The Progeny Returns [Jesse Fforde]

[Axel Rosen]

His sire is speaking as he’s writing something down. Renee is out of town so he’ll have to reach out to her by phone and see what’s up with her. He’s not sure just where she could have gone and he’s sure that it’s her business. Axel can only hope that she is safe no matter where she is, though knowledge that she’s sired again does not surprise him. She was always the kind to lure people to her. He’s never known if it’s by choice or not, the attraction of the human kind to the woman. It shows that his sire is more irritated with Renee than the beginning of the speech would have lead him to believe.

This Tara is also a sire, which worries Axel. The look of concern washes over his face but is quickly cleansed at hearing Jesse’s opinion of the situation - ‘getting along just fine’. Axel’s head nods and he understands, having went to attack Morrtl for killing Stormy.

If Axel were a braver man before the vampire-god that is his sire, he’d have pointed out that his childer, to his knowledge were taught well. Paige has a job and has never breached the masquerade of his knowledge. Ursula, despite their disagreements at times, has never broken the masquerade or any of the other laws. This again goes to his knowledge. Renee neither. That’s not to say that he shouldn’t have found someone to look after them, but he was certain that they had been trained enough and were adult enough to make their own choices in his absence.

Other than those points, nothing to add. That’s good. Stick around, Axel has planned on being here for sometime now. He’s planned on being here and strictly being here for Fforde; Fforde and his own research. The ever present question in his mind: ‘why’. It’s not a philosophical question. It’s more a scientific question that could be stretched in a metaphysical argument for the sake of understanding. But why do vampires exist, and where did they come from. Axel’s head nods again and he smiles at his sire.

The grin of someone willing to do anything to please is still on his face. it’s only faltered a few times since his last statement when things have brought concern to his features. Now though it’s back and he rests back, grabbing the book off the table near him. “Understood”, is the first word that cracks from his lips, “I will be right here, or elsewhere in the house when not hunting. This is the only place I consider home. He puts his thumb in the pages and then looks at Jesse, “I’m going to read up here unless you’re going to rest here.”

[Jesse Fforde]

The smile on Axel’s lips gives Jesse reason to narrow his eyes. These days it doesn’t take long for Jesse’s irritation to surface. There are certain things that he knows he’s addicted to, and currently denying himself of. Like any addict depriving themselves of the source of their satisfaction, Jesse is prone to wild mood swings that might not be understood by those who don’t know him well—even those who do know him well enough. For almost everyone, these mood swings result in violent anger or sarcastic irritation, the latter of which normally leads to some kind of confrontation. Deep down, Jesse knows he does it on purpose. That he likes the confrontation, and if possible likes to push buttons until… until.

No, not tonight though. Axel has seen Jesse in that state of mind. Whether he remembers or not, Jesse doesn’t know. It was some fight night or other back when Axel was still with Phoenix. His childe had paid Jesse nearly no attention as his sire had sought to get himself beaten to death. A point that they had already covered in their effort to mend bridges; one that Jesse shouldn’t still hold a grudge for. On the surface, he doesn’t. But, as he again descends into his dark state of mind, of course these things are still going to itch. The fickleness of people. How easily their loyalty can waver. How it’s best not to get close to anyone, because care for another leads to weakness when they are either taken, or when they betray. The latter has been far too common a theme in Jesse’s life for it not to be something he fears.

Axel, here and now, however, seems adamant to help. He seems like a Renfield to Jesse’s Dracula, ready to bow down and do whatever is asked of him. Jesse won’t take advantage, of course, but merely raises a brow at Axel’s next comment. As if, if Jesse were to say he wanted to stick around, Axel would move somewhere else to read. Jesse rolls his eyes and stands.

”If it’s that much of an inconvenience to read around someone who’ll just sit and silence, I’ll just go elsewhere,” he says. There’s a slight twitch to his mouth—the corner turning upward in that bemused smile he has. There’s no real irritation in his tone. But, just in case this weird new Axel tried to take Jesse seriously, Jesse shakes his head even as he’s turning his back and walking away, waving a hand over his shoulder.

”I’m going to go find Grey. I’ll see you around,” he says, shuffling out the door.