outta windows. I promise. Okay?"
Rohan: At least one of them was feeling levity.
"Thank you. Just use the door, I won't hold it against you."
MJ: This new mind could only handle so much, but it recognized the melancholy in Rohan's eyes.
"Hey... I'm sorry."
Rohan: "It's fine, pu--MJ. I'm fine."
MJ: "Don't lie to me."
Rohan: "I'll live," he said with another not-quite-smile. "And more importantly, so will you. That's what matters."
MJ: "I will. You both did this. I needed the kick in the ass."
Rohan: "It seems like something too violent and unpleasant to be celebrated."
MJ: "But it's over."
Rohan: "Yes, it is. And that part does deserve to be celebrated."
MJ: "Are ya hungry? I heard you've been by the bed nonstop. When ya eat last?"
Rohan: "Early this morning. Christine poached me an egg."
MJ: "Just one egg?"
Rohan: "And coffee and toast. Usual breakfast things."
MJ: "Let's get you somethin' to eat."
Rohan: "It's about dinner time. I think Xavier requested some sort of roast."
MJ: "Of course he would." Time to get to his feet, then. Both of them. "Let's get some food in ya."
Rohan: "Are you sure you don't want to rest? I can ask one of the maids to bring me a plate."
MJ: "I've slept for days." But he was looking Rohan up and down. "Do you want to just stay here?"
Rohan: “If you’re okay to go down, let’s go down. Everyone will be glad to see you up and about.”
MJ: "Okay." Rohan was gently pushed forward with a smile.
Rohan/Devlin: Rohan did his best to return MJ's smile before leading the way downstairs.
Xavier, Devlin, Colleen, and Abel were already in the dining room being served their first course, a strawberry and spinach salad. The moment Devlin spotted MJ he scrambled off his booster seat and barreled toward him.
"Uncle Aquaman, Uncle Aquaman!"
MJ: "That is a mouthful!" MJ laughed. On bent knee, he held his arms out to catch the little man. Pulled to his chest in a mighty (albeit gentle) squeeze.
"I was gone for days! I missed ya!"
Devlin: The little boy was the spitting image of his mother in every way except for his eyes and the color of his hair. Those were all Xavier.
He squeezed MJ with all his might. "I missed you, too! Daddy said you were sick." He pulled back and took MJ's face in his little hands. "Are you all better? Do you wanna see my frog?" he added in a whisper.
MJ: "I'm good. Be proud of me, I conquered the flu like a champ." His smile widened. Returning the whisper, he said, "I wanna see your little zoo."
Devlin: Devlin was very impressed even if he didn't know what the flu was. "Good job!"
He looked toward Colleen and his Daddy, who were both concentrating very hard on their salad and pretending they couldn't hear any whispers. "It's a secret, okay? You can't tell Daddy."
MJ: Devlin was given his hand, his smile absolutely impish.
"He don't know shit. Show me!"
Xavier/Devlin: Devlin gasped while Colleen's eyes went wide and Xavier cleared his throat. Uncle Aquaman said a bad word!
"You're gonna get in trouble!" he giggled, taking MJ's hand and leading him away.
"Don't be too long, Devy," Xavier called after them. "You have to eat the spinach in that salad too, not just the strawberries!"
"Okay, Daddy." Devlin shook his head at MJ as they moved toward the stairs. He had no plans to eat the spinach.
MJ: MJ shook his head too. Yeah, I wouldn't eat the evil spinach, either.
"Has your daddy been okay while I've been gone?"
Devlin: "He took lots of books to the little room."
MJ: "He's always doin' that." You're terrible with intel, little man. "Were ya good while I was gone?"
Devlin: "I heard him talking to Uncle Abel. He wanted to make you better while you were sleeping." Rather than turn right at the top of the stairs toward Devlin's room, they turned left. Toward MJ's.
"Uh-huh!"
MJ: "Where are we goin'?"
Devlin: "Your room!" Devlin said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
MJ: "But why are we goin' t'my room?"
Devlin: "That's where my frog is, silly!"
More specifically, the frog was in what appeared to be a casserole dish filled with moss, twigs, rocks, and pond water on one of MJ's bedside tables.
MJ: Whhhhy. But then, remembering his own childhood, of course. Little children logic. He probably thought he was being clever.
"That's a pretty chill frog ya got there."
Devlin: "I found him at the pond! One of his legs didn't work so I took him. It's better, see?" Devlin pointed at one of the frog's legs, which had--of all things--a unicorn bandaid on it.
MJ: "Right. Good job." And this would have to go to someone else, because he had no idea if that was even safe for the frog, and Devlin didn't need to walk in here to find a dead creature he'd tried to rescue.
"What cha feedin' him?"
Devlin: Devlin beamed with pride. "Crickets and worms and flies from the garden. Only the little worms though. He doesn't like the big ones."
MJ: "The little flies shouting, 'Help me! Help me! Oh nooooo!'" he squeaked. "Delicious!"
Devlin: He giggled. “Flies are his favorite!”
MJ: "I bet! What's his name?"
Devlin: “Bert!”
MJ: "How ya figure he's a Bert?"
Devlin: “He looks like Bert.”
MJ: "Well, ya look like a Jim."
Devlin: “You look like a Bob!” Devlin giggled.
MJ: "A Bob?!" Such disgust!
Devlin: He giggled some more. "Yeah a Bob! You're Uncle Bob!"
MJ: "Uncle Bob!" As though he couldn't get over it. He made a grab for the boy, administering a vicious tickle attack. "How dare ya, Jim!"
Devlin: The peal of scream-laughter reached all the way to the dining room, making everyone inside smile. "Uncle Bob! Uncle Bob, uncle Bob!"
MJ: "Jim! Why ya yellin', Jim?!"
Devlin: The only response was more laughter and a half-hearted attempt to wiggle out of his uncle's grasp. Devlin was having the time of his life.
MJ: The little boy was scooped into his arms and hung upside down. "Come on, Jim. Let's go find your daddy."
Xavier/Devlin: The raucous laughter would continue all the way to where they'd left Devlin's daddy. The excellent roast Christine had made had just been served.
"There they are," Xavier said when they entered. "Who's Jim?"
MJ: "He's. Jim. This in Jim, and I'm - Who am I?" Just to include the boy.
Xavier/Devlin: "Uncle Bob!" Devlin cried in giggly delight.
"Well, you and Uncle Bob need to come to the table and I believe there's some spinach that needs to be eaten."
Devlin made a face. "It's crunchy!"
"Crunchy spinach is still good, it's just raw."
"I don't like raw."
MJ: "It's evil raw." The man that did not eat real food except to fake it in public was of no help whatsoever. But he would turn the boy to rights and back to his chair.
Xavier/Devlin/Hamilton: Xavier gave MJ a look. You're not helping, Aquaman. "Will you eat it if Christine steams it for you?"
"Yeah!"
"Very well. Hamilton?"
The butler appeared to take what remained of Devlin's salad. "Shall I have her add it to his dinner plate, my lord?"
"Yes, perfect."
MJ: "S'like mixin' a vitamin with peanut butter, ya know?" Mix that spinach with the roast and he'd have no choice. Hamilton was given a once over. That same scrutiny was given to the rest. Should he even sit?
"Make sure Rohan finishes his plate, too," he smirked.
Xavier/Rohan: Of course he should sit. Rohan had already gotten to his feet to pull a chair out for him.
"He does fine with cooked spinach. I suspect it's a very specific texture issue." Xavier smiled at Rohan. "You heard, MJ, Rohan. We expect to see a clean plate."
"I could probably clean two."
MJ: "Good. No more just sittin' 'round."
The Ravnos cleared his throat, forced himself to sit. This wouldn't last long, but he was willing for the time being. Time being, probably about three minutes to supervise Rohan actually taking a bite.
Rohan/Devlin/Colleen: Rohan would, and so would Devlin once Hamilton returned with his steamed spinach and the rest of his dinner.
"How are you feelin'?" asked Colleen.
MJ: "M'alright. M'a vampire, so really y'all don't have t'worry that much, guys."
Abel/Colleen: "Believe me, the worryin' has nothin' to do with you bein'a vampire."
"It's because we love you!" Abel said around a bite of roast.
MJ: "Y'all are crazy," but he smiled anyway. "I wanna see ya after dinner, Abel, so don't go runnin' off."
Abel: "Yeah, crazy about you!" He took another enormous bite. "'Kay. Am I in trouble?"
MJ: "Totally. Gonna be strug up. We'll take turns with a riding crop. It's a whole thing." Riding crop as opposed to whip due to present company, but dammit he wanted to make his joke.
Xavier: Xavier delicately cleared his throat as he sipped his wine, giving the pair of them a look. Fortunately, Devlin was busy singing to himself about the salt and pepper shakers.
MJ: "Fine, fine. Ya can take first turn, Sulfur Boy."
Xavier/Abel: "Charming," Xavier said with a dry chuckle.
Meanwhile, Abel had pressing questions. "Is there a secret meeting place? Do I need a password? Quick, think it at me!"
MJ: "What? I think it wouldn't be a secret with your demon over there."
Abel: “Nah, that’s only if I think something at him. If someone else thinks something at me he can’t tell. Same goes for him.”
MJ: "Don't y'all get a headache?"
Abel: Abel shook his head. “Not from talking. Get tired if I do too many things that require too much energy too close together though.”
MJ: "What's too much?"
Abel: “Like....traveling long distances or doing complicated spells.”
MJ: "I wanna see."
Abel: "You wanna see me tire myself out?"
MJ: "N'tire me out, too."
Abel: "We can do laps across the country."
MJ: "How bout spells in the backyard."
Abel: "We can totally do that."
MJ: "Eat up, then."
Abel: There was no way MJ wanted to see him just for magic. They could do that any time. This was something else, something secret that MJ didn't want to say in front of everyone.
Ever the curious pup, he rushed through the rest of his dinner.
MJ: MJ just smiled and leaned back in his seat. Hands rested behind his head. This wasn't the first time sitting with nothing to do at a table with functioning stomachs. Some nights he would participate, regardless of unsavory results.
But tonight was reflection, and studying each face seconds at a time.
Xavier/Rohan/Abel: In stark contrast to Abel who was scarfing down his dinner as quickly as he could, Rohan was eating slowly and silently, eyes scarcely leaving his plate.
Xavier and Colleen discussed the day's activities while Devlin occasionally chimed in and cheerfully ate his cooked spinach.
As for Hamilton, he had brought MJ a stainless-steel tumbler filled with the contents of a blood bag, so he could eat something while he waited for Abel.
MJ: Hamilton was given a wink. As candid as ever, though perhaps lacking a trace of lust. A playful acknowledgement for a fond servant. Any chance to make the butler blush would be taken.
Abel/Hamilton: And there it was, right on cue. Thankfully, Abel was there to distract before Hamilton's blush got too dark.
"What's for dessert?" he asked the second his plate was clean.
"Colleen has prepared raspberry mousse cake."
Abel made a face. Raspberry mousse was far from his favorite, which meant it could be skipped. "Ready for magic, MJ?"
MJ: "Let's leave dessert t'people that actually like raspberries." MJ stretched and tucked his chair away. The bloodstained tumbler was held to his chest.
"Thanks for the AB positive. Like a fine wine."
'Time t'show me some magic, pup.'
Xavier/Abel/Hamilton: Hamilton smiled and inclined his head. "Of course, Mr. Calloway."
Abel damn near jumped out of his seat in his rush to get to the door. 'Let's go!'
"As an Englishman I'm offended at both of you," Xavier called after them.
MJ: "As an American, I'm proud." MJ waved behind himself and followed after the familiar.
Abel: 'So why did you really wanna see me?' Abel thought to MJ as he led the way through the kitchen and out the service entrance to the garden.
MJ: "There's no ulterior motive here, my man," MJ said aloud. "I just wanna understand where I'm at n'maybe understand ya better, too."
Abel: "Understand me? Am I mystery?" Should they...yeah, better to head to the woods.
MJ: "All familiars are enigmas wrapped in fur."
Abel: "I have zero mystique. I just put it all out there." He was a dog, after all.
MJ: "Alright. What can hurt ya?"
Abel: "Pretty much the same things that can hurt everyone else. Except age, to a degree."
MJ: "So a gunshot t'the heart n'you're out?"
Abel: "Unless I use a spell to protect myself or something, yeah."
MJ: "How fast could ya make a spell 'fore it hits ya?"
Abel: "Probably not fast enough. It would have to be a preemptive kinda deal."
MJ: "So what would you do with a bullet comin' for ya?"
Abel: "I dunno, probably try to dodge and change into my dog form."
MJ: "Alright. Let's throw somethin' at ya, then."
Abel: Abel squinted at MJ. “You’re not gonna shoot me, are you?”
MJ: "I mean, I could." The vampire pulled a brand new gun from his back pocket.
Abel: Abel's eyes went wide. Not with fear, however; with excitement. "Dude, no way! Did you just magic that up right now?!"
MJ: The Ravnos smiled. "You know me so well, Abe."
Abel: "Magic recognizes magic, man. Well, usually."
MJ: "Ya make this shit difficult. So much easier t'freak a human out. Or fae, as it turns out. I think? Only met one." He paused. "I think."
Abel: "You met a Fae?" That wasn't Colleen and most definitely Rohan? "When?"
MJ: "That - That woman X tossed into the castle with that spider."
Abel: Oh, okay. He hadn't realized about Rohan yet. Was that a good thing or a bad one?
"Oh yeah her. Sounds awful but I'm not all that sorry she's dead. Imagine having a kid just to use them."
MJ: "I dunno what punishment equals what crime anymore. I guess m'startin' t'not care. Got t'talk t'her some. Spider had me figured out pretty quick."
Abel: "As far as punishments Xavier could've come up with, I feel like that was on the tame side."
Abel stretched. "Fera are perceptive. Moreso than almost everything and everyone else."
MJ: "Is a spider really a Fera? Feels like it shoulda been called somethin' else. Hellspawn."
Abel: "Dude. Trust me, a spider is nothing. You wanna talk about hellspawn, there are were-snakes and were-sharks and were-crocodiles."
MJ: "What makes ya shit your pants most?"
Abel: “You ever see The Fly?”
MJ: "So, bugs." The pistol, an imitation from memory of a .44 magnum, was aimed at Abel's head.
Abel: Jesus, fake or not that was scary as fuck. He was just gonna move around a bit.
"Nah nah nah, not bugs. Experiments gone horribly, terribly wrong."
MJ: Good practice for aiming. Keep dodging.
"I always wondered if ya were an experiment gone wrong."
Abel: “Because I’m a familiar?”
MJ: "Ya ain't like any familiar I know. Short list, but ya just seem different."
Abel: "I mean, I don't know that many either but I think I'm fairly standard. What makes me different?"
MJ: "Ya talk," he laughed.
Abel: “In this form. Can’t when I’m a dog.”
MJ: "Yeah, but ya talk. Last familiar I saw couldn't do that. You're special."
Abel: “What really?” Abel frowned. “My mom talks. And the other familiar I know. Maybe we come in different subspecies?”
MJ: "Maybe you're the best kind, ya know? The oldest kinda familiar there ever was. Everything else is a weaker generation. Ya know, like my people."
Abel: “Fuck yeah, that’d be awesome. And it’d make sense I guess. No one really knows what our deal is. Are we witches? Are we Fera? Who knows? Not us that’s for sure.”
MJ: "Kay, so new question."
Abel: “Whatcha wanna know? Ask away.”
MJ: "Are you actually..." He gestured to his face.
Abel: “Am I actually....you? Your friend? Looking at you?”
MJ: "Are you some kinda Japanese familiar? Thai?"
Abel: “Oh! Half Thai, yeah. My mom is from Phuket.”
MJ: "Does that do anything? Are there like, red panda familiars? Tiger familiars? Oh! A fuckin' - what is it - koala familiars?"
Abel: “I’m not really sure. I’m a Thai-Norwegian Jack Russell terrier and the familiar I know is an American fruit bat. I can’t confirm this but I’m almost positive it’s completely random.”
MJ: "Norwegian?" His shoulders slacked, gun dropped and disappeared before hitting the ground. "Thought ya were half-fuckin-French!"
Abel: Abel threw his head back and laughed. “Why?! I can barely speak French!”
MJ: "I dunno! Ya gotta sophisticated suave about ya!"
Abel: “I mean, my dad was pretty suave. A proper gentleman, you know, like someone plucked him out of the nineteenth century.”
MJ: "What he human?"
Abel: “Yeah. Huh....” Abel thought for a minute. “Maybe that’s why I can talk. My mom’s mom was human too.”
MJ: "Well, huh." A brief pause, before his arm sprung to life, twisting outward and forward. A sudden throwing star, neon orange for obvious visual, spiraled towards the familiar.
"Think fast!"
Abel: "AUGHHHH!" Abel did a half sprint/half dodge in his effort to move out of the way, changing into his dog form once he was mostly out of the line of fire.
MJ: MJ threw his head back, laughing with all of his chest in a manner damn near foreign even to himself.
"Good job, Abe!"
Abel: Unable to talk now, Abel just gave MJ a doggy smile and wagged his tail.
The throwing star would be thoroughly investigated, of course. Other people's magic fascinated him.
MJ: It seemed like metal. Would feel cold against his nose. No scent whatsoever, though. Nothing MJ could have imagined, so nothing to perceive. The supposed pointed edges were dull and useless.
Abel: Dull, useless, and safe. MJ was definitely in charge.
Abel trotted over to him and leaned against his friend's leg in a silent bid for an ear scratch.
MJ: Of which he would have with both hands. "Will ya come with me back t'North Carolina?"
Abel: He barked once and wagged his tail some more. Yeah!
MJ: "Huh." He dropped to both knees to look Abel in the eyes, curious if they could establish a proper connection.
Abel: 'Hi!' Abel thought brightly.
MJ: "Ha! I guess you're animal enough."
Abel: 'Plus I'm a familiar so I can already talk to people telepathically.'
MJ: "Well, probably that, then."
Abel: 'Is there a difference between animal telepathy and normal telepathy?'
MJ: "I dunno if what I do is even telepathy, my man. I think it just helps me speak rat, or dog, or whatever else I look at."
Abel: 'Have you ever met an animal you couldn't talk to?'
MJ: "I mean, I ain't tried t'talk t'a mountain lion."
Abel: 'You should!' That tail started wagging again. 'LET'S GO TO THE ZOO AND TALK TO ANIMALS!'
MJ: "Can't ya already do that?"
Abel: 'Well yeah but we can do it together!'
MJ: "We'll do it 'fore we go east. How 'bout that?"
Abel: 'Fuck yeah!' That tail went still; the doggy version of a gasp. 'Wait, can you talk to fish?'
MJ: "Man, I dunno. We'll have t'see. Maybe!"
Abel: 'Forget the zoo, let's to the aquarium and talk to fish and eels and things.'
MJ: "Whatever ya want. It's a long drive."
Abel: 'Wait, we're driving to North Carolina?'
MJ: "Yeah. What did you think?"
Abel: 'I thought we were teleporting like the magical beings we are.'
MJ: "No. I have an RV n'm'gonna use it. That shit is for demons."
Abel: He would've laughed if he'd been able to.
'You travel with a demon all the time!'
MJ: "Yeah! I miss bein' on the road! The point is the journey, not the destination!" he laughed.
Abel: 'Can we make stops at weird and funky attractions?'
MJ: "All of em. Biggest yarn and largest gold nugget. All that shit."
Abel: 'HELL YEAH!'
MJ: "We gonna practice some shit, or ya wanna stay like that?"
Abel: 'Oh right.'
Abel changed back and shook himself off.
MJ: "Ya ever forget your clothes in those transitions?"
Abel: "Alllll the time. Clothes fucking suck, man."
MJ: "Ya gotta think about keepin' the clothes on, huh?"
Abel: “Yep. Xavier said I wasn’t allowed to send my clothes into the void anymore.”
MJ: "How many times that happen?"
Abel: “Enough that Xavier told me I wasn’t allowed to send my clothes into the void anymore.”
MJ: "What cha wanna do now?"
Abel: “You tell me. Whatcha wanna see or do?”
MJ: "I wanna see... everything. I wanna see my limits. I wanna see if she left somethin'. I wanna feel everything."
Abel: "Everything? That's a big ask. We should come up with tests!" He plopped himself down on the grass. "What could she do? What powers did she have?"
MJ: "She could feel and read minds. I'm kinda illiterate that way." The vampire dropped himself by the familiar's side.
Abel: "Feel like--the way demons can?"
MJ: "I dunno. I've never had it t'know the difference."
Abel: "Mmmm, okay." Abel turned toward the house and squinted. "Let's see if you can feel how many people are in the kitchen right now. We can ask Xavier for help later but for now let's explore. Close your eyes and focus on the energy from that room. You know exactly where it is and what it looks like. Focus on it."
MJ: He would go with the flow. Time to close his eyes and wake his body, purposefully taking a needless breath. Focus on the house, the servants, son and father.
Nothing.
"I know they're there, but everything feels the same."
Abel: "Maybe we're going about this the wrong way." MJ knew the servants were inside; that didn't really let him get an accurate read on them.
"What if....I go hide in the woods and you see if you can find me? Kinda like telepathic hide and seek?"
MJ: "M'gonna fail miserably," he laughed.
Abel: "Gotta walk before you run, buddy. I'll make it easy on you."
MJ: "Nah. Don't do that. Just try t'hide n'if I don't find ya, well you're lost forever."
Abel: "Pfft, you'll get lost before I do." Abel eased himself up and stretched. "Give me five minutes before you come looking. And no peeking!"
MJ: "No peeking." He would sprawl on the grass with closed eyes just for show.
Abel: "Good. Five minutes!"
With that, Abel transformed back into his dog form and set off into the woods. His aim was to go far enough to present a little bit of a challenge but not so far that it was impossible. He also didn't want to be too easy to find. He had to hit a real balance.
Confident that he'd struck it, he waited to be found.
MJ: Five minutes tinkering on his phone and contemplating his unlife. Wondering what Rohan was doing, thinking, feeling in this moment.
He got to his feet and headed for the woods. An open mind, right? He felt for...something. There was nothing there to feel. The crisp oncoming winter. The thick scent of grass, still moist from the storm the night before.
The scent of wet dog.
Good old fashioned olfactory.
"I think I cheated," he called.
Abel: MJ would find him back in his human form sitting on a long fallen tree, partially concealed by some shrubs. He'd been trying to send his friend some mental signals to help him in his search and smiled when he saw him.
"Yay! Aw wait, how?"
MJ: A quick tap to his nose. "Don't think I got that. Fuck."
Abel: “Damn. Well that’s okay, you still managed to find me. Let’s try another one, what else could she do?”
MJ: MJ closed his eyes to think. Funny, considering her nearness. He knew the answer and yet he lingered on memory. And then he didn't.
"Speed like wind. A...presence that could make a man her bitch. I - She - could read people like colors in a halo," he gestured around the back of his head.
Abel: "Colors in a halo? Like auras?" Speed could be easily tested. The presence...maybe could also be tested. He'd need to take MJ somewhere to do it though.
MJ: "Yeah. That word. The only way to get your way," the hybrid laughed.
Abel: “Okay then, let’s test! Try to see mine. Don’t focus on me so much, try to focus on the space just around me.”
MJ: The vampire knew how to do this. Not one half, but the other. No different than nearsighted eyes attempting focus. But what followed caught both ends of the melded souls.
"I see...your shape. I see...it's like a film over ya."
Abel: “Can you make out anything in the film? What color is it?”
MJ: "It's like milky. I don't really - I can't tell. But I feel somethin'. Like... your dog form."
Abel: "Hmmm...maybe you can perceive some things. Maybe it would help if i switched back?"
MJ: "What would ya bein' a dog do?"
Abel: He shrugged. "I don't know, maybe being in my true form would make my aura more clear."
MJ: "Okay I still don't get it. Were ya born a puppy or a baby baby?"
Abel: "Baby baby, but thinking about it, it's hard to tell. My mom transformed a lot while she was pregnant with me and happened to be in her human form when she gave birth."
MJ: "So you're...like, more even than ya are human?"
Abel: "Dude, I don't even know. No one really knows what familiars are. We have magic but we're not witches, and we have animal forms but we're not Fera. We're some kinda hybrid...something."
MJ: "Sounds awesome. I mean, can't complain, right?"
Abel: "Nope!" he said cheerfully. "Got the best of all worlds. And in the best possible place." This was a house of unusual beings after all.
MJ: "Xavier gonna let ya go road trippin' with me?"
Abel: "I don't see why he wouldn't. We don't have human limitations for seeing each other."
MJ: "You've never been on a road trip, huh?"
Abel: "I've been on short ones but never a cross-country one."
MJ: "Gotta pack what cha wanna bring. No jumpin' back just 'cause."
Abel: "Aww, but what if Colleen is making something really good for dinner?"
MJ: "You're one spoiled dog."
Abel: Abel laughed. "Not even gonna argue that, I totally am. Still though, we have to visit sometime. Devy will miss us."
MJ: "Yeah. He will. We can make a visit, but that's all it'll be for me. I need t'get out."
Abel: “Itchy feet, huh?”
MJ: "Been in torpor for days. M'new. I need t'move."
Abel: "When do you wanna leave?"
MJ: "Tomorrow night, maybe?"
Abel: "I better start packing. And you better tell Xavier we're peacing out for a while."
MJ: "Isn't he in your head right now?"
Abel: "He doesn't just invite himself in. He either reaches out and I let him in or I reach out and he lets me in."
MJ: "Has he always been that way?"
Abel: Abel nodded. "Yep. At least as long as we've all known him."
MJ: "How... old are ya, dude?"
Abel: "Forty-four. Turning forty-five in June."
MJ: "Ya don't look a day over twenty."
Abel: "Awwww, you. I'm going to look not a day over twenty for a long, long time."
MJ: "Are ya forever or somethin'?"
Abel: "Potentially, but not necessarily."
MJ: "What's that mean?"
Abel: "Means I have the potential to live forever but it isn't necessarily a given. My mom used to say it depends on the strength of the witch we paired with. Having chosen a demon, odds are I'll be around longer than most familiars."
MJ: "Could a vampire "own" you?" Complete with air quotations.
Abel: He shrugged. "Maybe, if they had enough magic. That's the basis of the bond."
MJ: "Ya done answerin' questions?"
Abel: "I don't mind them," he said with a smile. "Questions are how we learn! But if you wanna go back, let's head back."
MJ: A glance was given to the house. He shook his head. "Nah. Think m'gonna stay in my RV."
Abel: "....Can I ask a question?"
MJ: "Sup?"
Abel: "You haven't really mentioned Ro...."
MJ: "I haven't."
Abel: "Does it have something to do with why he looked like a kicked puppy at dinner?"
MJ: "It does."
Abel: "What happened?"
MJ: "I'm not... " Only a moment to consider. He shook his head. "That's between me n'Rohan."
Abel: Abel nodded. “Fair enough, man. If you ever wanna talk about it, we’re gonna spend a lot of time together so feel free.”
MJ: "We'll see, man. Might get a therapy session outta me."
Abel: “Good. My first advice as your potential therapist is to take a second to give him a proper goodbye. And now that I’ve given you my two cents, I’m gonna go pack.”
MJ: "He'll get a proper goodbye. Don't forget a toothbrush n'some dog treats."
Abel: "Oh yeah, good looking out. Colleen just made me a fresh batch." He was indeed a spoiled dog.
"Have fun doing whatever you're gonna do in your RV!" And off he went back to the house.
MJ: MJ waved him off, standing there contemplating what was about to be the rest of his unlife.