Eiryk's tone of voice had Alexander stopping for a moment. Then he dismissed the words. They had different ideas of what constituted a burden. Of course, what Eiryk said after that made Alexander feel like a jerk. And that wasn't much of an improvement from 'useless burden.'
"Okay. I'll... take it under advisement," he said, smiling softly at Eiryk. How was he supposed to refuse when it was phrased that way?
He nodded at the idea of crashing someplace - anyplace. It was a shame he'd have to be back early tomorrow morning; Alexander had a feeling he could sleep for the rest of the week.
"I'm intrigued by your philosophy and would like to subscribe to your newsletter," he mumbled as they headed back down the stairs to the ground floor. He was too tired to argue anymore tonight, and he was lucky to have friends willing to pick up the slack when he dropped his end of the rope.
He did as Eiryk recommended, handing over the keys to Aishe and thanking her one last time along with Kem. He might have to nominate them for 'world's nicest couple' if there was an award for that sort of thing. They'd been there for more than two hours now, and they had to be as cold and wet as he was, but they seemed to be in good spirits.
Sadly Eiryk did not forget about bringing him to a doctor, and he dragged Alexander into the closest urgent care clinic between Alex's shop and Liefde. By the time they got out again Alex was numb from one injection, nearly dead on his feet from a painkiller, and the proud new owner of a line of pretty purple stitches that promised to itch and pull in a very short time.
He didn't remember the car ride to Liefde at all and simply watched the pretty lights dancing behind his eyelids until Eiryk shook some sense into him to get him up the 12 flights to his apartment.
((ooc: Alexander and Eiryk out))
Tropical Storm Alex (invite only)
Alex closed his eyes tightly as a blast of freezing cold water hit him in the face, cascading down on top of him in an unending waterfall.
"Oh my God."
It had started out like any other day. He got up, made breakfast, took a shower.
Pushing upwards, he stuck his hands into the water, letting them travel up until he thought he felt the ragged edge of what must be a corroded pipe.
"Seriously?"
He'd gotten out of the shower and gotten dressed. And then as he turned the water on in the sink to clean his dishes there had been a riotous squeal, a screech, and some sort of explosion from downstairs.
Squinting into the water he tried to ascertain the extent of the breach. He had a length of tubing and some tape. Wrapping the tubing around the hole he tried to tape it in place. His hand slipped and he was rewarded by being knocked off his stepladder into a cold wet puddle.
"Crap."
He'd run downstairs to find water pouring out from the ceiling in the back corner of his store, all over a display. Into the stock room. Dashing upstairs he'd groaned to see the newly-laid wood floors of his studio buckling.
He mounted the stepladder again, attacked the pipe once more, and was rewarded with a good two-inch gash on his forearm with rusted metal. Great, looked like he'd be getting a tetanus shot too.
"Son of a..."
Alex bound the bleeding wound tightly closed and glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of water gushing from a broken pipe in his ceiling, ruining carpets, wood floors, merchandise. Of course he'd tried to turn off the water main but it was jammed. Not going anywhere. And Alex was no lightweight.
He was practically hypothermic now, trying to find some way to stop the water and minimize damage. Someone from utilities was on their way over but clearly he wasn't a priority. Every gallon that came out was ringing dollar signs up in his head. He didn't even want to know the extent of the damage now. It was frightening.
He stepped back onto the ladder, gritted his teeth, and attacked the pipe with determination. He managed to wrap it closed, lashing tape around it like a prizewinning calf-roper. There was a soft whine, then a squeal, and, as he ducked, a section of the ceiling just a foot away came whizzing by his head along with another spout of water. He took a step down from his stool, slipped, and twisted something that shouldn't twist as he hit the ground.
"Fuck me."
In the end there was nothing he could do but wait for another ten minutes for someone to cut the water and then sit there, bloodied and sprained, looking at the wreckage of his store. He closed his eyes once the utilities employee had left and took a few deep breaths. Nothing he could do right now. First things first.
Opening his eyes once more, he surveyed the vast amount of work that had to be done to set things to rights. Alexander didn't shy away from work but this... this was more than he could reasonably handle before things started to get bad. With a sigh he started anyway, slogging along over the waterlogged floor through the foot or so of accumulated water that was draining very slowly out. He began moving what needed to be moved, inventorying damaged goods, and taking stock of what was left.
Who knew - a whole store full of outdoor gear and it was still possible to have items damaged by water.
Three hours later he was still sprained and bloody, with a side order of cold and exhausted. Frustrated, Alex decided it was time to bite the bullet and start making some calls. He didn't know a whole lot of people here in Nachton but maybe some of them would be willing to lend a hand. How he'd pay them, he didn't know, but he could offer.
He'd been forced to cut the electricity with all that water coming down, but his own apartment was all right, so he'd left one of the breakers alone there. He ran upstairs knowing he wouldn't be able to hear that phone from the bottom floor or take it with him away from its base but at least he could use it now.
Wouldn't you know it, most people had jobs. He tried making six or seven calls with no luck. The first person who actually answered her phone was, bless her, Aishe. He didn't know her well, but they'd spoken on several occasions both before and after yoga class as well as a few times in between. He thought they might be friends, almost. There was actually real regret in her voice when he told her what had happened.
"Alexander, I'm so sorry. Kem and I are on our way home from out of town," she said, actually having the grace to sound distressed. "We'll come and help you in a few hours, I promise. As soon as we get back into town. But I don't think we'll make it any sooner than six."
He thanked her and hung up the phone. As he looked around helplessly, Alexander suddenly realized the ramifications of what had happened. He didn't have a store now. Not until he got it repaired. And he didn't have a studio to give lessons in. How was he going to manage, while he waited for his insurance to cover what they would cover?
It was like a sucker-punch to the stomach. Alex stared for a few more minutes and then picked up the phone again for one last call.
"Eiryk? Look I know... uh, I know we haven't seen each other in a while. And I wanted to talk to you, apologize to you. But.. well. I'm in a bind. One of the pipes in the store broke and, well, it's a mess. I really need some help. I'm not sure who else to call. Anyway. Sorry... uh, call me back if you can."
A message. That was it. It was all he had to rely on. Well. The insurance adjuster would be by whenever he or she could and until then Alex was alone. There wasn't anything to be done but to keep hauling dry merchandise upstairs, where it was reasonably safe since only the floors were warped and wet at the back of the building.
He couldn't help feeling like everything he'd worked for was about to collapse completely. What's more, he would have to explain to his parents what had happened. That, he wasn't looking forward to. They might be speaking now (sort of), but Alex had the feeling his father in particular was just waiting for him to fail. Proving him right was a bitter pill to swallow. If Alex was lucky, he'd be able to get everything repaired quickly and his folks would never have to know.
Before heading back downstairs Alex changed the message on the machine so any callers to the store would know it was currently (and temporarily) closed, gambling on the fact that his parents wouldn't call anytime soon.
Alex Aristos
13 years ago
Aishe
13 years ago
Aishe smiled up at Kiamhaat. "I'm just fine," she said truthfully. "Hungry. But I'm not going to snack on a friend."
The smell of blood was reminding her that she was definitely ready to drink. it wasn't a problem for her though. She would feed herself sometime tonight, and now was not a good time.
They had fair warning from Eiryk as he and Alexander came back downstairs. Alexander handed over the keys to the store and mumbled his thanks again. Aishe didn't foresee him staying up very long. Eiryk and Kiamhaat might not truly remember what it was to be human but Aishe recalled it vividly. You couldn't just work all day like a dog and not shut down at some point. Alexander would be fine with some sleep.
As the two left, Aishe turned to find Kiamhaat leaning against the store wall. She moved toward him and slid up against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on her toes to kiss his smiling lips.
"Thanks for coming to help," she said. "It means a lot to me."
She knew it wasn't necessary to say but she did anyhow. She and Eiryk could have helped plenty, or even just Aishe. But Kiamhaat had an ability that would make this go much, much faster and he was physically stronger than Aishe as well. Helping a complete stranger was just something he'd do, on top of that.
The smell of blood was reminding her that she was definitely ready to drink. it wasn't a problem for her though. She would feed herself sometime tonight, and now was not a good time.
They had fair warning from Eiryk as he and Alexander came back downstairs. Alexander handed over the keys to the store and mumbled his thanks again. Aishe didn't foresee him staying up very long. Eiryk and Kiamhaat might not truly remember what it was to be human but Aishe recalled it vividly. You couldn't just work all day like a dog and not shut down at some point. Alexander would be fine with some sleep.
As the two left, Aishe turned to find Kiamhaat leaning against the store wall. She moved toward him and slid up against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and standing on her toes to kiss his smiling lips.
"Thanks for coming to help," she said. "It means a lot to me."
She knew it wasn't necessary to say but she did anyhow. She and Eiryk could have helped plenty, or even just Aishe. But Kiamhaat had an ability that would make this go much, much faster and he was physically stronger than Aishe as well. Helping a complete stranger was just something he'd do, on top of that.
Kem`Raaisu
13 years ago
Kem wrapped his arms around Aishe's waist and lifted her easily to return her kiss. "You know I wouldn't let a friend of yours suffer," he said, shaking his head to dismiss her thanks. "Besides, I don't care how we spend our night off, as long as we're doing something together."
He didn't let her go; he held her tightly, still leaning back against the store wall. "Now. I know you won't snack on a friend, but... your fiance?"
Kem bent his head and kissed Aishe's neck suggestively. She'd fed him numerous times in the past, since her own turning. Their own blood was most efficient, after all, and Aishe seemed to have no issues with supplying herself on any given night. She'd made the offer and on occasion he took her up on it. Turnabout was fair play though.
He didn't let her go; he held her tightly, still leaning back against the store wall. "Now. I know you won't snack on a friend, but... your fiance?"
Kem bent his head and kissed Aishe's neck suggestively. She'd fed him numerous times in the past, since her own turning. Their own blood was most efficient, after all, and Aishe seemed to have no issues with supplying herself on any given night. She'd made the offer and on occasion he took her up on it. Turnabout was fair play though.
Aishe
13 years ago
Aishe pulled back and considered the idea of biting Kiamhaat. It had definite appeal. A lot of appeal, actually, given how hungry she was and how long she'd been drooling over Alexander in a strictly platonic yet culinary way.
She wriggled up against Kiamhaat and pressed another kiss to his lips. "I love you," she said warmly, and then sank her tiny fangs into the crook of his neck. Molded against him, she felt her eyes roll back in happiness as she closed them to the pleasure of feeding from one of her own kind.
Kiamhaat's arms were tight around her but she clamped her legs around his waist anyhow. Her small hands crept around the back of his head to bury themselves in his fall of silky silver hair. Her mouth drew gently on his neck as she drank lightly, taking only what she needed to satisfy the thirst caused by Alexander's bleeding arm. Kiamhaat's blood was rich, far richer than any human's she'd ever tasted. It was like melted chocolate, so satisfying and so overpowering that she took much less than she might have otherwise helped herself to. Like a piece of rich cake, you could only have it in small amounts.
When she finished she pulled away, admiring the relaxed, happy, equally pleased look on Kiamhaat's face. "You taste good."
She wriggled up against Kiamhaat and pressed another kiss to his lips. "I love you," she said warmly, and then sank her tiny fangs into the crook of his neck. Molded against him, she felt her eyes roll back in happiness as she closed them to the pleasure of feeding from one of her own kind.
Kiamhaat's arms were tight around her but she clamped her legs around his waist anyhow. Her small hands crept around the back of his head to bury themselves in his fall of silky silver hair. Her mouth drew gently on his neck as she drank lightly, taking only what she needed to satisfy the thirst caused by Alexander's bleeding arm. Kiamhaat's blood was rich, far richer than any human's she'd ever tasted. It was like melted chocolate, so satisfying and so overpowering that she took much less than she might have otherwise helped herself to. Like a piece of rich cake, you could only have it in small amounts.
When she finished she pulled away, admiring the relaxed, happy, equally pleased look on Kiamhaat's face. "You taste good."
Kem`Raaisu
13 years ago
"I love you.... ooooooh," was about all Kem managed to say before he got a taste, himself, of what it felt like to be bitten in return. He'd shared before, of course, but never with Aishe. It was different when you loved.
He just hung on for the ride, feeling his skin erupt in shivery goose-bumps as the sensation of Aishe's bite washed over him and left him very glad he hadn't pushed away from the wall. It was hard to describe the feeling. A little bit of euphoria, a little bit sexual, a little bit like bundling up to go out in the cold. She pulled away too soon but he understood; she just took what she needed. Nothing more.
Christian had raised a damn good vampire, he thought. Kem might have had some influence on her, but it was Chris who'd taught her her first steps. As Aishe slid back down his chest, feet touching the floor once more, her words drifted up to his ears and actually made some sense.
Kem bent to kiss her once more. "You do too," he said. "Now are you ready to tackle this project?"
Aishe's answer was affirmative, so they got to work. And if there were a few more exchanged kisses along the way, well, that was just motivation. Really.
((ooc: Kem and Aishe out))
He just hung on for the ride, feeling his skin erupt in shivery goose-bumps as the sensation of Aishe's bite washed over him and left him very glad he hadn't pushed away from the wall. It was hard to describe the feeling. A little bit of euphoria, a little bit sexual, a little bit like bundling up to go out in the cold. She pulled away too soon but he understood; she just took what she needed. Nothing more.
Christian had raised a damn good vampire, he thought. Kem might have had some influence on her, but it was Chris who'd taught her her first steps. As Aishe slid back down his chest, feet touching the floor once more, her words drifted up to his ears and actually made some sense.
Kem bent to kiss her once more. "You do too," he said. "Now are you ready to tackle this project?"
Aishe's answer was affirmative, so they got to work. And if there were a few more exchanged kisses along the way, well, that was just motivation. Really.
((ooc: Kem and Aishe out))