Monster.
 

Monster.
He was a monster.
And Ivan Braginski was his name.
He stood more than six feet tall, much taller than the average human. His skin was pale. His eyes were black, his irises purple, and he had horns like sheep's atop his head.
But what made him a monster was not only his appearance, but his abilities. He could manipulate shadows and bend people to his will.
And, he loved to kill.
The people deemed him unholy. They went after him with their torches and iron, casting him out.
In one respect, Ivan deserved it. He'd killed many people in the town, and didn't do a good job of concealing himself.
Yet....
He watched the people as they went about their lives. He yearned to be one of them. Not to be a monster, not to be hideous, not to be demonic- but to be a human; to fit in.
Thus, he disguised himself as a human, and retreated to a village far away from his prosecutors.

A blizzard raged on. Ivan waddled through the snow, protected from the chill only by a black cloak and a scarf. He needed food, he needed shelter.
Thus, he travelled from door to door, asking if someone, anyone, could give him sanctuary; a place to stay.
All rejected him.

He reached the final house of the village and knocked on the door. It was so cold.... He had to be allowed in! He hadn't eaten in days! He promised himself he wouldn't kill his host! Perhaps this time he wouldn't narrowly escape death. Perhaps in this town he could finally be normal, like everyone else.

Gilbert Beilschmidt was preparing his dinner when he heard the knock. Red eyes narrowed, who would be here at this time of night!? He sighed and whipped his hand off on a towel. "ONE SECOND!" He yelled and tossed the towel into the sink before heading to the door. He wrenched the heavey door open "Ja?-" he paused and looked up... way up. Gott this man could be a giant if he wanted to be... He shook off an uneasiness that also seemed to have hit him as soon as he opened the door and raised a questioning eyebrow. "Guten tag how can i help you stranger?" He asked. He looked like was cold and could use a good meal but then again who didn't? Times weren't tough per say but the certainly weren't easy... Especially for him he wasn't shunned... But he wasn't liked, people tended to avoid him and where they might have helped other he was left alone. Butvit had made him stronger and he barely noticed anymore. He was proud of who he was white hair, red eyes and all.

He felt bad for being so tall.... Just one more setback to being him.... Ivan swallowed, trying to remember how to speak properly. "Good evening to you, sir!" he bowed "It is cold and I am hungry. I need a place to live. Will you please allow for me to live here with you?" he asked calmly with a thick accent.

"..." He was pretty sure his mouth was gapeing a little... Who just asks to come and live with people!? And who says yes to people they dont know!? He felt bad yes but hed be an idiot to say yes. And he was not an idiot. "Im very sorry but i dont know you and i wish there was something i could do but i cant..." If the man had caught him at a better time he would have offered some food and maybe a room for the night, but he didnt have to much to spare at the moment and his brother had just moved out and he waant sure how comfortable he was with having a random stranger in his old room while he was sleeping.... Especially when he was so much bigger then him... He didnt have a death wish....

Ivan's eyes dropped. He clasped his hands together, pleading. "Please, sir, I have nowhere else to go! Won't you please allow me to stay with you?! No one else will!" he begged. He wasn't going to give up so easily, especially when this was his last chance!

He didnt blame them.... He looked to the side looking uncertain. "I cant, im very sorry sir. If you wait till tomorrow morning im sure you can get a job or something and have your own place but i really cant im sorry". He tried to give the guy a way to make it out of whatever hole he was in. He however wasn't risking his skin to some random guy off the streets, he could be a psychopath! He started to close the door looking apologetic. He wished he could do more without putting himself at risk

Ivan sighed and bit his lip. "I guess we have to do this the hard way." he growled to himself.

He extended a hand, stopping the door, and stared into Gilbert's eyes. His violet eyes began to glow a deep purple, and the white around them faded to the black they truly were, not the white he had used to conceal his identity. He had Gilbert entranced; he could make him do anything he wanted. "You will let me stay with you." he commanded.

"I said no" he growled when the strange man stopped him from closing the door. His body language changed from apologetic to defensive in moments. His eyes widdened slightly when the whites if the mans eyes began to disappear "what tte f-" his eyes hazed over and he became entranced by the others gaze...

"You can stay, cmon in" he open the door and stepped aside. His actions were almost robotic and they were stiff and uniform.

Ivan smirked to himself, and his eyes returned to normal. "Thank you, good sir." he bowed as he sauntered on in. "Nice place you have here......" he marveled. "Where are my quarters?"

"Thank you sir. The only free room is the one my brother used to have. It is free now, it's upstairs first door to your left" he said in a monotone he eyes staring straight ahead. He pointed to the stairs

Ivan nodded. "Thank you." he said. "No need to follow my orders so strictly; simply allow for me to live here for as long as I wish" he commanded. He didn't want to completely strip the man of his humanity just so he could freeload. Perhaps they could become friends. After all, that was all he wanted: a place to live and be welcomed. "What are you cooking?" he asked.

He shook his head a little, fuck where did this headache come from!? He looked up and saw the strange man... he had... invited him to stay... odd it was unlike him not that he could take it back now.

Wait the man asked a question... "come again?" He asked unsure of what he had said

Ivan smiled, noting that the man was back to himself, yet his control still lingered. "I asked what you are cooking. I noticed you are."

"Oh uh some wrust..." he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Ill go finish making it..." he left for the kitchen quickly... somthing about the man made him uncomfortable....

Ivan smiled and nodded, then walked off to his quarters. He sighed upon entrance. His host seemed quite uncomfortable around him.... Was he really that intimidating? After all, he looked like a human, not his true, demonic self. He sat on the bed, slouching over, putting is chin in his palm. He considered a plan, then returned downstairs.

He crept into the kitchen and watched Gilbert cook in silence, lurking in the corner. He honestly considered killing the man and taking the house for himself.... No, he couldn't... he'd be framed as a murderer, and he'd be driven out of the village.... again.....

He got out some extra wrust, the portions wernt big but he wanted to be able to eat tomorrow as well so they were as good as they were going to get. As he cooked his mind drifted to his guest... who was this guy? Did he mean harm? He hoped not. Even if hed never admit it the guy was way bigger then him and if he wanted to hurt him, there was little Gilbert could do to save himself

Ivan licked his lips. Guess he couldn't kill the man. Ah, well. He might as well try to act friendly to his host, right? "I never asked, what is your name?" he asked, suddenly emerging from the corner.

He jumped, when did he get there!? "Gilbert Bielschmidt, what about you?" He asked focusing on the food

Ivan swallowed. "My name is Ivan Braginski." he smiled. He looked over Gilbert's shoulder, licking his lips. "The food looks good...." he thought aloud.

He smiled "it is. Wrust is a bit of a family thing, we make the best!" He gloated "itll be done soon and you can see for yourself" he smiled

Ivan smiled. He was so hungry.... and he'd finally have some food... "Where is your brother, anyways?" he asked, curious

"Little west moved out... its hard and i miss him but i know he'll do well. Hes a hard worker. Im proud of him." He finished up the wurst and put it on a plate "its done"

Ivan nodded and went to the table.
He was glad he was able to make conversation with someone... He never had. Everyone was always too afraid of him and thought he'd kill them. He didn't always kill those he was in contact with!

He grabbed some silverware another plate and followed after him. He sat down and handed ivan the plate, giving him his half the fiid. "So Ivan do you have any siblings?" He asked as he began to eat

"Mm, I have two sisters. They both live...." he paused "far away" he said as he put some wurst into his mouth. The food wasn't much, but it was good. Food was food, so he might as well be grateful. What he said wasn't technically a lie.