Take My Hand

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:07 pm

Jethro smiled like a parent would smile at a child's simple folly.

"No, he is thirsty. I know it might sound ridiculous, but there is a huge difference." Jethro watched Ephriam stumble against the tree and stagger a little further.

"And as to helping him... I wouldn't be concerned about that, Cupcake. I would be concerned about you getting home so that he doesn't help himself to you." You had to admit it. Jethro had a way with words. Blunt and sarcastic was a way. Not the most desirable way, but still a way.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:10 pm

Marina looked at Jethro, shaking her head.

" Help him"

She insisted softly, looking to him, ignoring the prior warning, wanting him to be helped, and now.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:15 pm

Jethro looked at her with another of those stares that indicated that she was missing something.

"Uh... What exactly do you want me to do? Pull a freaking deer out of my pocket?" Ephriam leaned against that same tree, just barely within view now.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:19 pm

" I don't care what has to be done, even if I get hurt, help him!"

Enter compassion 1 on 1. She wanted the person she cared about tended to, she was mortal, she saw herself as a bit easier to part with. Enter blind care ( aka denial love) 1 on 1.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:22 pm

Jethro's eyes widened as it dawned on him what she was implying.

"That's dangerous. Just... Just don't worry about it. He's a born again hunter. Eph has had worse nights." Ephriam's voice dragged out from the trees, ragged and distant. It didn't even sound like him really.

"Stop talking about me like I am elsewhere. And stop calling me Eph."

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:27 pm

Oh dear.

Stomping her feet in a way that stated she was frustrated, she looked up at him in a way that clearly stated she didn't understand and that she wanted Ephriam helped, her eyes remained clouded, ready to cry at the drop of a hat.... Or a poorly worded sentence.

" Please..."

She said softly, looking at him, near begging.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:38 pm

Jethro looked at Marina and then up to Ephriam who had now begun to walk off again in an uneven gait. Then he looked between the two again, not sure what he should do. There was something about his best friend but then there was something about a pleading woman too.

"He could kill you!" Jethro looked about. "And then he would kill me for letting you do it. Please, leave him be." And yet he found himself reaching for his pocketknife.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:42 pm

" It doesn't matter! HELP HIM!"

Marina argued once more, tears slowly starting to trickle, pouting and looking like she might rip Jethro apart in a second if something wasn't done.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:49 pm

Jethro winced at Marina's tone, mumbling under his breath.

"I'm toast." But he reached out and tentatively pulled on her shirt so that her right shoulder was exposed. The man gritted his teeth and flipped open a pocket knife that looked more than well sharpened. "This is going to hurt." But that was all the warning he gave her as he sliced a thin and shallow line along the collarbone.

"Brace..." But his warning was swept away by Ephriam. Jethro was sent sprawling as Ephriam tackled Marina. Where the man had seemed intense before, he now seemed wild as he was exposed to her blood.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:53 pm

Barely catching herself before she hit the ground with ephriam atop her, swallowing slightly as she felt his mouth, and fangs latch onto her, closing her eyes, her heart rate only remaining spiked for a moment or two, then calming and turning back to her normal rate, keeping braced, not wanting to smack her head on the rock beneath her.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:02 pm

Jethro got to his feet, not bothering to dust himself off. He leaned forward anxiously. The man wasn't exactly embarrassed about the situation - he was more than somewhat accustomed to a feed. No, Jethro was just... antsy. There was a tension about it. So, despite the fact that he might be intruding on some private bonding moment for the two of them, he hovered and spoke to Marina.

"You're doing great. Er..." What else can you do to encourage someone having their blood sucked out of them? 'Don't panic'? 'Warning - side effects may include but are not limited to: light-headedness, fainting, and/or death'? Jethro flitted about.

"When you start to feel a little woozy, kick him. I mean it. Kick him as hard as you can where it hurts." Jethro was aware that he was digging a deep grave.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:04 pm

" Just move the rock, please."

marina begged, muscles already aching from the effort of keeping herself up as she felt Ephriam's weight over powering her, sweat slowly starting to cover her with the effort.

" As for kicking him, I can't ... he's got my entire body pinned."

She choked out softly, one arm holding to him now for balance, shaking slightly as she looked like she might fall and crack her head any second.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:11 pm

Jethro moved quickly to removed the protruding rock, and in a bout of thoughtfulness, he removed his coat and rolled it up so that she could rest her head on it. He spoke softly.

"Oh, of course he does. I knew that. Uh..." The man looked at the vampire on top of the woman, who he knew to be completely zoned out of everything they were saying.

"Just say when and I'll try to help. Unless he stops on his own." Which I doubt.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:13 pm

Marina nodded, eyes closing as she remained relaxed on the groun now, taking care to watch he breathing, lasting a considerable while before she opened her eyes slowly.

" ephriam... Please... Kill me now, don't have me later."

she pointed out softly.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:22 pm

Ephriam's eyes suddenly shot open. Apparently she had said just the right thing, something that probably equated with a good kick. The man's brain didn't want to catch up as he pulled back a bit, removing his fangs and his mouth. The return to sanity was like riding a rusty bike. But then he realized.

"Oh God..." The man's hand slipped under Marina's neck, lifting her head just slightly. "Marina?!" Jethro had backed away (though technically Ephriam was supposed to be less dangerous now).

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:25 pm

Marina, though a bit more pale, and alot weaker, was perfectly fine as she smiled up at Ephriam, nestling his hand gently.

" I'm fine."

She purred softly.

" are you feeling better now?"

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:33 pm

Ephriam looked at her with more than a little worry in his eyes.

"Are you sure? I am so sorry, Marina. I did not mean to..." He shifted so that he was kneeling beside of her.

"I just.... You shouldn't have... I..." He looked her over. "Just stay still. Do not try to get up. Do you want to go back? I will carry you. Do you think that would be alright? I really do not mean to hurt you." He was too busy fussing to address her question or Jethro.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:36 pm

" I'm fine, Ephriam. Calm down. I just wanted you alright. Are you okay now?"

Marina asked again, resting still, not trying to get up, smiling up at him, perfectly fine, if exhausted.

" I'm not hurt... Just don't leave me alone, I don't like wild animals... Especially when I can't run."

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:40 pm

Ephriam looked at her, his hands framing her face and running along her skin as though to make sure everything was still as it should be.

"Of course I am fine. You should have let me be. I would still have been fine." He sighed softly.

"I am so sorry." The man sat down beside her, his expression almost sad.

"I have no intention of leaving you."

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:42 pm

" Oh, hush it and kiss me already."

Marina said bossily, looking him over now, waiting expectantly, resting to him as she waited, eyes slowly wondering over the stars above, taking in the moonlight and the foliage above.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:48 pm

It is crucial at this point to note that at some point during this exchange, Jethro had vanished. Whether it was out of concern for self-preservation or out of respect, well... take a guess.

Ephriam looked at the girl with his colorless, reddened eyes and then gave a small smile. Then he leaned in and gently kissed her, just as bidden.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:51 pm

well, it was a tramatic experience on her end, so, with that being said, the kiss was refreshing as she kissed him back, moving as well as she could so she was now completely in his lap, letting his arms support her, resting to him.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:55 pm

Ephriam was the one to pull back, and he held on to her carefully.

"Easy now. You don't want to over exert yourself." The man just watched her as the sounds of the woods crept up over them.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:57 pm

" Let's go back home, and you can hold me in the comfort of my bed... No worries about a wolf biting my head off or something."

she reasoned softly.

Post by **Sushi** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:03 pm

Ephriam smiled softly.

"I could take a wolf any day." Still, he stood up with her in his arms and began to walk back towards the home. It shouldn't take them more than five minutes. It was a good thing that he never bolted the front door. Not that there would be any reason to out here.

Post by **Tree** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:07 pm

" Not today, I wanna nestle down with the man I nearly killed Jethro over to make sure he was okay."

Marina replied honestly, nestling down into his arms, yawning and starting to fall out.

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:03 am

Ephriam smiled at her, holding her up.

"I take it that you never quite got the job finished then. You do not need to worry about that. I will kill him for you." Ephriam could see the surface of the castle, could see the front door. After a minute or so he would be able to reach the heavy wooden door.

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:08 am

" No need to kill him, he did what I wanted him to do."

Marina replied softly, cuddling tighter to Ephriam, eyes closing once more, falling back into a very light sleep.

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:16 am

Ephriam just watched her sleep as he made his way through the hallway. Exactly. He knew better. He opened the door to her bedroom, laying the girl very gently on the bed. The man moved over to the armoir to pull out sleeping clothes. Ephriam had no intention of letting her do anything right now. As long as she didn't stab him or poke his eye out or something, he had every intention of redressing her and tucking her in just like that. He felt awful.

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:20 am

Marina felt him move from her, eyes opening, watching him as he moved about.

" He didn't want to do it."

Marina purred softly, watching Ephriam.

" he didn't have much choice... If he didn't do it, I would have done it myself."

Marina added, as if knowing his thoughts as he moved about, nestled down in the bed, watching him go through her clothes.

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:35 am

Ephriam sighed as he pulled out a silky nightgown of pale blue. Ephriam didn't wear nightgowns, but he figured that if he did, then this would be the most comfortable option. It was slightly billowy with spaghetti straps to hold it up.

"Marina..." Ephriam knelt down beside her, reaching for her shirt.

"You must understand. It is terribly dangerous. I could have murdered you, maimed and mutilated you. I would have gone and come back just the same way if you left me be."

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:37 am

Marina looked him over.

" I understood you needed something, I could offer. It's not like it's much. I was worried. I don't understand much more then that though, you haven't helped me to understand."

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:57 am

Ephriam sighed in a soft manner as he sat down on the edge of her bed, going about pulling off her shoes and socks so that he could remove the pants easier too.

"It is difficult to understand, even more difficult to explain." Ephriam thought for a moment.

"Here. If I were to take my hands and press them over your mouth and nose so that you could get no breath, then there would be a change in you. For the first little while you would be okay, aware that you just needed to breathe. But then, if I did not remove my hands, then you would, well, your mind would kick into a preservation mode. You would do anything, anything at all to get my hands off of you so that you could breathe. You would know that if you did not then you were facing death." Ephriam shook his head, reaching to slip off the pants and pull on her nightgown.

"But, at the same time, you could keep from fighting back. If you focused very very hard. But then, if I did something to tip the scale, that measure of willpower could easily snap and you would be back to where you were before. That is kind of what it is like."

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:02 am

Marina looked at him, shaking her head slowly.

" I wanted to help you. I wanted you to be Ephriam again. I was worried. Even Jethro wasn't working on explaining things. I wish I knew you hadn't had anything... I don't know much, but I know you need that."

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:13 am

Ephriam leaned her forward slightly as he pulled the silky fabric over her head. All the while he had never really looked her in the eye. He had been too busy with everything else.

"Jethro is too... anxious about screwing with my business to realize exactly what you want with him. Just because he could probably take me in a fight doesn't mean that he wants to." The man carefully untwisted the strap and smoothed the fabric.

"It was my fault, I should have gone out two days ago. But, I would have been fine. I would have gone out and found some animal. I normally don't drink from humans - it is too easy to kill them, if you want to know the truth." And then Ephriam tried to joke. "Like Pringles, once you pop you just can't stop." Okay, humor didn't fit him as well as jethro.

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:17 am

" I'm fine. I wanted to do it.. It was an experience, too, I might like to add... Once I got over you plowing me to the ground, it was actually a bit relaxing... Darling, I'm fine. Stop fretting over me. "

Marina purred softly, looking him over.

" He only did ti because of how I pushed him... Let it go, we're both okay."

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:23 am

Ephriam sighed.

"Of course it was. Some humans even find it erotic." He sat there in his dirty and torn clothes looking at her with utmost seriousness.

"Do you think we like having things fighting us during the process?"

((See? I used a reference all big-girl like))

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:26 am

" It was erotic, but i was in no position to act on it, your body had me completely pinned. Darling, please..."

Marina pleaded softly, looking him over with clear compassion as she moved to rest in his arms once more.

Post by **Sushi** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:33 am

Ephriam just gave another sigh, running his fingers through her hair.

"You are so beautiful and smart. It is crushing that you do not seem to realize that I was just drinking your blood, your life. I was an animal, a monster that could have killed you easier than I could stand up straight." He felt like he was throwing eggs at a brick wall.

Post by **Tree** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:38 am

" Love, I knew you could have killed me, I was more concerned with your life."

she replied honestly, choking back the feelings he was stirring, wishing he'd get the hint.

" I'm mortal... I'm going to die sometime or another anyway..."

If it was by your hand, or even mouth, at least I'd feel like I did something for you.... Marina thought to herself, wishing he'd get it, but not saying anything.