Slightly less monstrous boys: prequel

[lamia]

{ wolf meets vamp }
💮 su-jin 💮 silvio 💮

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[typhlotic]

"Yeah. Yeah they do."

Because people got hurt when he went feral and he couldn't even control his. He just had to live with it. But Silvio didn't bring that up because this wasn't a competition. Being any kind of supernatural creature had its drawbacks just like being human did. There was no point in trying to claim one was worse than another. It wasn't fair.

He did let out a soft laugh at the comment about his nose though. "Good thing you smell good then, huh? For the sake of my nose?"

[lamia]

Su-jin chuckled in turn. He could only imagine what he smelled like to others since he was basically, like most creatures, nose-blind to his own scent. Blood, probably. And those floral soaps and lotions he buys for Tiras. No doubt more than a little of Tiras' scent is on him. Beyond that, Su-jin has no idea how he smells. Clean? He didn't use a lot of the lotions and potions that modern people did. A little moisturizer, some deodorant. That was about it.

"Do I?"

[typhlotic]

"Yeah. Your skin naturally picks up on things around you. It's nice. The trees are already clinging to you."

Probably a predator thing but he didn't care. He could like it anyway. After all he was a predator too so maybe that was why it made him feel so comfortable. It didn't matter what it was really. There was that underlying scent but it was the world clinging to him that he liked the most.

"Here."

He nodded a head to a cabin that had just come into view for Su-jin. It was nothing special but it didn't have to be. Silvio was the only one who lived there.

[lamia]

Perhaps it is a predator thing. Well, at least he smelled good! Small victories!

Su-jin's eyes fell on the cabin and he gave the exterior a quick once over. It didn't look like there was any immediate danger to him. It wasn't even a conscious thought, just something he'd learned to look for over the centuries. It was small, suitable for a lone person. His lodgings were usually a little larger due to his fondness for fashion. He could imagine himself in a little getaway like this, but not as a primary home. He's too spoiled for that.

"If you like, I can come check on you in a few days." And probably bring him some fresh clothes.

[typhlotic]

"You don't have to. I'm not going to be any kind of a host." To put it...mildly. He'd still be healing from silver burns and then gaining the energy to feed himself. It never looked good. No point putting someone through that. Wolves were used to it but it was a sorrowful sight for anyone else.

As it turned out the door wasn't even locked and Silvio let them right in. He had them go to the couch where he slumped onto it and got out the bottle to take more of the drug he'd been given.

Shuddering a little, his eyes closed.

For Su-jin he'd see the altar to the pack on one side of the wall. A piece of something for every single member of that pack as well as candles that hadn't been lit yet. Otherwise the cabin was largely bare save for some furniture here and there. Nothing that matched since Silvio had gotten it all while blind.

"You can help yourself to food or drink if you want. I know it won't give you anything but sometimes it's nice to eat something that doesn't give you nutritional value. Just for something different."

[lamia]

"You wouldn't have to treat me as a guest," he assured. It was concern that drove the offer, not some burning need for hospitality. He knew the moon was coming up and without the pack to look after each other after... Silvio would probably be tired and weak. A little extra help couldn't hurt his recovery.

The offer for something to eat or drink was tempting, but he didn't often indulge in that. Su-jin had a deep-rooted concern that eating for pleasure rather than sustenance would lead to eating for pleasure... Even after all these years with a partner who not only could tolerate his needs, but enjoyed them, Su-jin still couldn't shake the guilt it brought him.

"I'm fine, thank you."

[typhlotic]

"Then you can make yourself comfortable. But I get if you're in a hurry. I'll be okay."

He had been for around a decade now by some miracle. Lonely and in constant pain but that wasn't anything he couldn't live with. He'd get used to it given more years in his life. Of that he was certain. Mainly because he had no other choice.

This was Silvio's life now.

[lamia]

"Can I make you something to eat or drink?" Maybe some tea or coffee, whichever happened to be Silvio's choice, would help with the pain? Or maybe help to take the edge of it off, along with the drug. He offered the wolf a soft smile even though he knew Silvio couldn't see it. "I may as well be useful while I'm here, no?"

[typhlotic]

That made him tilt his head and turn to face Su-jin. His eyes opened but he didn't direct them to the man. For, well, obvious reasons. But he did listen to his movements. "You don't have to..."

He hadn't had someone there for him in a decade. Having it so suddenly? Silvio wasn't sure how to handle how good it felt.

[lamia]

That's not going to stop Su-jin from padding to the kitchen. His steps were light, but he made sure they were heavy enough that Silvio could keep track of him. It wasn't always the most comfortable thing to have someone in your space after a long time alone.

"I don't mind." He liked being able to help take care of others.

[typhlotic]

"I..."

Then he remembered that he should accept help when it had been offered. That was how he'd been raised. If there was someone who genuinely wanted to have your back then turning them down was foolish. Silvio sighed a little and gave a soft smile.

"...thanks."

[lamia]

That pulled a smile across Su-jin's lips.

"Are you hungry? I can cook something for you."

[typhlotic]

"A little. I have some leftovers of a stew I made but you can make whatever you want. Though I don't have much. I was supposed to get supplies and hunt today." And they could tell how well that went given the fact that Su-jin was here now.

"There's probably...something though."

[lamia]

"Leftover stew is good. I wan warm that up for you. And..." he began looking around, but didn't yet start opening cupboards. "Do you have any bread?" Because bread and stew go together!

[typhlotic]

"It's probably stale but yeah." He could smell it wasn't moldy at least. So it was fine to eat. But stale? Definitely. Still, that wouldn't be so bad when dipped in stew. "You can open whatever you need to, by the way."

[lamia]

"I'll toast it," he countered. Stale bread still made good toast.

With Silvio's permission, Su-jin started hunting around the kitchen: a pot to reheat the stew, a pan to warm up the bread, something for Silvio to drink.

"I'll put everything back when I'm done." Just where he found it to make things easier for Silvio to find when he needed them in the future.

[typhlotic]

"Thanks."

Listening to the sounds of someone else in his territory was surprisingly soothing. Closing his eyes again, he rested his arm on the back of the couch so he could use it as a pillow while he listened to the sounds. Just typical kitchen noises but they were done by someone who wasn't him. It made all the difference.

One looking at him would think he was asleep but he was anything but that. He just hadn't realized how much he'd missed having another person around like this.

[lamia]

"It's no problem."

It isn't long before the scent of the stew came wafting from the kitchen and a little sizzle could be heard from the oil in the pan Su-jin was using to crisp the bread. Once everything is done, he spoons out the stew into a bowl which he then sets on a place with the toasty bread. A glass of water and he's wandering back out to the living area to serve the meal to Silvio.

"Here you go. Are you feeling any better at all?"

[typhlotic]

Hearing Su-jin coming over with the food, the wolf perked up again and lifted his head before turning to face the table in front of the couch the right away. It smelled good and he realized he was actually hungry. Taking the bread, he enjoyed the crunch as he broke it to dip it into the stew before having a bite of it.

"Yeah. I think the drugs are finally kicking in. I usually have to take enough to over dose a human so that's not surprising." He nodded to the food he was eating. "...seriously, thanks for this. It's just been me for ten years now. I appreciate this."

[lamia]

"Mm," he hummed in acknowledgment. It made sense. They weren't human, after all. A normal human dose of medicine or poison just wouldn't work.

"I'm just happy I could do something to help." Yes, he's a caretaker at heart. Being able to help someone gives him a sense of purpose.

[typhlotic]

"I've only ever known pack life. It's been...a lot to adjust to."

To put it mildly. Losing his entire family and his sight in one day? It had been a harsh thing to survive. He nodded over to the altar.

"That's them. My pack. What I have left of them anyway."

[lamia]

Su-jin's gaze drifted in the direction of the altar. It was a sweet tribute to them. He realized they've only just met but...

"Tell me about them," he offered gently.

[typhlotic]

"They were really good people. They preferred to think of themselves as guardians of the forest. Protectors of those who wandered through it. I was little when they found me but they never treated me as just some human. To them I was family."

He kept eating while he spoke, like if he didn't then he would fall apart. He needed to keep doing this to keep himself together.

"My alpha was a tough man but he was always the one who would let me sleep in his bed when I was scared at night. And his mate was a tiny woman who was gentle and sweet but tough when she needed to be. They ran everything well. Everyone knew their place and no one ever had to question what they had to do or where they needed to be. It was safe. You felt wanted and protected and loved at all times."

[lamia]

"They sound wonderful," he mused softly. It must be difficult to be without them, but that went without saying. Su-jin thought Silvio honored them by carrying on, even if it was on his own. That also didn't need to be said. What would the opinion of a stranger who'd never known them matter?

But hearing this reinforced Su-jin's desire to check up on Silvio in a few days, to make sure he had someone around after the full moon. Even if he didn't need or want help, Su-jin could at least keep him company while he convalesced.

[typhlotic]

Finishing with the food, he got up and went to light the candles. Eleven in total. One for each of his fallen packmates who had been there for him his entire life. He stood there a moment, not able to see it but knowing that they were honored.

"They were good people who didn't deserve what was done to him. None of them," he murmured softly.