Till it's gone- (Jesse Fforde)

[Balthazar]

“Yeah, not gonna warm your back like that.” He cracked a smile as much as he was known to and shrugged the thought off with his shoulders as they finally rolled back. His colorful hands sank into his pockets instead of dangling out in the open with nothing particular to do. “I will watch it for **** going down but I ride alone or hang on to something sweeter than you probably will ever be.”

Instead of backtracking on Jesse’s comments with his own he went radio silent and took in the air that drifted over his face as they hiked towards the transit access that was mentioned. It would save the time getting to the dollhouse he would be getting his fangs wet for the first time. It also gave him a different mode of transportation to rely on besides the typical two feet beneath him that had more energy than he could ever remember having until he woke up from the week long fog that held him.

The closer they got the more questions he naturally had. He held onto them, saved them for the moment when it made the most sense to ask. Patience won out and he remained quiet through the ride. Once they were finally spit back out into another section of Harper Rock he discovered the city was a bit more than he first gave it credit for. Now was as good as time as any he figured so he went there.

“So what’s the price?”

It was rather blunt and yet sharp on point to ask. Then again, Zar had a fast and no holds barred introduction in just how high of a price the unthinkable had. Not that long ago it had been just that...unthinkable. To take in another’s blood, the very warmth of their essence he inexplicably now craved. As unprepared as he was to accept it all at once he was fully capable to swallow it down once he got access to it as if it was nothing more than gas station Kool-Aid on the hottest of summer days. It was a fair question. His pockets had some April Fresh Snuggle soft lint in the depths and a coin or two to flip for good luck if needed. That was about it.

[Jesse Fforde]

Silence had never been a bother to Jesse; the majority of his life had been lived in silence and truth be told, he preferred it. If Balthazar had no questions, and had nothing to say, then Jesse wouldn’t try to coax it from him. No silence was awkward. No silence, for Jesse, needed to be filled with idle and useless chit chat.

The train eventually pulled into the station at which they had to hop off, Jesse leading the way. It was Gullsborough station and the nightclub was only a couple of blocks away. It wasn’t Jesse’s normal haunt. This neighbourhood was so different to the one he frequented, and he felt out of touch. There were people in this neighbourhood he loathed; violence could ensue should he run into any of them. He’d just have to make sure that didn’t happen.

”My shout, brother. They’re a little more expensive than a blood pack from the black market, due to the service and, I suppose, insurance. Blood packs can be… four hundred, five hundred a piece. Business is good. I’ll cover it,” he said. Maybe he was feeling just a tad guilty about the whole… ripping out of the neck, thing – despite how well Balthazar was taking to his second chance at life. Or maybe it wasn’t guilt at all, but something akin to happiness; something Jesse didn’t often allow himself to feel, and thus was denying himself the opportunity to recognise it.

The club was garbed in goth, from the outside in. The music was electronic synth, the bass so low and so loud that it clung to one’s bones. Once inside Jesse paused; humans scattered, giving him a wide berth and they didn’t even know why. He nodded toward the back booths; there was a cordoned off area. He assumed that’s where they needed to go, where they might find someone who’d give them what they needed.

On the way, Jesse had decided that he, too, might take part in the blood sport.