Looking out for a friend...

[runningred]

Jay steps out onto the veranda, letting to cool night air embrace him. "So," He asks, not looking back over his shoulder to see if Eric's following. "What are you in the mood for?"

Comments

[onceaviking]

Eric doesn't turn around.
"No," he says. His voice is soft, but his posture is rigid. Tense.

[runningred]

Jay nods and sits back down on the grass. "What do you need?" He knows Eric's still a mess and the blood has him healing and ready to go again. "Need me to run? I could do with the work out."

[onceaviking]

"I had a little sister," Eric says, his back still turned.
"Her name was Þorgerðr. When the wolves came, they likely killed her first. And it was my fault."

He turns and looks at Jay.

"Don't say anything about this. Ever. To anyone."

Protected by Thor. Never put your trust in gods. All they'll do is abandon you after pissing in your face.

[runningred]

Jay shakes his head. "I won't. You have my word." And he means it.

"And the stuff that's been going on with you has something to do with her murder?"

[onceaviking]

"That's the debt, I can now settle," he says, looking away.
"Now that Pam is free."

Because he had needed Edgington for that.

[runningred]

"You know who did it? And you're going to take them down." He gets up slowly, using his belt to do up his town jeans as best he can.

[onceaviking]

He looks up at Jay.
"Yes. I needed him, but now -"

He will suffer. And he will die,

[runningred]

"Now you're free to end him. Good." As far as Jay's concerned, that's how it should be. People like that need to be punished.

[onceaviking]

"Yes."
He looks away again.

[runningred]

Jay doesn't push him further, just tries to straighten himself up. "Well, when you destroy the man who murdered your sister, we'll celebrate."

[onceaviking]

He hasn't really said this out loud before.
To Aethalstan, he'd insisted that he would walk away victorious.

But now, with his face turned away, he says, "He's a 3,000 year old vampire. I may not be around to celebrate anything once he is gone."
And then he gets up, abruptly, and starts walking away. Into the darkness.

[runningred]

"Eric. If there's any edge you need, just tell me." Jay says.

And then gives up and chases after him. "Eric, I know I'm human but if I can help, I want to. You don't have to go into this fight alone."

[onceaviking]

"Yes, I do," Eric says.
"And we are not going to talk about this any more."

He's half of a mind to glamour Jay, rules be damned.
He's not even sure why he told him.

Execpet that he needed to tell someone.

[runningred]

Jay stops where he is at the rebuke, sighing with frustration. "Fine. Just... watch your back, okay."

He turns to walk away, teeth gritted. Most nights he can deal with it but tonight Eric's coldness is pissing him off.

[onceaviking]

"We won't because I can't ."

It's a snarl. And the next is said so softly, it is hardly audible.
"I keep seeing her face."

[runningred]

Jay stops and drops his eyes, counting back from ten to clear his head. "Eric, I've built faith around the idea that vengeance will bring to peace. I don't know if it will be true for me but I hope it's true for you. I really do."

[onceaviking]

This time, Eric actually looks him in the eye. And nods.
And then he is gone, disappeared into the air.

[runningred]

Jay lets himself fall against a tree and sigh. "Fuck, I wish I didn't like him so much." He mutters to himself, banging his head against the wood over and over. "What the fuck is wrong with me?"

He pulls himself together (and hitches his busted jeans again) and heads back to the bar.