Those dark eyes were narrowed dangerously, but mostly he was aiming. It didn't look like he was aiming as he just held that feather between two finger tips, but he was ready to throw it at a moment's notice and if he could get the timing right maybe hit the vampire somewhere vital if it moved with it's incredible speed. He grit his teeth as the vampire spoke, oh Aris would have loved to throw all the reasons a vampire should be hated in that man's face. If only he could speak. It was funny, the vampire calling Aris the threat when it was the vampire that was the biggest threat to everyone and everything.

Aris was a monster, like all monsters, he had been created to fight the vampires, but that had nothing to do with his profound hatred of them. True Aris took his duty to protect humans from vampires to an extreme, and it was only fueled even more so by the hatred from having suffered so horribly at the hands of the blood suckers. None of them could be trusted, even this one. Pretending like it didn't understand why Aris would be so hostile towards it. It should have been obvious, the other was a vampire, and Aris wasn't. Aris was fighting for the humans. True a lot of the other monsters had defected, a lot of them were just as bad as the vampires and Aris would protect the humans from them as well. For now though vampires were the first and foremost of the threat.

His lips parted. Moved as if he were speaking, but no sound tumbled between his lips from his throat. No sound at all. He hadn't even cried out when the vampire had bitten him so painfully earlier. Those lips shut, pressed in a thin, tight line. His body tense.

Jules was standing, protected as always, by Aris. The vampire's words, as usual, were making Jules second guess things. Like her wavering dislike for him. It was true that Aris had only ever been incredibly hostile towards him. But the vampire was certainly more than arrogant. Still, that wasn't a reason to try and kill him.

She overlooked the vampire's demand of Aris to tell him why he hated him. Though she wondered herself, he couldn't speak. She'd have told the vampire, but he'd figure it out, or she could confirm it later. It wasn't something she felt comfortable just yelling out. She'd learned by now that it bothered Aris greatly, and she didn't assume, from what she knew of him so far, that he'd feel he owed the vampire any explanation at all.

Aris looked dangerous. So did the vampire. Yet, the pure hatred was only so visible in Aris' eyes. Not the vampire's. Though she couldn't make sense of why, it really was Aris who was being hostile, and who seemed to filled with rage and hatred. It made her sad to realize that.

She positioned herself to be in front of Aris, facing him. "He hasn't done anything, really," she said. Aside from doing the vampire thing, but who could blame him for being what he was? It was like blaming a dog for barking because it has a bark. Besides, her mind always brought her back to the fact that he hadn't always been a vampire.

Perhaps he'd had a family, a happy life, love. Perhaps he'd suffered great losses and endured great pain, just like Aris had. She'd looked down and was shaking her head. "It's not right," she finally mumbled before looking up at Aris. It may have seemed overly cliche, but she asked anyway, "Can't you just try to get along? Give each other a chance..."

Jules was your typical dreamer. Always dreaming of better days with the positivity that they were just around the corner. Always finding good in people and making excuses for them. Just like she was for Aris, and the vampire both. Just like she had for everyone and everything she'd met and would meet.

"You know I think I have a solution to our problem here!" The voice was high, definitely female, and filled with what could only be called mild frustration. If mild was defined as 'I went the wrong way I am so pissed right now nobody touch me.' "No one tries to kill anyone and I don't blow any of your heads off!" The last statement was punctuated by a soft, almost mechanical whine.

Dahlia O'Connor's face did not look happy. At all. In fact she looked two-parts annoyed and pissed to high hell. Her coat was gone, a half buttoned up shirt replacing her old one. She had been trying to get new clothes when the yelling had hit her ears. Her old ones got stiff and hard to move in and it was either ignore the yelling or come yell at them as well. The latter seemed to be the less annoying.

Her Steed whined in her hand, her finger on the trigger as she charged her shot, glaring between both the Angel from earlier and a man she hadn't seen before. There were also more off to the side she didn't see before but they weren't doing anything really. The Lamb was standing between Angel and....Skippy. Ok it wasn't the best but she wasn't going to call him 'man.' That's just rude.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Levi continued to watch Lex, keeping track of every sluggish movement. He turned his own attention to the stand off at his side, jaw clenching as he saw the slaver on his feet. And a woman in the doorway with...a metal thing? He didn't know but she wasn't looking at him so....maybe she wouldn't point it at them? It was making a whining noise and he didn't like it.

He returned his attention to Lex, twitching when he saw him mouth at the bottle desperately. So the thin teen moved it, placing the lip against Lex's lips and tilting it slightly, letting the water dribble in. Not too much at once. Not yet.

((I missed her so much I had to bring her back I am so sorry.))

(( Don't apologize, Cupcake. She's your character, and it's fine for you to do what you want with her and miss her. Plus I think we kind of need someone to go between Aris and Shawn now that Mtumishi is out of the way to make sure they don't kill each other. xD
I hope you guys weren't waiting on me, but I had some school stuff to do last night, sorry.
And... Skippy? Really? xD))

Shawn frowned as the Garuda looked like it was about to speak, made no sound, and then shut its mouth again. Could it not speak? Or was it just going to pull a stoic "I'm right and I don't need to defend myself to you"?

He curled his lip, baring his teeth as he met the Garuda's narrowed eyes, his own eyes cold and hostile but without hatred. The angel was a threat, like a rabid dog or the android, and would be dealt with accordingly. Sure, he enjoyed killing--knowing he had power over another's life or death--but since the girl seemed to be attached to him Shawn would be content letting him live--if he wasn't a threat.

He opened his mouth to throw another verbal barb at the Garuda when the girl moved in front of the angel, between the two foes. And she was... defending him? That's new. He didn't let his surprise show on his face, though, as he listened. Of course. She wants us to get along. How nice.

He was about to move towards the girl, moving to sheathe one of his swords--the damaged one--when a loud, pissed female voice drew his attention to the door. A Rider cocked her gun at them. "No one tries to kill anyone and I don't blow any of your heads off!"

He narrowed his eyes at the Rider for a moment before returning them to the Garuda. "I'm not sure why you care, Rider, but I'm fine as long as I'm fed and this Garuda doesn't try to attack me every chance he gets."

He sheathed one of his swords, hefting the one that Aris had previously used in his right hand as he stepped behind Julia and put his left hand on her shoulder gently. He had multiple reasons for this--figuring the girl would work as a sort of shield from the angel, as well as the fact that the Rider hopefully wouldn't want to risk blowing multiple heads off--though she sounded pissed enough to not care who she killed right now. That and the fact that he thought it might toy with Julia's emotions a little. Human females were so... fun to play with.

"I'll call a truce if he will," he said softly from behind Julia, lifting his chin towards the Garuda.

Aris was watching Shawn intently, taking in every minute movement. Reading the body language as best he could to defend for an attack. Vampires were so fast, Aris had to be very careful. Not just for his sake but for Jules' as well. Then a familiar voice cut through the air and he jerked his head to look. The Rider. She had come back. Though she seemed angry, and ready to blow them all up. Aris made a slight face, and then his attention went to Jules. She was in front of him now trying to defend the vampire. But why? She should understand as well as he did how dangerous and untrustworthy vampires were. They were worse than rabid dogs. All Aris was doing was protecting.

He moved a hand, about to reach for her, when the vampire moved forward and put his hand on her shoulder. That hatred and anger flared up brilliantly in Aris dark eyes. They burned so hot with the emotion. That filthy vampire, he was probably going to try to eat Jules. Bite her and drain her of her blood. Aris couldn't, he wouldn't let that happen. Let the rider shoot them, it didn't matter as long as the vampire died and the human stayed alive. Even if Aris died as well. A truce, the unstrustworthy vampire said, while it had it's filthy hand on Jules. Aris' body tensed and he moved as fast as he could.

He reached out and grasped Jules arm and pulled her towards him. Away from the vampire. He clutched her protectively against his torso, turning his back to the vampire for an instant. He let go of Julia and turned to face the vampire again. With his body between the bloodsucker and human. He threw that feather with pinpoint accuracy it struck the floor right at the vampire's feet. The tip of the feather sticking into the floor almost effortlessly. His feathers were dangerous. It was just a warning though, for the other to stay away from Jules.

Aris needed to figure out a way to get his sword back.

((It was either Skippy or Radical Larry. But I didn't think Shawn would appreciate the latter very much, ya know?))

Dahlia watched them closely, steadily moving the muzzle of her Steed between the two of them slowly and periodically. It whined softly, prepared to fire and burn whatever it fired upon. She twitched visibly when the stranger spoke, red filmed eyes focusing on him. She didn't answer, simply watching him coldly for a few moments

Skippy had moved though, sliding behind the Lamb and using her as an impromptu shield. Kind of stupid really. Flesh didn't stand up well to energy fire well. In fact it was the worst shield he could ask for if he was trying to evade her. But when the Angel moved it was obvious to Dahlia Skippy wasn't trying avoid her. Her annoyed expression soon grew into a sneer before sprouting into a full blown snarl at the Garuda's behavior, not very pleased with the obvious threat display.

But she didn't say anything. No instead she moved, aiming the Steed before firing it with the loud screech of energy. The red-hot shot seared itself into the old linoleum between the Angel and Skippy, an obvious scorch and some melting riddling the floor's new wound.

"Not try to kill each other means threats too!" she hissed,stopping far enough away that her shot would be effective. Skippy had two swords. She wasn't dealing with that up close if these two became hostile. "Now how about we sit down and talk about this like adults? Can we do that?"

((It's great cupcake! I was just thinking that you and Bee should get your other charries back into the game! ))

There was a new voice, not a new voice, a familiar voice. Jules turned her head to look. It was the ripper... That woman was dangerous. Jules had walked in to a place just yesterday to see the ripper, blood covered, with a tavern full of dead humans. She'd explained that she'd done it because she cared.

Now she stood there, pointing her weapon at them. It made Jules a little uneasy. She'd seen that thing in action against the wolves. She remembered the smell of disintegrating flesh all too well. She liked her flesh where it was.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned a slight bit to look, at who she assumed would be the vampire. Yes, he was happy with a truce! She returned her attention to Aris with a hopeful look. But before she could say anything, he was pulling her away so quickly, placing himself between her and the vampire, throwing that feather.

Jules was disappointed. She'd thought so highly of Aris. She still did. But the vampire wanted to truce, yet, angry and full of hate Aris, still didn't want to. The ripper was saying something angrily now, and then Jules could hear the familiar screech of that steed which caused her to lunge forward, wanting to stop Aris from being disintegrated.

Really, it would have been an awful idea if the ripper had been aiming at Aris. He still would have been disintegrated. She just would have gone with him. She hadn't thought that through, it had merely been a reaction. Aris still needed time here to grow, and let go of his hatred. Jules wanted to help him.

There was a wound in the floor now, between the vampire and Aris. Jules peeked around Aris at it and then looked at the ripper. She nodded. She thought the ripper had a good idea. Although, Aris couldn't talk, literally. A small light bulb flickered in Julia's brain. Did Aris have such immense hate for this vampire, because vampires had been the cause of the injuries that stole his voice and wing?

It would make sense. But Jules wasn't sure how to ask. And she didn't want to just ask in front of everyone to be told she was wrong. What an accusation on the vampire kind to be wrong. Not that vampires weren't bad. But they weren't all bad. No, Jules didn't believe that. She wouldn't condemn and entire race for the actions of some.

She moved to stand more beside Aris, gently holding onto his arm. "Aris," she began softly, "Can't you just call a truce, and give him a chance?" She looked over at the vampire and back to Aris. "Then if he does something awful," she looked at the vampire, "like biting you without permission," Aris had clearly hated that, "then you can hate him again."

Probably he would say no. "We can all work together for the bigger picture." She was staring up at him with big blue doe eyes. Jules wasn't exactly sure what the bigger picture even was yet. But she was hopeful that things were going to change, and the world would lose its evil sooner than later. She wanted to help. And she'd start with Aris, helping rid him of his hate of, something... somehow.

Aris didn't move, as if he had known the rider wasn't going to shoot them. He had no way of knowing though, but flinching, jumping back would have shown weakness and fear. That was not something to show in front of a vampire. Aris didn't understand why no one else couldn't seem realize just how dangerous, how threatening a vampire was. How horrible they were. It didn't make sense to him, especially for a human to try and defend a vampire, to try to make peace with one. It was ridiculous. His wing twitched in agitation, it was still a bit sore from earlier, and Aris was becoming painfully aware of the ache in his body from the bruises across his abdomen.

He couldn't afford to think of that now though, and those bruises should heal quickly enough. The soreness might last a bit longer than he wanted. His eyes narrowed at the rider when she spoke again. It hadn't been a threat, it had clearly been a warning. If it had been a threat Aris feather would have stuck in the vampire's foot or leg, or arm. His whole body twitched slightly when the rider said they should talk it out like adults. There was nothing to talk about really, but Aris couldn't even if he had wanted to. The garuda did want to tell Julia though, then perhaps she would understand how terrible vampires truly were.

Then Jules was beside him, holding to his arm. When he looked at her his expression of hatred and anger softened considerably, but he shook his head. It was hard to resist those big blue eyes of hers, but it was for her own safety. Vampires didn't deserve chances, there was no doubt in Aris mind that the vampire would only betray any chance he'd been given.

No, the bigger picture, in Aris mind, did not include vampires or even other monsters. In Aris mind the bigger picture was only humans. Humans were who the world belonged to, yet vampires acted as if it were there own and humans were cattle while everything else was just something to torture and cruelly play with.

Aris grit his teeth, his body tensing again. He had to get Jules and the other human away from these vampires. He glanced towards the fledgling and injured human, almost expecting to see the worst, but for now everything seemed alright. There was no telling how long that would last at all. He had to get them out of here. Away from the vampires.

The Garuda hated that he was touching Julia. Shawn saw that in the flare of hatred in his eyes, in the tensing of his body. He hadn't been entirely expecting the Garuda to jerk Julia away from him, but he wasn't surprised as he did, wrapping his arms around her and moving her behind him.

Then that feather appeared directly in front of him, the point sticking in the floor. Shawn glanced down at it for a moment, then looked up at the Garuda, his eyes narrowing. So those feathers are something to watch out for. But you've revealed part of your hand. You would have had a better chance of killing me if you hadn't let me know.

He was about to open his mouth to make some biting comment about "possessive much?" when the loud screech of the Steed rang out and he threw himself backwards, not sure what she was aiming at but wanting to get out of the blast area. The agile vampire landed on his feet and looked at the Rider warily as she began to speak. She wanted to just talk it out "like adults."

"Good luck. This one--" he jerked his head at the Garuda "--won't say a word to me."
But Julia was trying. She was pleading with Aris like she'd pleaded with him before, asking for "a chance" for him so they could "work together for the bigger picture". What bigger picture?--but he bit his tongue.

The Garuda looked over at Levi and the one-handed man, frowning, tensing, as his body lost the relative lack of tension it had had when he looked at Julia. Shawn shook his head and started moving over towards the fledgeling and the human, not turning his back to the Garuda. "That's it. You know what, there isn't anything to talk about. I spare your life, Garuda, after you tried to kill me and you're not willing to even call a truce. Levi, we're leaving. Julia, you're welcome to come with us if you want to travel with someone a bit more reasonable and less possessive. He acts like he owns you, you know."

Levi was lifting a bottle of water to the man's lips. Shawn sighed and frowned, wanting to just jerk the fledgeling away but knowing it wouldn't make a good impression on the girl or the Rider--probably wouldn't endear him to the kid, either. He crossed his arms as he stood near the pair, but kept his eyes on the Garuda with occasional glances toward the Rider. "Make it quick." His tone was brusque as he talked to the pair, adding as an afterthought due to the man's condition, "If you can."

Water flowed down his throat at a sluggish pace but each time he raised his head higher to get more it was lifted away from him. He wanted to whine, to tell Levi that he wanted more and he wanted it faster, but he didn't. He kept quiet, slowly drinking the water that was given to him and thankful that he even got that much.

More movement in his periphery and more yelling - he could make out the words now, everything no longer jumbled into one loud mass of sound. It was a woman he'd never heard before shouting at them. Well, not him and Levi specifically, it was actually directed more towards Shawn and Aris. There was an odd undercurrent of noise, almost like the hum of a machine, but that wasn't possible. In this room there didn't seem to be anything, any piece of technology that would give off that hum.

Lex jerked, tensing, eyes wide and flicking around when the soft mechanical noise rose to an ear-piercing screech before there was a flash of light and what, to him, seemed like a miniature explosion. But Levi didn't rush away, and there wasn't anymore shouting coming from where he thought the others were. Until the unknown woman spoke, calmly this time, followed by Jules and then the leech. He relaxed minutely as the threat of another attack like that didn't seem to be in the near future - in fact it seemed as though the new woman wanted the others to stop fight so that was good with him.

Shawn. Who spoke, and then immediately after there was footsteps before the vampire moved into his field of vision.

Make it quick, as if this were a goddamned race. Though he must be feeling the pressure now, everyone wanting him gone.

But why did he come over here in the first place instead of just leaving...

His eyes flicked up to Levi before returning to the bloodsucker.

He wants to take the kid with him.

Lex wanted to protest but found that the words just wouldn't leave him. They built up in his chest but found no release - and it's not as if he wanted Levi to go. He wanted the kid to stay close so that he could protect him, keep him safe, but at the same time the dull, dilated eyes flashed within his skull and he found himself hesitating. So he kept quiet.

He had a feeling that even if they were to part ways, they'd be meeting soon in the future anyway.

Dahlia looked between the two of them, snorting slightly at Skippy's tension at her shot. But that passed when he spoke and she let out a slight groan, looking to the Angel with an equally annoyed glance. He didn't look happy, glancing to the side at...oh yeah weren't there more people here?

She turned, eyeing what looked like an emaciated kid with too many scars feed water into some near unconscious man's throat. Where the hell did they find those two? Wherever they did the kid seemed to be with Skippy. The guy was walking toward him and the kid reacted to the word 'Levi.'

"Really? That's it? You're just gonna sit there and glare and just let Skippy go? No attempt to make nice at all?" she finally chirped, looking back at the Angel and the Lamb before going back to Skippy. "You're both a couple of two-year-olds..."

She lifted her Steed, leaning it comfortably against her shoulder with the muzzle aimed at the ceiling. But it was still cocked, humming quietly against her shoulder, her eyes still filmed over and red. She would fire if there was violence. And she wouldn't care at all who it was who go hit.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Levi tilted it the more Lex drank, not letting in too much at once. He'd get sick or choke. Especially with how shallow he had been breathing earlier. He didn't want Lex to choke and die.

There was a loud screech and he tensed, jerking the bottle slightly as his fingers clenched and his wrist locked. The smell of something burning hit his nose but he didn't look up, only relaxing (or as much as he could) when the unfamiliar voice spoke. He went back to steadily feeding Lex what water was left.

And there wasn't much left. Or any really. It'd all be gone in a few seconds. He twitched when he heard Shawn's voice. Saying his name. The vampire wanted to leave and take him with. He opened his mouth, as if to say no. But he didn't. He couldn't. His voice refused to work and he closed his mouth again. Something deep in his gut told him he had to stay with him, had to go no matter what.

His jaw clenched and he looked down at Lex, visibly torn between instinct and his fractured reasoning. He didn't want to leave, knew it wasn't smart to, but a part of him deep inside told him to. Told him to get up and follow Shawn because it was the best and safest choice. He doubted it heavily, but he already knew that when Lex was done with the water he'd get up and follow. Like he had no real choice at all here.

The vampire was walking away. What a relief. There wouldn't be a fight then right? Jules couldn't be sure. Aris did seem rather unpredictable, in a predictable kind of way. The vampire was inviting her along, saying Aris was acting like he owned her. The comment made her frown.

No he wasn't! Was he? No, he was being protective. That's what friends do. They protect each other. And they don't give up on each other either. Jules wouldn't leave Aris, not in this angry bitter state he was clearly in. No. He hadn't abandoned her. Not when she needed his help, and not even when she'd acted like she hated him to get him to leave her. Well she wasn't about to abandon him either.

Was she making the right decision? She felt sort of, torn. She wanted to help Aris. But could he be helped? Either way, she couldn't imagine that she'd be unsafe with him. Traveling with the vampire, she wouldn't know what to expect. Her safety? She was doubtful.

He was standing by the kid now, hurrying him along. Levi didn't seem to Jules like he'd just leave Lex behind. He was caring for him, like a friend. And once again, friends didn't abandon friends. Well, maybe they were more likely to in these times...

She crossed the space again and dropped down on her knees beside Lex, sitting on her feet as she felt Lex's cheeks and forehead. Wait, what if they'd planned on taking Lex, and feeding off of him or something? He'd die for sure. She looked back at Aris with a pleading look that asked him not to let them take Lex, though she didn't want to really ask Aris to put himself in another bad position.

Not sure what was going through the kid's head, Jules tried doing some reasoning anyway. "Don't take him Levi," she started. "We can take care of him, he'll be okay." She was assessing Levi's body language. He really didn't seem like any vampire she'd ever heard of. And he wasn't like the older vampire beside them. She wasn't even sure he'd want to go. Maybe that's what that look was he had.

"You don't have to go either," she said, not caring what the other vampire had to say about it. He wasn't everyone's boss, he wasn't their ruler. Jules was suddenly in save the world mode. She could help them all, and damnit she would. "I think Lex needs you you know?" But if they stayed then what would they eat? Aris clearly wasn't a fan of vampires, and little did Jules know, the ripper had nearly killed a vampire earlier with her blood, or whatever it was.

But if they left, they couldn't take Lex. She wouldn't let them. Hopefully Aris wouldn't let them. And the ripper? She wasn't on a side, was she? But then what? Levi would be left to the devices of the other vampire, who had turned him into this. She looked over her shoulder at Aris before making her next statement, hoping he'd be with her on this.

"We can help you. You don't have to be like other vampires. You don't have to hurt anyone." She was sure Aris could be on board with this, right? Maybe vampires were like, dogs in a way. If you got one as a puppy, you could train it to be a good boy. It made sense to her anyway. "I'll feed you," she finally added. And she was sure Lex would, too, when he was better.

Aris wouldn't let the kid kill her. She'd seen him pull the kid off of Lex, he could do it again. It would be easy peasy. Then Levi could keep his friendship, build new ones, and not become a monster, all at the same time. It made perfect sense to Jules. And she was helping the world already. Light blue eyes watched him hopefully, expectantly, wondering what he would do.

The kid twitched, opening and shutting his mouth, and didn't say anything. Shawn wondered if the kid had even heard him. That being said, he didn't think he'd heard the kid speak since he met him. Is he mute or what? Honestly, what is wrong with all these people who never want to use their voices?

Shawn frowned as Levi looked down at Lex. The kid obviously cared for the man. Well, too bad. They were leaving and they weren't taking a human with them who firstly wasn't even neutral towards him and secondly was heavily injured and would only be an inconvenience on the road. Was the guy his father or something? Well, too bad. He wasn't exactly of the same species anymore.

Julia was walking over, kneeling down beside the man and examining him before casting a begging glance back at the Garuda. "Don't take him, Levi." It took him a moment to realize she was talking about the man. She apparently wanted the one-handed man to stay with her--probably with her and the Garuda. It was apparent that she stood on his side, even if she wasn't against Shawn per se.

But now she was telling Levi he didn't have to go, that someone named Lex needed him--most likely the one-handed man; heaven forbid it was the Garuda, though he thought he had heard the girl refer to the angel as "Aris" at one point. She glanced back at the Garuda again. Of course the human wants his backup, weak as he is, against an "evil vampire."

And she was offering to "help" him, make it so that he didn't have to hurt anyone, offering to feed him. She looked at Levi hopefully. Her innocence was endearing, in a certain way, but stupid, and Shawn had had enough.

Scowling, he spoke before the kid or anyone else had had a chance to. "And you think I'd just leave him with you, huh? With people who don't know the slightest thing about vampires, except maybe how to kill them? I'm not leaving my offspring, and I'm not staying with that ingrate Garuda who will most likely try to kill me again--me or the kid, for all I know." Shawn shot a glance at the Garuda, whom he had been keeping in his field of vision. "And sure, he'd be fed--for as long as you're alive. Then what? He gets himself killed afterwards because he expects all humans to be docile and willing like you were? Do you realize just how idiotic that plan is?"

Aris had moved when Jules did, moving to stay close to her as she went to the fledgling and injured man. That hatred still burned furiously in his eyes as he looked over the fledgling and then Shawn. Of course Aris wouldn't let them take the injured human. He would fight them bare-handed if he had to, to keep the human from leaving in their evil clutches. When Jules told the fledgling he didn't have to go, Aris touched her shoulder lightly to get her attention. His body was tense and he shook his head 'no'. Let the vampires go already. He still didn't understand how no one could perceive them as the threat they really were, Jules was either extremely naive or very dumb and Aris didn't like to think of her as dumb.

Then Shawn was talking, and Aris glared at him. He had called Aris an ingrate, but that didn't make any sense at all. How exactly could the garuda be an ingrate when the vampire had never done anything at all for him to be grateful for? That vampire was stupid, and it needed to die anyway. So did the fledgling. So did every vampire that existed, and then every creature. Anything non human was really an enemy, but vampires were the biggest threat. Aris didn't understand at all how no one around him seemed to realize such things, they were obvious things. It was frustrating and just made him want to kill these two vampires even more. He stood there, silent as always, watching and waiting.

He did also really want his sword back.

Levi only twitched when Julia came close, looking away when she began to talk, telling him not to take Lex along. He knew that. He wasn't stupid. Lex would just get killed and it would be his fault. But...he couldn't just leave him. Not with the slaver. How would that be safe?

He opened his mouth to ask that, turning to look at her. He avoided looking at the slaver. He knew what he'd see there.

But he stopped when she spoke again, spoke of him actually staying. Of being safe himself. For a moment he let himself hope.

Then the slaver moved closer and Shawn spoke and he looked away from the girl, whatever hope he had melting away. Part of him took offense at Shawn's words near the end, but he didn't say anything. Don't talk back. Talking back meant more scars on your back and your brand burned back into your skin.

He sat there for a bit, quiet and relatively still. His only movement was his hands, gently touching parts of Lex's face, mostly his cheeks and forehead. The bottle had been drained and had been placed aside at one point. His vision was plastered on his friend's face, memorizing any detail he could see and the ones he could only feel.

Levi had to go. Shawn would not be satisfied unless he went. And himself, despite his reluctance to leave his friend alone like this-- she could be lying--, he had no choice. He wasn't going to die here. Not like this. Not to the winged creature. And he certainly wasn't going to take Lex and get him killed. No. He couldn't do that.

He was silent as he moved, gently slipping his friend's head off his legs and onto the ground. Slowly and carefully. He stood then, eyes downcast and his whole posture downtrodden and resigned.

Jules had come closer, following Shawn, with Aris not even two steps behind her. He watched as she dropped to her knees, voice twisted into a mixed expression. Hands touched his face, lingering on his forehead, and he was reminded suddenly of a mother caring after a sick child.

She spoke directly to Levi, at first not as if he were a vampire but as though he were a lost boy. Lex himself was referred to in the third person, and it bothered him just a little to be used as a bargaining piece for the kid's decision to either stay with them or to follow his new kin.

It was Shawn's turn for a speech and he found himself actually agreeing with what the sponge was saying. He wanted to shake his head to clear it from his head but he knew if he jerked from side to side his vision would spin and he may be hit with a case of vertigo. Instead he shifted his gaze back up to the skinny teen, locking eyes with the other before briefly fluttering shut as the other brushed his fingers against his cheek and forehead, reminiscent of Jules' touch just moments before. It felt nice, soothing, but it was over far too quickly and Lex took it for what he knew it was.

Levi was leaving.

He looked once more at the kid who had so quickly become his friend, who had become someone he wanted to protect, someone who he had failed in the highest degree. Even as the teen gently and with the utmost care placed his head from the cushion of his knees to the ground he kept looking, watching as his posture grew heavy with the weight of the decision he was making.

They would meet again, Lex was sure of it. He didn't know when, or where, but he knew their paths would cross once more.

((Sorry everyone, the last of our family left today. Things should be back to normal until the funeral. *sigh* It's been a long roller coaster of a last few days.))

Jules stood and narrowed her eyes. Not on purpose, to seem intimidating. That was probably the last thing Jules could ever be. But she did it because she was angry. The vampire thought he could just take Levi? "He's not your property!" she said, "And I have no intention of dying any time soon. Even if I did, Lex, his real friend, would feed him!"

She hoped she wasn't just assuming that of Lex. But they were friends after all, right? She was still angry. Her plan wasn't idiotic. She was pouting mentally. It was a great idea. They could give Levi love and friendship. What could ever possibly beat that? Love was all the world needed to get out of this awful state it was in. All it had currently, was hate. She thought of Aris and his hatred and sighed.

Levi stood, too. "You're going then?" she was angry again. "Fine, abandon your friend. Go off and follow... whoever the hell you even are," she said looking at the other vampire before back to Levi. "Go off and become an arrogant ass just like him. Maybe you'll get lucky and his immense knowledge of the world and everything in it will rub off on you." She was done. Annoyed, angry, defeated.

She knelt beside Lex again. The one handed man would be fine, physically anyway. "Lex?" she asked. "How do you feel?" She'd noticed that he'd finished the water at least and hoped he was well enough to travel. If they left now, they could make it to the deserted part of the big city, on the closest side of the river, before nightfall.

The Garuda had moved, staying close to the girl, tense, as if he were on edge, ready to attack or defend at any moment. He shook his head as Julia suggested that Levi stay. So that's at least one thing we agree upon.

He ignored the Garuda's glares. He hated Shawn. That wouldn't change, and Shawn had made it clear that he was done, finished with it all: with this naive, idiotic girl, with the overly protective and hate-filled Garuda, with the one-handed weakling who had tried and failed to keep him away from Levi. Let them be one big, happy family among themselves and I will take care of the kid. He will be strong and fast and deadly by the time I'm done with him, no longer a sickly, scrawny, sorry piece of flesh.

Levi had finished giving the one-handed man the water, but her just sat there for a moment, tense, looking down at the man's head in his lap. His hands wandered over the other man's face in a gentle caress. Shawn waited unusually patiently, observing. Apparently the man really means something to him. After several moments, he stood up, but his entire body--his slumped shoulders and hanging head--screamed dejection.
Well, it was for the best. The sooner he learns not to let emotions affect him, not to get close to anyone, the better.

The girl stood up, narrowing her eyes, her tone of voice obviously out of sorts. He wanted to laugh at the picture she made. She was helpless, bitter, pettily lashing out, and he found it amusing to see her emotional anguish--however he didn't let this show, knowing it would only infuriate her more. She was ranting, about how the kid wasn't his property and his friends would feed him, then lashing out at the kid for "abandoning his friend" for "whoever the hell Shawn even was" to become an "arrogant ass" like she thought he was.

Shawn bared his teeth, showing his broken and jagged fangs. She crouched down to examine the one-handed man, calling him Lex, and ask him how he felt. Shawn didn't pay attention to whether or not the man answered and didn't care. He courched down beside the girl and was focused on Julia, continuing to glance up at Levi and keeping the Garuda in his range of vision at all times. His voice was loud enough so the others could hear, partially a hiss as he spoke. "Again you show just how little you know about vampires. Do you think you or--Lex--will live for several centuries? Vampires can live for that long and more, and I fully intend to help Levi be able to reach that age. It would be irresposible of me to leave him alone with people so shortsighted and ignorant of what he is. So, we have to stay together. Now, we can either bring this Lex along or not. Caring for him will slow us down and make it more difficult to hunt enough--which means there might come a time when we'd be tempted to feed off of him again. Do you think that would do him any good right now? If you wanted to come with us and watch over him yourself so that he was safe and he and Levi can stay together, that may be an option. I am not sleeping next to this Garuda who tries to kill me every chance he gets, so he is not coming with us. At the worst, both me and Levi die, and Lex is none the better for it. Or I am killed, and Levi is again left alone with people who know little of what he is and how best to help him should something happen to him. Or the Garuda dies, which I'm sure you don't want to happen, either."

He stood up again, his tone of voice slightly mocking. "So, tell me, how do we best solve this dilemma in your opinion?" He kept Levi in mind, knowing the kid might be happier and more cooperative if his friend came along. This Lex might give him some leverage with the boy; Shawn would just have to keep him away from a sword once he was healed, which meant he wouldn't be able to sleep. The Garuda would probably follow if the girl came with him, since he seemed to have some sort of obsession with keeping the girl away from Shawn, which meant Shawn wouldn't be able to sleep either way if he took the two humans along. He suppressed a sigh, almost regretting making the suggestion that the two humans come with them.
"Oh, and you can call me Shawn," he added as an afterthought.

Jules was watching the vampire again. Angry at first, that he'd continued talking, but then thoughtful. No... neither she nor Lex could possibly live for centuries. And, she couldn't speak for the others, especially Aris since she didn't know what he'd been through. But she really was ignorant to the vampire kind. She'd been lucky enough to have avoided them almost entirely, only seeing very few from afar, once in a refugee camp. If she'd ever met one in the past, she was unaware.

All she knew of vampires were things she'd overheard. A lot of the things were probably myth. He'd continued talking, and everything he'd said had made sense. Though, she wouldn't leave Aris behind. Really, the decision would ultimately be up to Lex. If he wanted to go, she would go, too. He was asking her how she thought to solve the problem, half mockingly. She tried to ignore it.

How could she solve the problem, that Shawn had ultimately caused in the first place? She sighed. She couldn't. She wouldn't live for centuries, she couldn't save everyone, she couldn't fix or solve anything. She hung her head. The vampire was right again.

She looked up at him for a long moment as he stood there in all of his... smugness. Yeah, that's what that was wasn't it? She wondered what it must be like, to be able to be so confident in everything. To be so strong, with centuries of knowledge stored away. What it must be like to be able to do almost anything. She wanted that. If she had that kind of power, surely she could make a positive difference.

But could she really go through with becoming a creature of the night? The thought of drinking blood was repulsive. And one look at Levi reminded her of what she would be, before she could be anything like Shawn. Maybe she couldn't do it. And what if they left, and there wasn't another vampire to turn her. Or what if another vampire didn't want to turn her, but killed her instead.

As it stood, Shawn had offered to take Lex and herself along. He didn't seem to be a threat to her. Really, she was probably safest with Shawn than without him. And, if she decided she wanted to be a vampire, she probably stood her best chance convincing Shawn, over another random vampire. Right? Her logic was becoming skewed she figured.

And what of Aris? She wouldn't leave him. And little did she know how much he'd probably hate her if she became a vampire. But she wouldn't be a bad vampire. She wouldn't even be like Shawn, who she figured to be somewhere in the middle. She'd use all of her new advantages to help the human race, or what was left of them. And how many of them were left? Maybe not enough. Maybe the best thing she could do for the human race was reproduce. But she couldn't do that as a vampire...

Jules was torn. She didn't know what she wanted to be and she didn't know what she was going to do. She looked back at Lex. The decision was his. "If you want to go, and look after Levi," she started slowly in a reassuring voice, "I'll go, too." In the back of her mind, she wondered what Aris was thinking. He was probably angry, and she didn't want to look at him because of it. And what of the rider? Would they go too?

Aris had heard enough. Especially when the vampire mentioned dragging the humans off. There was no doubt in Aris' mind that Shawn would kill Jules and Lex without a moment's hesitation. His wing twitched in agitation and he grit his teeth a bit. Aris dropped down to his knees next to Jules' at Lex's side. He didn't wait, he would answer for them. The humans didn't understand the danger. Didn't understand anything apparently, and so he slipped his arms under Lex and lifted the man gently. Aris stood, readjusted his grip and arms around Lex as he held the human protectively against his chest.

He readjusted his grip again, and reached down to grab Jules by the wrist, his grip was firm but gentle and he tugged her up as gently as he could to her feet. Aris didn't let go of her once she was on her feet, he pulled her close and wrapped that arm around her. Protectively. He glared at the vampires, drew his lips back in a silent snarl. Wishing they would just shut the hell up and get out of here already. For all their talk of leaving, they were slow to go, his wing twitched again in irritation. He would not allow the vampires to kidnap these humans, force them to go by using how they felt about Levi against them. Levi was no more, now there was just a vampire. Cold and evil. Cruel and heartless, and Aris would see him destroyed as well.

All vampires must be destroyed.

Levi's downtrodden face became pained when the girl started yelling at him, relatively dead-eyed when the yelling had been at Shawn. He didn't bother looking at her. She'd just have angry eyes narrowed to accusatory slits.

She spoke again soon afterward, though her voice was lower and calmer. She spoke Lex's name and he twitched at that one word, face twisting slightly. But he didn't look. He couldn't look. If he looked he wouldn't be able to go and then he would die. He had felt the winged-man's fingers on his throat once. He'd prefer to never have that happen again.

As quietly as he could, though now silence was pointless he just didn't want to draw any more attention to himself, he moved, stepping back and away. He kept his vision down, moving to a place where Lex wasn't within in his immediate vision.

Then Shawn was speaking again and he turned even further away, tuning out whatever he was saying and focusing on other noises; the steady sound of the building's supports, the soft and ever-present hum of that woman's strange machine.

He didn't even notice when the winged-man had knelt and grabbed his friend, didn't even hear when Julia spoke seconds before. He was no longer listening to anything happening. He had his eyes on the floor, tracing every crack and spot as he drifted away from the small group, listening to the many other noises the mall had to offer. The hum, the creaks, and the sound of his friends' distant whispers. He was going rather slow though, moving near silently on his calloused feet, unaware of his hands constant twitching or how his jaw clenched and released periodically, grinding his teeth together.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Dahlia just watched everything with a growing sense of I-should-have-minded-my-own-damn-business. If she was to be honest she had actually stopped paying attention around when they had started squabbling, taking the time to look around the room.

She only started paying attention when the yelling started and Dahlia's relaxed posture melted away into one of annoyance. But no one was trying to kill each other, as much as it was paining the Angel to do so just look at his shoulders, so she didn't move in. She barely blinked when the Angel scooped up injured man (she really needed to give him a name or learn his or something) and pulled the Lamb up by her wrist.

She groaned in her throat, starting to reach the point where she was going to grab both of them by the ear and make them sit down and talk it out. Well...okay maybe not that she wouldn't let her Steed leave her hands just to get these two to stop being not-so-passive aggressive toward each other. Well particularly the Angel. He was the most aggressive so far. But all she did was move closer, shifting her grip on her weapon slightly.

Was it his choice in the end, was it really? If he went with Levi he would be fed on again, and he would have to constantly defend himself from Shawn. It was extremely likely that he would die, be it by Levi's hand or the other vampire's. If he stayed, though, he would be able to recuperate amongst those who did not wish him dead, unintentionally or otherwise. He would be able to recover - he would only have to live with the guilt of letting the kid go with a vampire, unable to look after him or keep him from turning into a leech like Shawn already was. Unable to make up for what he had done.

Besides it wasn't as if he would be able to keep up with the arduous pace the vampire would set, anyway, and he doubted Shawn would be so kind as to carry him.

Lex didn't voice his decision though, as it seemed as if it were made for him. Aris had made his way over to them, stooping low and face set in an emotion he couldn't quite describe. Exasperation. Agitation. Protectiveness. All those mixed together in a rather complicated facial expression. The angel said nothing though, his body language instead speaking for him. What the winged man did do, however, was lift him up off the ground, adjusting until he was pretty sure the mutant was holding him with just one arm.

He shut his eyes against the sudden spinning of his vision, instead clutching tightly onto the man who could drop him as easily as he had picked him up. Pain flared up for a moment before it receded back into the dull pulse that he had been feeling throughout his body. Pain was good though - it could clear one's mind, but it also was a reminder that one was alive.

Opening his eyes he looked around the room, now that he was able to see more than just the ceiling above him.

The hooded man had been torn apart - though, he supposed, man wasn't exactly the correct word for him. Cyborg? Android? Lex wasn't sure. Across from them, by the door, was a woman he had never seen before. It appeared as though she was the one who had made the miniature explosion from earlier - the weapon she carried seemed like something out of science fiction. Considering the world they lived in though he shouldn't be so surprised. Their reality was pretty much a science fiction novel.

He skimmed past Shawn - no need to linger over him longer than necessary - to land on Levi. The kid was keeping his head down as he slowly turned away, obviously keeping Lex out of his line of sight.

Perhaps this was for the best. Levi would be safer with one who knew of his kind, and even though he wanted nothing more than to rip Shawn's head off his neck with his bare hands he knew that there was no one else who could take care of the supernatural side of the teen.

Would he stay if I asked him to?

He had a feeling he answer would be yes - but could he be so selfish as to endanger these people as well as Levi just because he felt as though he had an obligation to the kid?

Everything he touched ended up ruined anyway. It was for the best - Levi had to go with Shawn. And as soon as they reached the safe haven of a town, he'd split from this group too. He was always better off on his own anyways.

The girl looked at him, and Shawn offered her a genuine if slightly smug cross between a smirk and a smile. He could see the indecision flitting across her wonderfully expressive face before she looked down and put the decision on someone else, telling this Lex that she'd go if he wanted to.

The Garuda didn't like even the possibility of her coming with him. He could see the exasperation and agitation it caused him, and he picked up the other man--That can't be comfortable for him--before grabbing Julia by her wrist and pulling her to him as well, curling his lips in a snarl at him. Shawn just smiled in return. He wanted to laugh. It was fun to see how possessive the Garuda was, how he could provoke him so easily.
The wounded man was holding onto the Garuda, with a sick, faint look on his face. You're no better than I am as far as causing pain goes, so don't pretend you are, Garuda. Then Lex looked at Levi, his expression undecipherable.

He glanced at the kid, who had moved away, surprised to see that he didn't even seem to be listening any more, having turned, and was moving away. The Rider had moved closer, her Steed in her hands again, but she didn't look like she was about to fire. With one last glance back at the Garuda and the two humans in his arms, he said, "You're welcome to join us later once you're out of that Garuda's possessive grip if you want, Julia."
Then he moved forward, with large, quick steps, to catch up with the boy, putting one hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently before letting go again. "You have the right idea," he murmured to the kid. "Let's be on our way."

He walked beside the kid out the door of the shop, ears attuned to the slightest sound of the Garuda readying an attack from behind, and turned down the hall towards the exit to the mall. He kept his voice low as he spoke. "Listen closely for any movement. I don't know if the Garuda is going to try to come after us and kill me again--or you--and I saw two werewolves in here last night. And move quietly, roll your feet off the ground." He glanced down at the kid's bare feet. "You're okay without shoes?"

((Sorry to keep you guys waiting on a somewhat late reply, but Thursdays and Friday mornings are generally busy for me since I have two worksheets I have to turn in at noon on Fridays every week. And college worksheets aren't one- or two-hour affairs, unfortunately.))

(( No worries Rin! :) ))

Aris was picking up Lex, Levi had walked away. So that was that then. Fine. Jules had remained there close to the ground, being angry and defeated. But someone was grabbing onto her, pulling her gently up to her feet. She stood willingly to look at Aris, those eyes still so full of hate as they watched Shawn. But why?

She took her wrist back, so that Aris could use both arms to hold Lex. The vampire was offering for her to join them, calling Aris possessive once again. She didn't know what Aris was being, protective obviously, but it wasn't something that was just because of her. She couldn't figure out what it was. Maybe he was crazy or something.

Either way. Shawn was leaving, and he was taking Levi. Really, in Jules' eyes, it was Aris' fault. He was the one so full of hate that Levi had to go. It was unfair. And they stood a better chance in a small group than individually with two humans, one injured.

Once Levi and Shawn were gone, Jules turned away from the ripper and Aris and Lex. She found her pack and reached inside, pulling out a map. She was angry, at Aris. And she didn't want to talk to him, so she'd address them all. She opened the map and laid it out on the ground.

"We're here, in this town," she said, pointing. "Here," she said, pointing to a bigger area, a city, "we should be able to find a lot more resources. Like food, and antibiotics." She looked at Lex when she said that last part. "Maybe even others, who want this to end, too."

She looked out the nearby window of the storefront. It was early. "If we go now, we should make it by evening. Maybe a little later." She folded the map up again and stuffed it back in her lucky backpack, along with some of the bottles of water and protein bars from the box Aris had brought back. He wouldn't be able to carry it and Lex both.

Jules didn't look at the others again, she was still upset. She was also at a crossroads. She wanted to know what made Aris so, hateful, and she wanted to fix him. But she also had concerns for Lex, his state, and the fact that with those injuries they may not be able to find meds in time.

They would have been able to travel easier with the vampires than without them. Jules sighed and slung the backpack over a shoulder as she moved to the front door of the store, pulling the pin to unlock the double doors that were once automatic. She pushed them open and stepped out of the mall into the morning light.

Her boots crunched over debris left behind over the years and she focused on the sound, rather than letting her thoughts get the best of her. Thoughts of sadness over Levi and Lex losing each other, of anger over Aris' hardheadedness. If no one followed her, fine. You could only help others so much, and she wasn't going to go chasing after anyone. She was too frustrated to care. Though she'd regret it later if they left. She continued forward down the center of the road, headed towards the edge of town.

Levi inhaled sharply as a hand was placed on his shoulder, squeezing. He turned his head, eyeing the fingers before lifting his eyes to the face. Shawn. He closed his eyes and looked away when he spoke. The right idea? It didn't feel like it.

He didn't say anything as Shawn suggested they leave, simply following behind him with his gaze on the floor. He only hesitated once, stopping at the door and looking back. His gaze landed on Lex, lingering there for longer than he wanted. There was the sudden urge to stay and just give up. At least then he wouldn't have to leave the one person he trusted.

He pushed that thought away and left, stepping into the hallway with Shawn, padding his way quietly alongside him. He lifted his head when the other started talking at him, telling him to listen and to walk quieter. He didn't reply, but he did do as he was told. He really was walking louder than normal. The slight scrape of his feet was almost painful to his ears.

He offered his full attention when Shawn spoke more directly, asking him about shoes. He nodded slightly before looking away, glancing at one of his friends as they passed. It whispered at him, apologizing and bidding farewell. They knew he was leaving. "D-....don't need 'em," he whispered, voice hitching slightly. "Never did..."

~~~*~*~*~~~

Dahlia watched the vampire and his fledgling leave, eyeing the doorway for a little while before turning back. She lowered her Steed, the barrel pointing at the floor now as its hum quieted into nothing. No need to keep it cocked. No one was trying to kill each other now.

She drew closer to the Lamb when the young woman pulled out a map, pointing a city as their intended destination. She shook her head slightly, mouth forming a thin line as she thought.

Then the Lamb was standing and leaving through the glass front and Dahlia sighed loudly. She turned to give the Angel a long look before jerking her head in the direction the girl went. "Well, Assface?" she cooed, voice strained and slightly annoyed. Her face twisted in a slight smile at her own immature joke. "You gonna follow your Lamb or what?"

((Yeah Rin. Life comes first. And believe me I know how that school thing goes. Of course mine is less 'fill out a worksheet' and more 'type out a mini essay every week'.))