LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's been a little over ten years since the two of them arrived here. Ten years is an awfully long time to be stuck here, but returning home isn't an option anymore. It hasn't been an option since they first started changing, and that wasn't all that long after they arrived. Kimbley had grown a tail and ears and Archer's eyes had turned red. It's amazing to think they had been so scared by those changes back then.

Things are different now. They aren't human, but there's no reason for that to bother them. Archer is a vampire (something that he found painfully ironic in the beginning, but he's adapted quite well to it, if he does say so himself). Not much has changed about him, appearance-wise. His nails are much longer and sharper, his eyes are red, and he has the stereotypical vampire fangs, but aside from that the only difference is the slight point to his ears. It's not like he could get any paler anyway.

Archer enters their shared apartment after work, shrugging off his coat and hanging it up before proceeding into the living room.]

Kimbley, are you home yet?

Comments

[viliorate]

[This is probably a good sign??]

I can't believe that bastard shot me. I should have noticed him sooner. We could have avoided this.

[sadisticwarfare]

Don't worry about it. It shouldn't be too bad of an injury since it wasn't silver.

[Of course he's not entirely sure about that...]

[viliorate]

[It... really hurts.

About the only way he can cope at the moment is either more dark humor or complaining.]

I don't know what I'd do if it was silver.

[Probably lay on the ground screaming, actually.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...It's not something to worry about right now.

[The doctor approaches and Archer moves aside so he can tend to Kimbley.]

[viliorate]

No. I guess it isn't.

[The doctor spends a while looking Kimbley over before telling him he's lucky the bullet wasn't silver because it likely would have been fatal.

Removing the bullet takes time, but he doesn't lash out. He's hissing in pain once it's out, but Kimbley is fairly calm all things considered. The only sign he's agitated is his left hand flexing at his side.

He's not bleeding all over everywhere, which might be an advantage to not being human.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer waits until the doctor is done before approaching Kimbley.]

Are you okay? Is there anything you need?

[viliorate]

I'm fine.

[He's really not.]

It hurts, that's all. I need to lay down for a while.

[And maybe do something so it stops hurting.]

[sadisticwarfare]

Alright. Do you want to head home? I can always hunt another night.

[viliorate]

[He winces as he sits up.]

Let's go home. I don't want to try and sleep in a bar.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course.

[He'll help Kimbley get home and settled in bed.]

...Are you going to be okay?

[viliorate]

[Getting Kimbley to sleep comfortably is always an adventure because of the spikes on his back, but once he's finally in a comfortable position he watches Archer carefully.]

I'll be fine. It just hurts a little.

[sadisticwarfare]

"A little"? You were shot. Surely it hurts more than "a little".

[viliorate]

[Kimbley gives an awkward shrug with the shoulder that wasn't shot.]

...It hurts a lot. What do you want me to say?

[sadisticwarfare]

I'd rather you be honest with me. You don't need to act like it's nothing.

[viliorate]

....if it had been silver, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

I'll take pain over being dead.

[But that doesn't mean he wants to talk about how much pain he's in.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...I know.

[He hasn't stopped to think about how close Kimbley was to dying. If it had been silver--

No. He's not about to start panicking about that now. He can do that later.]

Is there anything you need?

[viliorate]

[He starts to shake his head but stops himself.]

I don't need need anything. But stay here.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course I will. I wouldn't leave you, Kimbley.

[viliorate]

Good.

[Because he's not going to be able to sleep until he's completely exhausted.

At least he's still alive. Had something happened...]

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's best not to think about it. It'll only make things worse.

Archer finally sits down, looking as awkward as ever. He doesn't know what to say.]

[viliorate]

[Kimbley reaches out for Archer's arm.

It's awkward, and his grip isn't as strong as it could be, and he's careful not to dig his claws into Archer's skin, but it's there.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He doesn't seem to know what to do with that at first, looking more than a little awkward, but eventually he rests his hand on Kimbley's and moves to sit properly beside him. He doesn't say anything because he still doesn't know what to say, but now that the excitement has worn off, he's finding that he's having a hard time dismissing the thought that it could have been a silver bullet, that Kimbley could have died.]

[viliorate]

We're going to have to be careful.

[Kimbley has never been that careful, even after all of these years. This is just the first time he's noticed that it's an actual problem.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...Yes, we are.

[He's always been careful, but he's never tried to reign Kimbley in. He's always let Kimbley do whatever he wants. That was a mistake.]

[viliorate]

[This could have ended horribly. He might even let Archer control him if it means they're both safer.]

If accepting handouts is how I avoid getting shot again...

[He's not going to be happy, but]

I'll do whatever you ask of me.