Books, Blood, and a war for Bliss (open)

[Taylor]

(Mostly I just wanted to write this... I don't really know why someone might interact with him in his room... but I was bored and this was a fun post to write... anyway a response would be welcome)

The papers spread out across his bed blurred as he looked at them. Adrian had been studying since he had gotten up... seeing as it was past lunchtime... that was saying something. The coming exams had somehow sparked a bit of academic fervour in him, and he had probably studied more in the week preceding than he ever had in his entire life. The math text book in front of him was driving him insane... he wasn’t sure he could manage to pass the exam, let alone do well on it.

He was tired, his hair was greasy and unbrushed, and only chewing gum was saving his breath from being lethal. His boxers were his last clean pair, and the only clothing he had left was a white long-sleeved undershirt and a pair of jeans that upon further inspection, were not encrusted with any foreign matter. Any which way it was looked at, he was glad he didn’t have a roommate and even gladder he had the Sunday off to clean up after himself. After he finished studying.

But for now he couldn’t focus and the knife lying next to his papers was looking more and more attractive. Picking it up, he ran his tongue along his teeth, testing the razor blade on his thumb... sharp enough to easily draw blood. With a shiver of anticipation, he followed an old scar line and made a quick horizontal slice across the back of his forearm. The sight of the blood welling up filled him with energy and an excitement he only ever knew through the feel of sharp metal parting his skin.

As he lapped up the blood he contemplated the next cut, unable to stop now he wanted more. Another to make it symmetrical, a cut across the opposite forearm. Something long and central, A careful cut down his breast bone, not quite deep enough to touch the bone. He went on from there until he knew he was at his limit, with his body crossed with old scars made new he stopped. Past experience showing how badly blood loss could be.

He looked at himself in the mirror he had attached to the ceiling, the bloody lines making a beautiful picture, the blood dripping sideways adding a natural aspect to his appearance. Even as he raised an arm to lick some of the blood off he was returing to reality... seeing past the light headed bliss he had attained. He was going to have to clean these sheets... and carefully clean off the blood so that it wouldn't form into scabs... and after that... he would have to decide on either sleep or more school work.

But for now, just for a few moments he wanted to enjoy the gentle throbbing of the open cuts, despite the fact that the first of them had already closed. He shut his eyes and drifted, not quite sleeping.... but not quite awake either.

[Alice Tudor]

( Hope ya don't mind me ... joining. =D John isn't in the room, but... He will be knocking on the door. I suddenly have a muse for this thread, but .. the coffee one I'm having trouble...)

John was tired of studying. He had spent almost all of an hour Saturday studying, and Sunday he actually spend an hour. Sure, he would probably pass the test but... studying was just out of his league. He didn't need to study any of this stuff, it was simple to pass. Sometimes. If he paid attention in class. Which was sometimes difficult.

Speaking of which, he kept having a certain someone on his mind. Adrian. He was probably studying for the exam too, and ... he kind of had a urge to see him today. Perhaps it would get both of their minds off of studying, and get out into the fresh air and maybe do something. As to what, he wasn't quite sure. Maybe they'd just talk or tell stories or something. At least it wasn't studying. Stopping at the dorm room which he thought to be his friend's, he lifted his hand and knocked on the door. "Hey, Adrian! You're probably in there studying but let's go out for a bit. I'm tired of studying."

[Taylor]

(Not at all, I know what you mean. My post was so short because I didn’t know what to write... and then came along this one, for which I felt inspired. Also... on another note, Johns learning strategy matches mine exactly)

Adrian’s eyes snapped open at the sound of someone knocking at the door. At the sound of Johns voice, he muffled a curse. He jumped to his feet and panicked for a moment, ”One second I’ll be right there!” He put two fingers between his lips and whistled for an undine. One appeared almost immediately in the pool he had set up for them before the window. The transparent woman looked at him her state of undress exceeding even his... that is to say, she was naked. She lazily folded her arms and leaned her head down against the stone of the bath, staring at him as he freaked.

He didn’t appreciate her lassitude, but with a quick mental set of directions he pleaded for(Not demanded... that would have been dangerous) her help. She let out a visible sigh and complied. Drawing herself up from the pool, she gestured for him to approach. Making evident her displeasure simply by looking at him in a certain way.

He did as he was told, for no sane man ignores a (beautiful –for those who hold appearance in high esteem-) naked woman, and no intelligent man ignores an undine with that look on her face. So he stood before her, ignoring the blood dripping down onto the upper edge of his boxers... ignoring how it must look... though upon later reflection, he found the idea quite appealing.

She drew her hands across his cuts, washing away the blood and holding the cuts closed, dyeing her essence and soon the pool at her feet, red with his blood. Quickly there wasn’t any remaining to coat his skin... though most of the cuts were still bleeding. He bowed deeply to her as he communicated his silent thanks. She nodded and rolled her eyes and faded into the water, leaving only a pool of bloody water he didn’t have time to deal with.

Adrian pulled on his last clean shirt, and noticed as it immediately stuck to the thin lines of blood that seemed out of his severed flesh. That just meant he had to be quick... before the red started to show... and with the dim lighting in his room, hopefully it wouldn’t show up faster than he could say good bye to John.

He opened the door and smiled half-heartedly at John. ” Sorry, I have so much studying to do its insane. I don’t know half the material I should... and what I do know is probably wrong.” All of which was true, he just happened to... at this point, have other things to worry about. ”I’m really sorry; I hope you don’t mind... I just can’t seem to work through this stuff... So at least for a little while... I will be indisposed... I’m really sorry”

[Alice Tudor]

If John were any other normal person, the dim lightning and quickness of his friend trying to shoo him away would have made him leave. The half-hearted smile and the strange smell coming from Adrian's room caught John's attention as soon as the door had opened. Why had it taken Adrian so long to answer the door? He whistled too, right before he opened it... Tilting his head to the side a bit, John eyed behind Adrian into the dim light room. Nothing out of the ordinary.. there was a dark liquid in what seemed to be a bath near the window... but then again he could be wrong. He could only see a little bit into the room.

The scent seemed to get a bit stronger though. He crossed his arms over his chest, nodding his head slightly. "Uh-huh, insane. I think you need a break. You should come out with me, or at least let me come in. I can try to help you memorize some of the material. Looking to Adrian now, he noticed the unkempt air about him. He was in boxers and a t-shirt, and his hair greasy and unbrushed. Raising a slight eyebrow, and moving his gaze down, he saw that the shirt he was wearing was also somewhat sticking to his chest. He wasn't sweating... was he? What was going on here...

" I mean, you must have been locked up in your room for a while with... how you look. No offense."

[Taylor]

Adrian looked at himself... then raised a hand to smooth his hair. He had just enough pride to take offence even in a situation like this... especially when it gave him a reason to be upset with the person who was interrupting him. ”I don’t look that bad! Admittedly I forgot to put on pants when I answered the door... but all the same!” He once more put a hand up to brush back his hair, only this time he noticed some blood seeping through the sleeve. He quickly put it behind his back.

It wasn’t that he was ashamed of his habits; he just didn’t think people would react well to them... well, it. And of course the first place to show would be the inside of his wrist. The Undine had left enough of the water on his body to act as bandages... but without here to keep it in check, the water was succumbing to its natural state. So placing the other hand behind his back before that wrist could show through, he smiled tightly at John and tried to think of something to make him go away.

”I don’t study well with others... I find the presence of others distracting when I’m trying to concentrate. They have a tendency to go off on things that have nothing to do with the tests and at the moment I would really rather not be bothered.” Even without the blood seeping through his clothing, he would have wanted John to go. He wanted to pass the tests, and he had the feeling that if he tried to study with John, he would end up staring at him throughout the study session.

[Alice Tudor]

John watched Adrian for a moment before crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes. He had finally realized what that smell was. It was blood. Adrian hiding his hands behind his back was only increasing his suspicion. What was he hiding? "That's true, but I have a feeling you're hiding something from me."

It was blood. That smell was blood. If Adrian did not want to tell John ...what was happening then... he wouldn't push the issue. If Adrian wasn't ready to tell him, then ... he would wait. It really ... kind of upset him, though. Did Adrian intentionally hurt himself? Did he do it by accident? Was it one of the sylphs? Letting out a frustrated sigh, John rubbed behind his head, placing his other hand on his hip. "Look, I'm not sure ... what is going on but... just... just promise me if it... gets too dangerous... whatever it is... that you'll get help?"

[Taylor]

Adrian raised an eyebrow at John, offended almost beyond words. ”Get help? Am I some invalid who can’t take care of himself? I’m not an Idiot John, I can do as I please. I know what I’m doing and I don’t need help! Don’t act all high and mighty, with that condescending tone and nonchalant stance. And what gives you the right to bind me in such a way? I should promise you to get help? I should promise you that if something whatever you think is going on, gets too dangerous, I should get help? Get over yourself I mean really! Just who do you think you are? What authority do you have over me?” Adrian... was independent; he didn’t like to be told what to do. And when people showed concern, it got his back up. It might have been ok... if they had a declared relationship... but with John, he didn’t know where he stood, and until he did, he wasn’t likely to put all that much trust in him.

In his anger he had forgotten about his arms, forgotten about the blood that was now seeping through his shirt. With his hands on his hips, it was fairly easy to see the bright red on the clean white long sleeved shirt. A circle around each wrist, A chevron facing the back of his hands mid fore-arm, a line down his breast bone, and two chevrons facing up just beneath his ribcage.

[Alice Tudor]

John, in return, was a bit offended by Adrian's response to his concern. He wasn't exactly sure why Adrian had replied like that, and in his book, that just wasn't okay. "Hey, Listen. I know you can take care of yourself, you're not some little kid who can't protect himself, I know that. And who said I was acting all high and mighty?! I was trying to help you, trying to see if you're alright! If I show concern does that suddenly mean I'm acting all high and mighty?"

Now, before he could get a door slammed in his face, John was ready to throw his hand at the door and force it back open. This wasn't funny anymore, this was serious. He wasn't going to get yelled at for being concerned about Adrian! Aw hell no! "You even try to slam this door on me and I'll slam it right back open, and don't you think I will. We're talking about this, and I mean right now. Who do you think you are, huh? Talking to a friend in such a rude way when all they were doing was worrying about you? I don't know if your sylphs did this to you, or if some bully did it, or if you did it to yourself. You're bleeding, Adrian, and you expect me to just stand here and let you bleed?!" Oh no, he wouldn't just stand around anymore. He would try and wrap Adrian up. Pushing past him into the room, he looked around somewhat furiously for a first aid kit, or anything, that could clean and bandage the wounds.

[Taylor]

Adrian glanced at his chest and cursed, then at his arms and could think of nothing more to do than roll his eyes. He couldn’t have been wearing something red now could he? But as John pushed past him, he went from being merely annoyed with the man that was supposed to be at least his friend, to being pissed at him.”You’re damn right I expect you to stand there as I bleed. It isn’t something you have any control over, you have no right, and no means of ensuring that my skin lies undamaged! “ He flicked on the lights revealing the pale scars that adorned his legs.

My sylphs would never do anything like this! And I would like to see some bully even attempt to touch me! So yes, yes I did it to myself, and don’t even think of lecturing me on something about bloody suicide. I am capable of judging my own limits, I know exactly how much I can cut myself before it gets to be too much. I know exactly what I’m doing, so if you think you get as say with what I do to my own body you can just go fuck off!” He knew his limits... under normal circumstances, but usually when he did this he was happy, at peace, his heart didn’t beat with anger in it and he wouldn’t be standing either... he would relax... and with John here, he was most certainly not relaxed.

Quite aside from that, it was quite possible he had drawn creatures here that wouldn’t care for Johns presence. Things that fed off the blood that Adrian freely offered. Things he couldn’t control.

[Alice Tudor]

"Will you shut up Adrian?!" Turning to glare at his friend, he only crossed his arms over his chest as he glared at Adrian. He was more than pissed now, and he was not just going to stand there as Adrian bled. He felt his own blood boiling, and if Adrian were to get close he might feel the heat coming off his face. At the mention of fucking off, John clenched his fist ever so tightly. He was not going to lecture to Adrian about his cutting, at least not now. "How the hell am I supposed to know the sylphs wouldn't do that to you, huh? I'm just worried, okay?! Anything came to my mind, all I saw was you bleeding and then millions of thoughts came to my mind. Now will you take off your fucking shirt so that we can bandage those wounds, please?"

Glaring to the side once more, he continued his search for a first aid kit. Not finding one, he rubbed his hand through his hair getting even more frustrated, if that was possible. He wanted to hit Adrian, so hard at the moment. That or kiss him. He had clenched his fist so hard that he himself had started to bleed, but he wasn't paying attention to that. Even if Adrian knew his limits, John knew he made Adrian angry and that would.. most likely push his limits and his blood at the moment.

[Taylor]

Adrian had on occasion, offered his blood to darker elementals; they came to the call of his anger now. They weren’t powerful creatures... scavengers, little more than vicious sylphs. They were about the elemental equivalent of magpies, yet smaller than. But they were easy to control, and with a little blood, they were easy to please. Creatures of both air and water they sprung from the pool filled with Adrian’s blood, to hover around him, their bloody silhouettes appearing to mortal eyes.

He nodded to them and they did as John had asked, they ripped his shirt from his body, yearning to lap at the fresh blood seeping from his wounds. The anger was draining from him as his blood flowed into the mouths of the creatures. ”I am capable of taking care of my self.” Each word was clipped and carefully enunciated. He spread his arms as the creatures alighted on them, barely feeling their weight as they began to lap at his wounds. Naturally it would be used to keep their victims alive, but with his link with the elementals, he could use it for his own means. ”I don’t need bandages, or your help! I can sustain myself.” Despite their minor healing abilities, the creatures were still drinking his blood. He was turning a little pale. Still, the creatures tongues felt like silk and another side effect was a mild euphoria.

He brought an arm up to his face and nuzzled a creature, “besides aren’t they cute?” his diluted blood smeared across his face. ”I think they’re a form of imp.” He laughed as the intoxicant infused him with a giddiness... he hadn’t actually used these guys to do more than seal a tiny wound before... the sylphs had told him they were dangerous... if he didn’t focus... they might break his control.

[Alice Tudor]

John clenched his hand one more as Adrian somewhat snapped at him, clipping his words and enunciating carefully. Seeing the creatures come from the pool and rip off Adrian's shirt he only placed his hand into his pocket, knowing that he had made himself bleed from gripping his hand earlier. His anger was starting to drain a bit, starting to be replaced with a bit of worry as Adrian had nuzzled one of the creatures. "... Honestly, they're kinda creepy... they're... well, they're drinking your blood and making you go pale. "

Hesitating for a moment, Johns lowly walked over, trying to shoo one of the creatures away from Adrian's wound. "Look, I know you can take care of yourself, and I know you can sustain yourself, but I'd really rather you...get bandages... because you're.... well this is weird." The only issue was he had used his hand that... itself had started bleeding earlier. He had dug his nails into his skin and it wasn't as bad as Adrian's cuts, but he did cut himself well enough to have it be a slow continuous flow.

[Taylor]

(Umm sorry if I assumed to much in the second paragraph, I can change it if you want... also, respond to the coffee for two thread first, in case John doesn’t think he could fend for himself... Adrian hints at how to get him out of trouble *cough*)

As John tried to shoo one of the creatures away, Adrian giggled, the drug these things used was potent and with the blood he already lost... it was all the more effective. The creatures didn’t like their prey running away. Normally, an Undine would rid him of the creatures, but he had oh so recently defiled their pool with his blood, even if one had helped him do it... it had only done it because Adrian had seemed upset. No Undine was going to enter the room through that pool any time soon, and the only other source of water was a vial than normally hung around his neck... though at the moment it was on his nightstand.

The creature that John had tried to be rid of, caught scent of the blood coming from his hand... it saw easy prey that wouldn’t upset the Undines with it’s death... and yet there was something strange about it... the creature somehow sensed Johns immortality. With a cry of glee audible to mortal ears, it launched itself at John. As soon as he was sedated the creatures would take him back to a nest on the mortal plane and bind him there, feeding off of him and sustaining themselves for an eternity on the blood that would continually flow from the veins of this pitiable creature.

When the creature left Adrian, for a moment, he missed it, and then he saw it attempting to feed off John with such enthusiasm it made him laugh once more. ”It likes you! It wants to play with you.” His nature had reverted to one full of childlike innocence, completely unaware of any danger he might be in.

[Alice Tudor]

John had winced slightly at the cry coming from the creature, putting his hand that wasn't bleeding over his ear. It was true that if they had bound him he would bleed for eternity, but eventually his body would run out of blood and have to make more. They would just have to take a break now and then. John had no idea this was... what would happen, though. He had no clue about the sylphs or really any of the creatures that Adrian controlled. Seeing the creature flying towards his hand, though, he stumbled back waving his hand a bit to try and keep the sylph away. "H-h-hey Adrian-- I .. don't wanna play with it. What's--- wow."

In trying to fend the creature off and trying to get Adrian to pay attention, he felt the tongue of the slyph against his hand. It was silky smooth, and it.... made his head a bit foggy. It wasn't a bad foggy, no, not at all, it was rather... good. However, suddenly feeling like this after being licked by the creature, John had quickly shook his head and put his hand into his pocket to try and keep it away. "A-adrian! There's something not right about this.. n-not right at all... though it does feel very good.. where's your.. where's your water thing?! The necklace you had on the other night?" Ah-ha! That was it! That vile of water around his neck had called ... something before. An.. undine Adrian called it... that helped with the wind sylphs before. Maybe it could help now too? If there even was any danger... he really was just jumping to conclusions.

[Taylor]

(*cough* notatsylph *cough*)

Adrian watched as the creature tried to feed off John... although it saddened him that John didn’t want to play, he figured it was best to do what John said... John was smart, even if he was stupid about the cuts. He waved a hand at the creature that was currently loaded up with his blood. A compulsory command pulled the creature to him. It struggled to get at John, but it was couldn’t escape Adrians grasp. The comparison to Hugo the abominable snow rabbit would have made Adrian laugh, and actually have been quite accurate.

Confused by Johns question, Adrian pointed over to his nightstand with the hand he had been stroking the lecherous beast. ”But that’s my necklace... why do you want it? I know it’s pretty, but you can’t have it, it’ss mine. He slurred his words a bit as his fine motor control went down the chutes. Most of the creatures were focused on his torso, his arms were covered in the sealed scars he had made himself. The teeth marks they left behind were fading fast, disappearing with supernatural speed.