Idolise, adore you

[Annalas]

"Hestia," Bill agreed with a smile, looking around the rest of the room. It was filled with erotic statues, almost like a room of Kama Sutra. It felt…awkward, almost, looking at these statues. He did like them, naturally, or at least he liked the phallic ones. But it felt a little too much like walking into a porn store of some type, to him. It was art, true enough…but not the kind of art he was used to seeing.

"I used to be really good in school…not with math, but with history and literature and stuff," he explained, speaking more to make conversation than because he actually thought Emil wanted to know about his educational history.

Bill walked around the edge of the room slowly, coming to a stop in front of the door to the right. The room certainly was interesting, but he certainly didn't want to spend all night having Emil watch him stare at pornographic statues. He would much rather see the rest of the gallery, or at least as much as he could before it closed.

He could see that the next room had some sort of mannequins set up, their clothes made from scraps of metal. Large hoop skirts, bronze headdresses…it certainly seemed modern and spacey, to say the least.

[skeggsismad]

There was no hesitance in following Bill to the other room. Indeed, the energy coming off the mortal was nervous and he decided it was best if they get out of the room of nudity as soon as possible. Thankfully it wasn’t a them in the gallery; the next room they happened upon seemed to be less about human anatomy than the previous room.

“Oh, yes, that’s fantastic sweetheart. Why, I’m not much of a history buff as much as I learn history through reading great literature. I’ve had quite a lot of time to read things over and it’s amazing how my memory have improved since- well, since, I’m sure you can gather what I’m talking about,”

He gave the boy a wink and continued,

“It’s a dastardly deed to have to go through the textbooks your universities now use to educate about the past and the arts. Why, I’ve never read anything drier! I suppose someone with an interest in emotionless drabble would love to consume them- the bookwormy types is the slang I’ve heard to describe them! But I ask…I really ask, how can anyone learn in an ‘academic’ environment? Oh, I’ve tried to teach a few classes here and there in the arts, but everything is so stiff! There’s regulations and rules and codebooks you have to follow.”

He shook his head, giving a menacing look at the very thought of it.

“Not to say that there was ever a time that I recall where education was as lively as it could be! But I think I’m going on again,”

He wasn’t even paying attention to the art. This was why sometimes he tried not to engage in conversation while driving; Emil was inclined to get caught up in the conversation and miss an important freeway turn. 

[Annalas]

A comfortable smile fit on Bill's face as he walked along, listening to Emil ramble on. The vampire had such a nice voice, and even while Bill considered himself the bookwormy type, he could understand that not everyone learned well that way. His favorite method of teaching (or rather, having a teacher teach him) consisted of nothing more than writing notes on the board and having the student copy them while the teacher explained. Simple, yet effective. For him, anyway.

"I'm actually really good at following rules," he admitted, ducking his head down a little. "I mean…everything has rules and regulations, you just have to see them and know how to bend them the right way to make it look like you're breaking them. Does that make sense? It's more your interpretation of the rules that's art than the blatant breaking of them."

He glanced up at Emil, hoping he hadn't offended the vampire with his humble opinion. He really didn't have the experience Emil did, so it seemed more to him that he should just listen to the elder and keep his trap shut than offer his opinion.

"That's just what I think, I mean," he quickly amended. "Like I said, though, I don't really know that much about art, since I never took more than one class."

[skeggsismad]

“You’re mischievous, aren’t you, smoochie!” It was less of a question and more of a statement. He thought it was adorable to think of shy, meek Bill bending the rules in ways that he saw fit in such slight ways that he never was caught doing it. He supposed that quieter people had learned the ropes of being sneaky in that way- loud people, like he was, tended to confess what was going on rather quickly.

He sensed a mood shift in Bill. He was backing out on his opinion and he could see how Bill was much like he was at times- submissive and subordinate to those that he perceived as his superior. Emil didn’t want to be seen as the superior, especially not when they were alone together. How could he correct it without essentially ‘ordering’ Bill to be more lax?

He paused in his steps, grabbing Bill by the shoulders and gently guiding him so they were standing face to face. He even tipped the mortal’s head up by a stroke underneath his chin so that they’d have direct eye contact.

“Listen to me, pookie,” He spoke in a gentle, low tone. He wanted this to sound much more comforting than scolding.

“You needn’t be nervous around me, okay? As long as we’re alone and not in the presence of another one like me, you can treat me like anybody else you know. I like hearing what you have to say and what you think, even if I don’t agree with it, even if you’re wrong.”

He wanted to run a hand through the mortal’s hair but he didn’t in fear of messing it up. Instead he pet the side of Bill’s face, hoping that what he was doing would make sense and that he wasn’t misreading Bill’s signals. He knew it would take time for Bill to believe what he was saying, but the only way to make sure it eventually happened was repetition and repeated assurance.

[Annalas]

While it would seem from what Bill said that he truly was the mischievous type, that rarely showed through. He was typically meek and did follow the rules to the letter, whether he agreed with them or not…of course, that had been before his brother had disappeared. Now…now he bent the rules in whatever way he could, hoping that he could find his brother. He was breaking at least two right now, standing in a room alone with Emil after curfew. It would have been three, were he able to contact his brother.

All of those rule faded away, however, as Emil spoke to him softly. The small touches of affection were in no way sexual, nor did Bill think of the vampire sexually in any way (apart from the feeding, naturally). No, these small gestures, the soft voice and the heartspoken offer meant more to him than anything else.

Bill would never compare Emil to his father or to a father-figure in a million years, but this was the type of thing that he wished his father would do with him. Just a small touch, a small gesture, and an offer to listen. Thomas had always listened to Bill, just as Emil was offering now. But no one else…not a single one of his friends had so much as even hinted at wanting to listen to anything Bill wanted. If he didn't agree, he either shut up or went elsewhere, and every one of his friends was the same when it came to that. He couldn't begin to explain to Emil how much this simple exchange meant to him.

"Thank you," he breathed a whisper, not trusting his voice entirely right now.

Bill leaned into the touch, wanting more but still too afraid and not nearly assertive enough to ask for it. He was the type of person that needed touches and words of reassurance almost constantly, something Thomas had been eager to play up to, at least in his own mind. It never occurred to him that his own brother might grow to resent that very aspect of him.

[skeggsismad]

For a moment Emil wondered if he was frightening Bill by being so close because the boy sounded so meek and quiet that it was the only thing he could rightfully assume. He tilted his head and looked at the young man, determining that it was better to stop than to further frighten the mortal. He drew his hands back and created reasonable distance between them.

“Oh no, thank you sweetheart! Really I had the most grueling start to tonight and it was a lifesaver when you called me. I was scrubbing away most of this early evening trying to rid a stain and oh how I am glad you called me and spared me from that task! Sometimes I become so consumed with a task that I don’t even realize I’ve better things to do, better things like this, spending time with a new friend!”

He made an exaggerated exhausted expression and groaned, winking at Bill before he motioned to link arms with the mortal and guide him into the next room.

“How do you think, so far? Didn’t you say you’ve never been to an art gallery before? Why, with your interest in the arts that surprises me quite a bit! Then you must share with me from the outsider perspective what all of this seems like, and feel free to be honest! It isn’t my art gallery after all and that’s what art is for, isn’t it: the critique!”

The next room was half the size of the others with a couple of potted (possible plastic) plants and a few cushioned benches pressed up against the wall. Emil looked around a couple of times, spinning in a circle. There didn’t appear to be any art displays.

“Mmm, this is one of those sitting rooms. That’s the strange thing about this one, methinks. They’ve got so many rooms that- oooh, I don’t even know what they’re for!” And it seemed, this was the end of the line for the ‘right’ turns’: no doors remained. The pathway stopped here. 

[Annalas]

Emil withdrew, and the moment was broken. Still, the feelings remained. He was completely overwhelmed by the fact that someone he had just met cared enough to offer to listen to anything Bill said.

"It's really no problem," he answered, smiling happily at the vampire as they linked arms. "I needed to get away for a while, anyway, and it seemed the perfect time to call."

He looked around the new room, wondering if the furniture was the art exhibit. Alas, however, it was apparently just a sitting room. It seemed quite odd to put one in the middle of the gallery, but he didn't really have any experience with galleries, so he didn't know if it was normal or not.

"I like it so far," he explained, looking up at Emil. "I haven't really had the time or money to go to one before, honestly…I didn't even know that this one was here. It's very…modern, I have to say. Unexpected, I suppose is a good word for it."

He did like some of the art pieces, like the paintings and the sculptures (even if they had made him a little uncomfortable since he was with Emil). Others, like the music, he didn't particularly care for. His favorite art was still the older stuff, for sure.

"Shall we go back, then?" he asked after a moment, not wanting to go, particularly. "Not that anyone cares if I break curfew anymore, I mean…"

[skeggsismad]

“Well that’s the good news, goobers,”  Emil spoke gleefully.

“The Art Gallery is free.” He gave the boy a wink, though he really did wonder where Bill had got the notion it would cost something. The roll of the new century seemed to be all about giving citizens free art and culture. Then again, Emil supposed, people weren’t used to having free fun on a regular basis.
“Of course, when we leave you’ll see that they have a donation box and I enjoy putting a generous sum in there just to make sure this place keeps going! Especially for the likes of people such as yourself who’d love to contribute but don’t quite have the means.”

He was acknowledging that once more, Bill was probably poor and couldn’t afford to give the amount of money that was really necessary per person for this place to continue to thrive. He was sure there was some government money that the Art Gallery leaned back on if all else failed but he didn’t like to think that such an establishment would need it. Surely there were cultured people in the city who spent their afternoons appreciating local artists’ works!

Bill was nineteen so he reasoned by the age of majority, eighteen, most ‘curfew’ restrictions were no longer levied by parents.

“Your father must trust you greatly! Why I could never be like that. It’s likely one of the reasons I’ve never sought out any ‘children’ or what have you…I’m certain that curfew would be a rather strict hour and for several reasons!” He chuckled.

“Certainly- I think the gallery’s about to close soon anyhow. We ought try to find ourselves out of this maze. You lead the way!” Emil exclaimed, standing with his arm stretched away from him, expecting it to be grasped and to be led away by Bill’s force.

[Annalas]

"I didn't actually know that," Bill admitted shyly, smiling at Emil. "Maybe I'll come back here sometime, knowing that…if I have anything to donate, I mean."

He felt a little embarrassed at not having much money, and the fact that it was just so obvious…but what else could he do? His entire paycheck and more went towards rent and keeping food on the table--or at the least in his stomach. More than half of his father's paycheck went towards beer and whiskey. It was a bit reversed, in his opinion, but then he couldn't buy alcohol if he wanted, anyway.

"Oh, my father didn't set my curfew," he corrected almost immediately. "Thomas did. My father doesn't even notice when I go out, really…it's been over a year and he still thinks Thomas lives with us, so…yeah."

He trailed off lamely, grasping Emil's outstretched hand to lead him out of the gallery, glad he had taken the right-turn approach to the gallery, as it made it easy to traverse back towards the door.

"That's actually why I called…I mean…I just had to get out of the house a bit, after that. It's like a slap in the face, that he still hasn't noticed…I haven't even tried to cover it up," he explained truthfully.

[skeggsismad]

Bill’s comments were heartbreaking to the vampire. He knew there were worse things, but it was still a shame that the youth had what seemed to be, at the least worrisome, a neglectful father. Emil’s own father had been attentive and they had bonded well; it was hard for him to imagine what it must have been like to grow up with a parental relationship being so lacking. Or perhaps it hadn’t always been like that. Emil had so many questions on the details of the situation, but he knew that a rapid-fire question approach wouldn’t be helpful at all to Bill even  if it would relieve some of his queries. Too, the remark that an older sibling was setting curfews seemed to indicate some form of dysfunction in the family. Emil was no psychologist but he knew that normally rule-setting was the responsibility of an adult.


“I can imagine that it would be rather frustrating to be so worried about your brother while at the same time your father doesn’t seem to notice. Spending time away from that environment could do you good; it makes perfect sense.”

He firstly acknowledged the boy’s point of view, rephrasing his words so that Bill knew he understood the message and had been listening.

“I say, I don’t rightly know when things will be looking up for you. But it is always too early to quit and worry is quite a waste of imagination.”

He playfully flicked the top of Bill’s nose with his index finger and gave a wink.

“I’ll arrange for you to meet with this private investigator and perhaps then some of your questions will be answered. I can’t make any promises. But until then, I hope you know that you’re always welcome to call me if you can’t last another moment in your house. Even when I’m on the go, there is always room for a friend.”

[Annalas]

There he went, offering Bill the world again. Well, it wasn't exactly the world, but it was far more than the youth was used to, and it was exactly what he needed. His face lit up with a smile as they finally made their way to the entrance, his hand still firmly grasping Emil's.

"Thank you," he spoke softly, squeezing the hand gently. "You really don't know how much that means to me."

It all meant so much to him--the private investigator, the offer to be there whenever Bill needed or wanted to get away…it was something a friend would do. Oddly enough, it did seem like Emil was a friend, though he was a vampire at the same time.

Had Thomas felt the same way about George, when they first met? Bill couldn't believe that they had been dating for two years, and his brother none the wiser as to what his boyfriend was. It was unreal.

The problem was, he didn't have closure. He didn't know if George had stolen Thomas away and forced him to become a fledging to save Bill, or if he had simply turned on him and killed him. Was this how it had started, with just a simple friendship? Was Bill setting himself up for whatever fate had become of his brother?

The smile faded from his face, eyes growing worried as the thoughts suddenly occurred to him. Emil wouldn't be like George, though…would he? But Bill had met George, and aside from the fact that he took Thomas away far too much, he was generally a likable person. Emil was likable, too.

[skeggsismad]

They reached the front of the museum, towards the doors with the ‘exit’ sign artistically hanging above the archway. A podium next to the doors held the donation box and Emil eyed it as they approached. He pulled back from Bill for a moment to retrieve his wallet from his pocket, taking out a couple of hundred dollar bills and shoving it into the donation box. He didn’t dare donate more, for even though the box was bolted to the table, it still seemed an easy target for theft. Most of the money he ‘donated’ to the arts was done through wire transfer anyhow.

After he put his wallet back into its rightful place he looked to his wristwatch. The museum would be closing soon and it was best they get out of here. He also figured Bill had had enough of him by now and it would be a perfect time to part ways.

“I think it’s time we call it day,” Emil announced.

“It was lovely seeing you, Bill.” He remarked before leaning in and planting a cordial kiss on both of Bill’s cheeks.

[Annalas]

His heart swelled at the gesture, even as he wrapped his arms around Emil, unwilling to let go for a long moment. It only then occurred to him that not once had Emil mentioned feeding, and it really was only proper…perhaps he was waiting for Bill to offer.

"You too…thank you so much," he smiled, pulling back from the vampire. "Did you want to um…are you hungry? I mean we could go somewhere else to do it if you want, it's only right after everything you've done…"

And Bill wanted it. He hated that he wanted it, but he wanted it, wanted to be held just a little bit longer by someone else. Hugging a stuffed frog his brother had gotten him at night didn't take away the want, the need for physical affection that he so craved. But it helped…it helped, but it wasn't enough. He just needed someone willing to hold him for long lengths of time, he thought, someone he trusted. Certainly not Andi, that was for sure.

[skeggsismad]

With Bill’s words, it suddenly occurred to Emil that the human thought that he had to be a walking blood bank as payment for what he’d offered to help with. Emil thought he’d made it clear from the beginning that he was giving him a gift and expected nothing in return, so he couldn’t tell if it was the boy’s ‘vampire manners’ stepping in or if he truly felt that there were strings attached to their relationship.

“Oooh, Bill,” He spoke under his breath in a tone that clearly indicated sympathetic concern.

He paused and sighed. It was difficult to think up the appropriate words at the moment. There was so much that he felt and wanted to ask how long Bill had been thinking these things.

“I think you’ve misunderstood me somehow. I’ve never and never will expect that you do that for me on a regular basis. It would be fine if you were offering on your own free terms, pookie, and correct me if I’m wrong…but I can’t help but think you’re being influenced by the need to repay me. Do you feel like you need to offer that to me because you ‘owe me’ for helping you? Please be honest, honey. I need to know.”

[Annalas]

Well on one hand…yes, he did feel that Emil deserved it, especially after everything he had offered. Friendships worked on a give-and-take relationship as far as he knew, and Emil had certainly given a lot…there was no other way for Bill to repay his kindness, truly.

He hated feeling indebted to people. Perhaps it was something that his brother had taught him, not to take charity if he can help it, even if he needed it. He had to have some way to repay Emil, and blood was his only currency.

"Of course I'm offering on my own free terms," he tried to explain himself better. "You haven't fed yet…it's only natural for it to be me, since I've taken up your entire night."

The subject of 'repayment' was touchy at best. Bill didn't know if he was doing it because he thought he owed Emil, or if he simply didn't want to part from him quite yet. He was actually betting on the latter, knowing himself. But on the other hand…how else was he supposed to repay Emil, anyway?

He hadn't exactly answered the vampire's question, and he knew it. That, however, was because he wasn't sure of the answer himself. Did his reasons really matter, though, if he himself wanted it for his own selfish pleasure?

"It just…feels nice," he continued lamely, looking down as he flushed. "I don't mind it."