♪ Family Obligations ♪ (Closed)

[Skylar]

I sit up and stretch, yawning as I do. I don't ever feel drowsy for very long, not since I died. My daytime coma gives me all the rest I need. I scratch at my head and soon begin my morning routine. First things first, I grab the brush from the bedside table where I put it before I went to sleep and start taming my mane. Next I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, stretch them, wiggle my toes and then slip my feet into a pair of waiting bunny slippers. The cutsie, plushie kind. I then stand and stretch up the ceiling before falling forwards to tap my bunnies on the nose.
"Good Morning fellas. Merry Christmas." I tell them.
I smile to myself, because my routine makes me look crazy but there's never anyone about to see it. Even when I lived at Dillon's, our morning schedules rarely crossed paths. It was probably the years of living on his sofa, and numerous others, that had prepared me for sleep in a single bed again. As much as I bashed Ric in my diary for having a single, I wasn't really one to talk, not when you consider how I'd lived my life for the past 10 years. His single was at least his. Even if I was the one monopolising it of late.
I walk out into the front room. Ric's not there. He's never there when I wake up. I have no idea where he goes so early every night and have yet to ask. I like to think he'll tell me when he's ready. I'm pretty sure he's not off visiting the wife and kids or anything. I shrug to myself and go over to the fridge. The thing calls to me every morning when I wake but unlike the one at Ellie's, Ric's one isn't fully loaded. I'm not even sure why he runs it seeing as it's always empty. I groan to myself when I realise my habit had once more yielded disappointment and shuffle back to the bedroom. I retrieve my duffle bag from under the bed and pull out a blood pack before going back to the kitchen to warm the contents up in the microwave. I'm not worried about making myself at home, not really, if Ric comes back all he'll see is me being me. I think he'd be confused by my outfit though, as I'm usually dressed by the time he shows up. I don't wear anything provocative to bed here, just the usual. One of those long t-shirt type things that women wear as a sort of nightgown. Like my bunnies, it's rather cute and girly; it's white with a happy looking bear on the front that says; "I need a hug." I have a couple of these and they're all pretty similar cuteness wise.
Having emptied half the blood into a cup, I pop it into the microwave, set the timer and go to grab my phone while it does its thing. When I return, I stand in the kitchen, butt against the cabinets. I have my drink in one hand and my phone in the other. It's time to text the fam and get going. I take a sip of my disgustingly moreish beverage and tap out the first text with my thumb: Time to get your arse home Ricky. I want to get this visit with my family over and done with ASAP. See ya soon. xx
I then load multiple names into the next text and send a generic holiday message: Merry Christmas one and all. I hope you get/got whatever your heart desires. Love you all! Skylar x I send that one to all my band, those of d'Artois that I actually have a number for, which is mainly Ellie, Pi and Charlotte. Then I add Jules to the list too. We aren't really at that stage in our friendship yet but we had plans to meet in the new year and the gesture seems appropriate.
Lastly I text mum. There's no point texting the rest of my family, I'll see them all in an hour or so anyways. The text reads: Running late. Haven't forgotten ya. See ya soon. x
My texts sent, I place the phone on the counter and take my cup in both hands. Okay so the shop bought variety wasn't as good as getting it right from the source - a fact my taste buds clearly remember and remind me on a daily basis - but I suck it up and drink the rest down greedily before refilling the vessel and heating the contents once more. One bag usually did two cups and I pretty much needed a bag a day. Two if Ric felt like being lazy and helping himself to what's mine. Mine being the blood in my veins and not any spare blood bags I might have with me. Not that I mind feeding him. In fact I kind of get a thrill from doing it, so it's not like I'll ever complain about it. The second cup usually goes down a bit slower; I'm not full or anything, I just don't feel so compelled to drown my throat in the stuff as I do with the first lot. This kind of hunger is a funny thing. I'm not really sure how to describe it but it's certainly way more powerful than anything I felt as a human.
I'm mulling this over, my feet crossed at the ankles as I stare into the gloppy mess before me. Disgustingly delightful. If I had it my way I wouldn't touch the stuff, but instinct and necessity left little room for my preferences to be obeyed.
Thoughts of Christmas and the night ahead soon steal my thoughts away. I had a couple of gifts for Ric in my bag that I needed to dig out. I don't give to receive and after familiarising myself with his projects, half hope he hasn't made me anything because - as talented as he is - I still wasn't sure where I'd ever be able to wear the first gift he'd given me. I've already decided he's probably made me another headband - since I think he has a fetish for them what with having given me two already - though I'm not actually expecting anything from him. I'm just thrilled by the fact he's coming with me to my family's tonight. I really couldn't expect a gift outside of that. That in itself was a pretty big thing for me.

[Roderic]

As usual, I'm in the cave. I didn't head back right away like I normally do, instead, I made some cave art. I hadn't done that in a while. I think Nix will appreciate it. I have drawn, to the best of my abilities, a fat man in a hat that may look similiar to 'Santa,' who is being used as a pinata as he's tied up, hanging and being stabbed by a sword. The person stabbing him is me, and with each stab wound, there is small spray of blood. None of the drawings are colored, and required a little imagination, but Nix wasn't an idiot. She would get the gist of it.

I hated Christmas. Loathed it even. People played nice with those they tolerated or didn't even like for a ******* present. I wouldn't put a smile on my face and kiss my dad's *** just to get **** from the prick. Which was probably why his wife stopped inviting me over for Christmas.

This Christmas was a little different. I don't feel any way about it. Not happy, but not pissed off either. I show my distaste for the holiday and am even given the title 'grinch,' from a few Altaires, but I promise to show up for the family event and even get a few gifts for people. Which reminded me that I had to still give Monique and Calix theirs. Finding them was a pain in my *** lately though. I'll have to submit and email them. After this was taken care of.

I'm beginning to think whatever 'family' Skylar is in must suck. Shouldn't she be doing stuff with them? Instead of playing house with her real family? It really wasn't my problem, but it was a passing thought. And since she was a little inexperienced with dealing with people close to her while still being a vampire, I decided to chaperone. All I had to do was be myself. I can be an asshole. I am every night.

I finish my art by signing it 'Ric,' and feel my phone go off. I read the text, then shrug. She was a typical woman. Always in a hurry and wanting things her way. She denied it on multiple occasions, but it was true. While I might tolerate Skylar, I wasn't her lapdog either. I put the stick down that I was using and head to a ritual altar in the city to start my routine. A vampire was found, taken care of and dispatched of properly. I could feed off Skylar, she didn't mind, but doing it too much made me dependent on her. So I tried not to-just like any of the Altaire that said I could.

After about an hour, I show up at the apartment. I don't take off my boots, because I believe I've given her enough time to get ready and we won't be here long. I do make sure to wipe my boots off, as usual, four times. "We ready?" I ask as I round the corner and see Skylar in, almost nothing. I just stare at her and then I shake my head. "I didn't know you liked bunnies. I could make you a real set of those slippers. I'm sure they would be warmer." A half smile pulls on my face, because I'm mostly serious and a little bit joking. And I know what her answer will be. It took her a while to appreciate the rat band I made her as a thanks to making me a kick *** sword. "And I'm not giving you one of those." I point to her shirt quickly. "I wish you would have told me the event was casual." My half-smile fades as I say that and is replaced with a straight line before I disappear inside the bedroom and pull out a shirt that appears to say a bunch of numbers and letters, but really says, 'Hello Asshole,'upside down.

I don't change my jeans, because I don't really care and I suspect Skylar will come in after me at any second. I do make a check to make sure there's no blood on my jeans though. I might not care about people and their opinion of me, but I do care about not exposing myself as a serial killing vampire. I'm almost certain Skylar didn't want me to come along to kill her parents. Or did she? I would read her body language when we got there to determine that. Some people were too scared to do things themselves or too scared to ask.

"Try not to make a big deal about it, but look in the cupboard by the stove. Above it and to the right." I come back to the kitchen as I pull the shirt down and run a hand through my somewhat greasy hair. It was nice Freyja gave me a hair cut, but it just grew back in a couple of days.

[Skylar]

I hear Ric before I see him and look up the moment I hear his voice, grinning like an idiot. Oh yeah. I was in trouble and I knew it. The grin soon gives way to a laugh as he comments on my slippers. Typical. I bet he could make a pair of proper rabbit slippers too. I look down at my little fluffy friends and wriggle my toes inside of them. Nope. I couldn't replace them, and even if I could, I wouldn't want actual dead bunnies staring up at me. I consider that for a moment and come to the conclusion that, that would make me sad.
"Thanks, but no thanks." This is my reply before he disappears into his bedroom.
He'd gotten in without a hug but that wasn't going to last long. My teddy tee was right, I did need a hug and I'd get one too, when he came back out. He wasn't getting away with it that easily and I'm pretty sure he knows it.
I consider following him and hugging him in the bedroom but Ric doesn't seem to go in there much, only if he needs something and as much as I'd like to see his body, perving on him while his changing - at this point in our relationship - was probably a step too far. Yes. Shocking I know but even I have boundaries.
As he wanders back into the kitchen he tells me to look in a specific cupboard. I have no idea what he's on about so I turn and face the units to find out. I do as he instructs and look first to the cooker, then up and to the right. Believing I have the right cupboard pinpointed, I place the now empty vessel I was holding on the sideboard and open the cupboard door.
I stand there for a moment, blink and take it all in. Well I can see why he didn't want me to make a big deal but he was wrong, because it was huge deal. He had filled one of his kitchen cupboards full of goodies. Mainly things he'd seen me eat - he's observant like that - but a few things that he hadn't. I don't mind that though, I eat most things, so it was all good by me. I reach out and rummage through some of the packets to get a better look at what they are. He'd gotten me a good selection of candy; chocolate, strawberry shoe laces, lollies, etc. It was amazing.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I whirl around and run straight over to Ric and throw my arms around him. Before I can stop myself I break my usual routine and press my lips to his cheek while I still have my arms around his neck. The hug and kiss merging into one action, at least this is how I assume he'll see it. I quickly try and right this by kissing his other cheek and pulling away.
"Thanks Ricky. That is like the best present you could have gotten me."
I begin to wonder if he knew what he'd done. If he knew he'd basically given me the relationship equivalent of a dresser draw in which to place my things when I stayed, which meant that I could stay, whenever I wanted. I kind of already knew this - he'd said I could use the bed whenever - but the cupboard is proof that he wasn't just saying I could stay and that he actually meant it. More than that though, it proves that he wants me here. Even if he hasn't admitted that fact to himself yet.
"I have something for you too. For Christmas."
He hadn't exactly said the cupboard was a Christmas present but he'd waited until Christmas day to give it/show it to me, so I just assume as much.
Before I disappear into the bedroom to get his gifts, I tug on the bottom of his t-shirt and give him a playful smile.
"Love the t-shirt Ricky."
It would probably be lost on my parents but my brother or sister might pick up in it. I'm wondering if any of the family will get it as I go rummage through my duffle and pull out the two gifts I had for him. They weren't anything major, but they were nice. One package contained a phone cover I personalised for him and the other t-shirt with a quirky saying, not entirely unlike the one he was wearing.
I come back to the front room and hand the two presents to Ric.
"Merry Christmas Handsome."
I haven't called him that before, not like that anyway. Generally I called him Ricky and on the odd occasion darling, but this one slipped out before I could stop myself. I blame it on the excited state I'm in due - in no small part - to the gift Ric told me not to make a big deal out of.

[Roderic]

She hugs me and I just stand there and let her do it. I really don't have time for a debate that will end in circles, so I allow it. By now, she's allowed at least that much. It doesn't mean I reciprocate the hug, I just let her do it. The kiss thing irritates me and I'm sure she knows it, but it's another thing that will lead to a debate where I'll want to slam my head in the wall at least a dozen times. I think her being a woman and an Allurist stacks the deck sort of unfairly on me some nights.

Food was the best thing I could have gotten her? i don't really think so. It didn't even take that long to go to the store and dump some **** in a cart. The most time consuming part was the jerky I made her from my own kills-of the furry kind. Mostly bear. I wondered about mountain lion, but it just seemed a bit too wild for her tastes and pushing a potentially good thing. But in reality, she didn't even need food to survive, so why she ate it was sort of stupid. At least I thought so. So why did I get it for her? Because she was always shoving it in her face and since she spent a lot of time here, it was better I supply what was in my apartment and not what she wanted to bring in. I'm standing there looking at her in disbelief of the statement she just made about me giving her food. Then I wonder if I could bribe her with food to do or not do other things. I have a new experiment to try. Later.

"It's not for Christmas. It's just because." I tell her. I have a different gift for her for Christmas, but I don't tell her that. "Since you're always here. I wasn't going to break into Ellie's place." I say Ellie with a roll of my eyes because that's what she calls the guy. I wonder what he thinks about the nickname deep down. Without her two cents in on the matter.

She tugs at my shirt and I nod my head. "Congratulations, you're about one of five that actually know what it says." I tell her, any of her attempt at flirting going right over my head. Because it was a cool shirt and she said so. How she said it or how she looked didn't really matter. Love. She was always dropping that word around. Love this. Love that. I wonder if she just says the word instead of like. How can someone love that much stuff in the world?

I didn't miss the word she used to describe me, but I do stare at her. She has to have been drinking. Great. Skylar was going to get herself and her parents killed by the end of the night with her perception being off kilter. "Should we do it now? Open the gifts? Or maybe after your parents thing?" It's hard to determine which might be better. Opening gifts now might buy some time for her to sober up if she had been drinking. But then we would be late and I really didn't like being late. Choices, choices. It was her choice, I guess.

[Skylar]

“Oh no. Definitely now. It’ll only take a few minutes and I’m just going to throw on a pair of jeans and jumper or something.”
I don’t exactly have a lot of options as to what I wear, only what I brought with me. I knew I should have packed a nice dress but that would make mum happy and I did so love to disappoint her. To be fair it wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t. It’s not like I hate my parents. I don’t. We just view the world a little differently and I delight in reminding of them of that. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to do that though if they’d just pretend to accept me for who I am and stop trying to change me. I don’t need improving. I’m not like Brett and Alexis and it’s high time they accept that.
“Actually… Hold that thought.”
I put my finger up at Ric as I say that and then disappear back into the bedroom. I’m not really thinking about protecting my modesty, so I don’t think to close the door or anything. I just start getting changed. First I slip into a pair of low cut jeans and then pull off my nightly which I throw that onto the bed. I then scoop up my Christmas jumper and pulling it over my head as I start to walk into the bathroom. The outfit leaves my midriff bear, something I know mum won’t approve for two reason; one it shows flesh and two it shows off my pierced naval. My belly currently sports a gold ring but I do change that out sometimes for one of my decorative bars. I’m thinking about those as I pick up my toothbrush and begin brushing my teeth, as I probably had something a little more interesting back at Ellie’s pad. I recall having a small silver skull on a chain but I can’t for the life of me remember when I last saw it or where it might be. I push that to the back of my mind as I gargle with mouthwash. I’m pretty sure my teeth won’t rot away or anything if I stop taking care of them but I like the routine. Well that and I still eat, so cleaning my teeth and freshening my breath was still a good idea. All I had to do now was put my shoes on and I’d be good to go.
“Okay…”
I walk back to the front room to join Ric once I’m cleaned up and ready to go. I wasn’t long but probably longer than a literal minute.
“You can open your gifts now. They aren’t much, but I think you’ll like them.”
I’m still over excited by the gift of a cupboard full of food. Though perhaps it’s more what the gift represents than the food itself that I’m truly stoked about. I probably wouldn’t be telling my family about that gift, mainly because they might ask where he lived and I highly doubt that telling them he lives in the Quarantine Zone would go over well. Especially since the place was supposed to be deserted. That was probably one of those violation things Ric liked to warn me about. I should definitely give a little more thought to buying a PO box or a normal flat or something that doesn’t have supernatural creatures roaming the hallways. I’m not sure I’d want to live there though, so it seems like a waste of money just for a place to get mail delivered to. It wasn’t like I’d be inviting my family over or anything and if I want to see my friends we can always meet at Dillon’s. They were used to doing that anyway what with the fact I practically lived at his these past few years.

[Roderic]

Of course I should open them now. I don't think Skylar thinks of other people. I know we're trying to piss her parents off, but showing up late just seems mediocre at best. I'm about to open the bigger of the two presents when she tells me to hold on and disappears in the bedroom. While she's gone, I move from the kitchen to the living room where my crafting bench is. I open the drawer on the right and pull out a small box. Since we're doing this now, I figure I might as well get it over and done with. All in one turn so we could focus on the bigger picture for the night. Pissing her parents off. Maybe if we piss them off enough, she won't have to worry about seeing them much. Ever. It was better for her that way.

I'm back in the kitchen before she returns, changed into something that I snort at. I wanted to ask her who she was kidding, but bite my tongue. That's probably not nice of me. And I should be saving all my asshole remarks for her family. So I just start with opening the larger of the two gifts and soon I'm holding a shirt. I look at the shirt with the t-rex on it and nod my head. It's not bad. I'd actually wear it. It's actually witty. I'm actually shocked that she understood the t-shirt. It's not that I think Skylar is dumb, our tastes are just very vast. She likes to be the center of attention with her flashy, short outfits and I'd rather just blend in. The shirt will catch a little attention, but people will remember that. The shirt. Not the guy who wore it.

"Thanks. I like it." I tell her as I set it down on the counter with a little grin, not far from the gift I got her. She would probably notice that it was there and wonder if it was for her. So, I decided to scoot it over by her. "This is your actual Christmas gift." I tell her with one more little nudge of the box in her direction. I stare at her because I think it is her turn to open the gift as I just opened one. It makes sense to me.

[Skylar]

I watch him open his gift and pray he likes it. He likes quirky t-shirts and I'm pretty sure the colour will suit him. So it's not black. It's probably not a bad thing. His wardrobe could do with a little more colour. Besides, when it comes his t-shirts, it's not about the colour, it's about the fit, and I'm pretty sure the fit will be perfect. I want to ask him to try it on but I don't. I don't really have the time before he's nudging a small box at me. Strangely, the first thought I have as I pick the box up isn't about what's inside of it, it's about what he'd of done the other night if hadn't 'helped' to wrap the presents he wanted to give his family. I don't care about wrapping or anything though, it's just one of those fleeting thoughts that rears its head out of no-where.
I flip the box open to see a pair of silver-ish earrings built around some sort of cocoon. Considering the last gift he gave me came with a pair of dead rats, this wasn't half bad. Not that I didn't kinda love Jack and Jill now; the creepy little critters had kind of grown on me. I had to wonder though, why he'd chosen jewellery. He knew I made the stuff. This was like giving a painting to an artist. You were bound to get critiqued. Not that I'd ever say anything bad. I mean I can call him an arsehole to his face but I'm not about to insult his work.
I look up at Ric and give him a warm, genuine smile, as all things considered, I love the fact that he took the time to make me something; even if the cupboard probably was still the better gift.
"Thanks Ricky. These are really nice. Did you make them?"
I'm pretty sure I know what the answer is. I'm probably more curious about why he thought I'd like them. He knows me a little better now, so there had to be a reason for him to give those. I mean for someone that makes jewellery, I don't actually own a lot off it or wear much of it. I guess my tastes are pretty plain. Well. When it comes to fashion that is. My taste in men is a lot more... colourful.
"So... You want to open your other gift?"
I nod in the direction of the second present and wait for him to unwrap it. The case I'd bought in a store, as while I'm capable of making something like that it would have required me taking a mould of his mobile and I really didn't have the time, or rather the opportunity. I'd then customized it for him with an ornate metallic skull, as he seems to like bones and animal parts for some reason. I'm not entirely sure what his deal is when it comes to that stuff and I'm not sure I want to know. I'll probably ask one day but for now I'm just gonna write it off as one of Ric's odder quirks.

[Roderic]

I watch her reaction and she's not intense about it. When Skylar's excited or happy, you know this. You can feel it wafting off her, as annoying as it could be. She says thanks, but I'm sure she's doing it out of formalities or because it's typically expected to say those things after getting a gift. I took a chance and failed. It doesn't sit right with me. I might have to try again with a different project some other night. But then again, she didn't like the rat headband I got her months ago and now she's apparently named them. "Yeah, I made them. Tried something new. Not sure what to think of it yet. But the idea struck me."

I look at the smaller gift and then at her. "Two were not necessary or required to get." I tell her. I don't celebrate holidays or birthdays. Skylar does for whatever reason. I stopped believing in the whole family closeness and whatever else is associated with Christmas and good feelings years ago. "But thank you." I tell her as I open the gift and then look down at it.

At first I'm not sure what I'm looking at. I even say so, "What's this for?" I'm not a person to decorate things or accessorize, so it's completely lost on me. "It's cool, but what does it go with? I think it's missing something in the middle." I tell her with a serious look on my face as I wait for her answer. A hand goes through my hair and then pushes some of it up as I scratch at the back of it, trying to figure it out for myself as I wait.

[Skylar]

"Well I wasn't so much thinking of quantity or anything. I just thought you'd like them both. And yeah I guess I know you have a thing for even numbers or whatever but truthfully that's just a happy coincidence."
I watch as he opens the second gift I got him and roll my eyes when he asks what it is. The guy really must have been living under a rock, because cellphone covers... they're not new.
I have two choices at this point. I can explain what it is or I can show him. Sometimes I like words, sometimes I favour show and tell and today is one of those days. Mainly because I don't plan on asking him to hand his phone over. I'm going to rifle through his pockets and retrieve the thing myself. A smile on my lips, I look into his eyes as I all but square up to him. I try to hold his attention with my eyes as I look deep into his. I then reach out with my hand and slip my fingers into his pocket. I pinch the phone between my index and middle finger and then slowly pull it from his jeans pocket. Item in hand I step back, snatch up the case from out of his hand and snap it into position before handing the device back to him. I'm pretty sure I don't have any explaining to do past doing what I've done.
I possibly shouldn't have gotten that close to him, because he spooks easy and all, and I know I'm being overly familiar but then to me, it's kind of normal to act this way around someone you like. And whether he knows it or not we are kinda, sorta dating.
Oh lord, I really shouldn't have gotten that close to him. He's like all I can think about. He's too cute, especially when he's confused. I forget that sometimes. I'm not sure how I do, but I do. He's breath-taking in fact, at least I think so. I still get that little warning going off in the back of my mind, the one that tells me I shouldn't trust him and that i should run as fast as I can in the opposite direction but I didn't listen too that the first night I met him and I'd be damned if I'd start listening to that now, or ever for that matter.
"They're perfect by the way... The earrings."
I tell him this as I'm literally at a loss as to what else to say at this point. In fact I'm surprised I can speak at all and quickly realise I'm staring at him. I run the fingers of my right hand through my hair and turn away before my cheeks start burning.
I pick up the box he gave me and carefully take the earrings out. They look kind of fragile. I curl my left hand around them and start to take the hoops out of my ears, squirreling them away in my right palm for a moment so that I can switch them out for the ones Ric gave me. With his earrings in, I place my hoops in the now empty box and finally turn myself back to face him.
"Thank you... Again..."
I step forward and softly press my lips to each of his cheeks before stepping back to look him over, careful not to let my eyes linger on any specific part of him for too long.

[Roderic]

I do like them both. I mean, I never really thought about putting a cover on my phone because I'm not really that kind of guy, but if I had to put one on it, it would be the one she just snapped on the thing. I feel like an idiot for not knowing what it was, but it's like a fashion accessory to me. It's not required for my phone to work at any point. Still, the gift is appreciated and would be used. Since she put it on for me. Had she not, I probably wouldn't. Not because I don't like it, but because the thing would just lay on a counter or table and be forgotten about because it's not necessary to use.

She thanks me for the earrings and claims they are perfect. I know they aren't and that she's being nice. It was an idea that struck me the other night and so I didn't have a chance to perfect the design. Maybe it was a stupid idea, but I wanted to make her something. I like making things. Keeping my hands busy makes me feel fulfilled. Or something.

She kisses both my cheeks, something I dismiss easily with a shrug. "It's no big deal. If they turned out alright, I wanted you to have the original. It will probably be worth something some day. Just tell people they come from some insect you don't know the name of from Africa or something." Suddenly I wonder if I'm putting her at risk by wearing them. "Or just wear them here." I add in. I wouldn't intentionally get her in trouble, but come to think of it-this could get her and I in trouble. If people started asking questions.

"So, ready?" I ask her as I look her over and then look down at my own clothing. I'm more than fine with how I look, but I want to make sure this is what she really wants. Not that I'm objecting much. I think all ties with your family after being a vampire isn't good for anyone.