neetvampire | IC inbox @ Jikan

[As friends, Kuro and Gershom are Hanging Out. Which in this case means that Kuro is flopped over on Gershom's couch in a blanket, and Gershom is sitting next to him and occasionally making idle conversation.]

Um... Do you mind if I ask you something?

{Kuro likes Gershom's place more than his own, frankly. It's far more comfy here than rooming alone in a drafty dorm, and Gershom shares his blankets. He peers up at Gershom from where he's flopped on his back inelegantly, sprawled out.]

Hm? Sure, shoot.

Have you... always been a vampire?

[He hesitates. It's a question that's been burning at him, but-] Y-you don't need to answer if that's too personal.

[....Ah.

Kuro inhales deeply at the question, and in this position it's impossible to hide how his expression turns tense and pensive, lips thinning as he fiddles with a corner of the blanket.

Normally he hated questions like this, but... he liked Gershom.]

....No. I was human, at some point.

[Just Kuro's reaction makes Gershom feel guilty for even asking, and he reaches out to lightly pet Kuro's hair.]

Me too.

[Kuro frowns at that, peering up at Gershom... but still leaning into those pets like he's still in cat form.

Listen, pets are nice okay.]

You were?

[Pets are indeed nice, and they make it easier to talk about something like this.]

My ex turned me into this.

[At least Kuro's hair is surprisingly soft in human form, almost like cat fur in it's own way.]

....Your ex? Did he... Did you...

[There's a heavy feeling settling in his chest... because he thinks he knows the answer, if he's an ex.]

...You didn't agree to it, did you?

No. [Who'd agree to something like that? Gershom can't even imagine.] He tricked me into it.

[Kuro tenses at that, and Gershom might note fangs peeking out from beneath his lips. He looks...

angry almost, as he pushes himself up onto his hands and knees.]

That Bastard... Something like this... without asking...

[He's upset.. for Gershom's sake?

It makes him feel a tiny bit warm, and he squashes the feeling down in his chest. Bad.]

He was one himself - I didn't know, he was good at illusions - and he wanted to be 'together for eternity', or something like that.

[He fists his fingers in the blanket, but Gershom might note that tail--which is starting to show up more often, these days-- is swishing about behind Kuro, plainly agitated.]

'Together for eternity' only has meaning if it's agreed to. If not, that's just...

[A horror story. He can imagine all too well the terror and betrayal Gershom felt at the time.]

Cruelty.

[Gershom reaches for Kuro's hand, to try to interlace their fingers together instead.]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up... I've just upset you.

[Kuro allows it... but he shakes his head at Gershom's words, forcing himself to relax.

Calm was easy. Calm was safe. Even if he still felt angry, there was no point in venting that anger here. Just exhausting.] S'not your fault.

I just... don't like it. No one should... go through something like that. Especially not without a choice.

[He tucks his knees under himself, curling around them a little.]

No, no one should.

[He gives Kuro's hand a tiny squeeze.]

But... it means a lot to hear that.

[Kuro returns that squeeze, curling into a little sitting ball and resting his chin on his knees.]

...I didn't... either. Get a choice, I mean.

[It was only fair to share that, since Gershom had shared his story.]

I died, and then I was... this. I didn't even know what I was or how to deal.

[When you're the first of your kind--a failure at creating proper immortality, at that--you had to stumble through life blind.]

I'm sorry... that you had to go through that.

Edited 2021-02-11 08:26 (UTC)

That's awful - I'm so sorry.

[At least he'd known what happened, even if he didn't - and still doesn't - know much about liches.

He's getting more hair pets with Gershom's free hand.]

Whoever did this to you - did they ever apologize, at least?

Not that I can remember. Why would he?

[Kuro lets out a sigh.]

I doubt your ex did either, right?

[Because it was for the better, clearly. It was better than the alternative, in their minds, and--]

...He was trying to perfect a method to produce immortality. I was his first attempt, and his first failure.

[And over and over he'd tried... each attempt bringing him closer to what he sought: eternal life.]

[He's not sure if that's better or worse, but it's still awful.]

I managed to avoid seeing him for a good thousand years, but he found me recently. He thinks we're having a lover's quarrel and I'll get over myself eventually.

[Gershom sounds the tiniest bit bitter.]

A lover's quarrel... for a thousand years?

[There's disbelief in Kuro's voice, though it's not directed towards Gershom.]

He must be delusional.

A little bit.

[He used to appreciate that Salvador was so devoted to him, but that was a long time ago.

Pet, pet, pet.]

It'd be nice to stay here and never see him again.

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