A Century

Asema's slowly turned up in a knowing smile. "And you talk too little, good sir," she replied, then sat up properly, hopping to her feet. Sitting and talking about feelings or things of that sort wasn't something she really enjoyed, but she had been caught up in the moment. Luckily, she wasn't any longer.

Aluraune huffed quietly, eying her with mock distaste.

"Oh, pardon me for not talking your ear off, my lady. Forgive me."

He stood as well, dusting himself off, trying to hide the faint tinge of blood in his face.

Asema watched him, then twisted her lips at the side. "Do you feel odd without the armour?" she asked suddenly, looking at the clothes that fit loosely on him. He seemed much smaller without the armour, but she quite liked it.

Aluraune hesitated before answering, looking at his cast off armor momentarily.

"Odd?...no. Vulnerable is more like it. Not just physically..."

He turned to face her, his eyes changing shades for a heartbeat, then returning to the normal gray.

"I suppose I have never let anyone see what lies beneath. You are the first."

Asema smiled rather brightly. "And why is that?" she questioned, a soft, but teasing grin on her lips now that she had calmed down from the momentary happiness about being the first to see.

Aluraune quickly looked away, making a show of studying the cave wall.

"Why, indeed. It is not as if I had a choice but to shuck that armor. You would hear nothing of me keeping it on. I tried. I am simply a victim of your will."

Asema scoffed and took a step closer, prodding his chest with her forefinger. "I gave you the option, did I not?" She knew he was teasing her, but she wasn't going to just giggle and shrug it off: she wasn't that sort of person.

Aluraune rolled his eyes, easily deciding to play her game, matching her prod with a step forward, standing as straight as he could.

"As if your option was an option. Since when are women such as yourself supposed to be resisited?"

Asema narrowed her eyes, but couldn't keep the pestering smile away. "Kind words won't get you anywhere," the shorter vampire told him, trying to make herself come across as much more intimidating, physically, than she was.

Aluraune smiled to match her, but did something quite unexpected: He threw his arm around her waist, pulling her face to face with him.

"Will unkind actions, then?" he murmured lowly, tightening his grip on her.

Asema stumbled into his grip, making a small, surprised noise before she smiled, hiding the nerves behind it. "Such as...?"

Aluraune grinned, pulling her forward even closer.

"Oh...just little things."

As he spoke, he pressed his fingers firmly into her hip, digging his nails in easily.

Asema pursed her lips as she felt his nails. Two could play at that game. She smiled sweetly and slid a hand up his arm tenderly before taking her own grip on it near her wrist.

She had no idea, whatsoever, what they were doing, but it entertained her.

Aluraune's eyes lit up, shuddering a bit; things had been quite boring for him of late, and this was a welcome game.

"What was it we were talking about again, love?" he murmured playfully, navigating her until her back was to the wall.

Asema smiled, then stared at him through the hair that had fallen just barely in her face. "I..." she said, at a loss for words at first, then nodded. "Sweet words and unkind actions..."

Aluraune needed no more words; he leaned in, and kissed her squarely on the mouth.

Asema smiled nearly instantly and slid her dainty, perfect hand up to his jaw, cupping it tenderly as she returned the kiss.

Aluraune stretched his back against the wall, keeping his eyes closed. He felt as if it had been forever since he last stirred.

Asema wiped her fingers on her dress and looked at the human. She felt bad, as she had killed the man, but she was hungry. She waited to feed for too long and she'd gone into bloodlust, ending the man's life.

Asema's legs gave out and she fell to her haunches, looking down at the human. Her eyes were sympathetic. He had a family: two kids, both boys, and a wife and she ruined all of that for him. The boys would grow up without a father and the wife would live with the terrors of him going missing one day and never coming back.

Aluraune decided to go out--it had been some time since he had walked for the sake of walking. Maybe he would spot Asema on the way.She had an odd way of coming and going.

Asema stared at the body a few moments longer before she effortlessly picked it up, finding a dumpster for it. Perhaps they would find him in it and at least his family would know.

Aluraune wandered aimlessly, making his way into a residential area. Civilians made their way past him, and he waved effortlessly; they smiled back. They were such careless creatures, humans.

He was glad to be past that phase.

As he wandered, Aluraune happened upon Asema, loading a corpse into a dumpster; breakfast.

"Already up and about, I see."

Asema whipped around when she had heard Aluraune. She didn't gasp as she wanted, but she looked at him for a moment. She was surprised. How could she have not sensed him until he was there and speaking?

"Er... er - yes," she said, then slipped him a small smile, closing the dumpster lid. She needed to find a place to wash off.

Aluraune sighed, looking at the mess she had made of herself. Wordlessly, he approached her and gripped a corner of his robe, bringing it up to carefully wipe her mouth and neck.

"You need to be more mindful of your actions, darling. It simply would not do for one of the children wandering these streets to see such a thing, would it?"

He continued to clean her, mindless of the mess he made on himself.

Asema watched him, careful of the movements he made, but not suspicious. "I can clean myself, thanks," she murmured quietly and stepped away. Her eyes narrowed when she turned her back.

It wasn't his fault as to why she was acting this way, but she only took his words as belittling. She knew what she was to do and how to do it, she'd lived approximately as long as he had.