forum “Hinder me no more. Or so it says, at least” (OxO, Mature, Closed)

Started May 26 by @Serpentess health_and_safety language

tune

Nok didn’t flinch when he met eyes with the odd youth. His salute was a clear sign that the man’s charm was a facade. Sure, it was smooth, but it was also trained. Nok had spent millennia mastering the same techniques, so he recognized it instantly. And thus, he simply gave a polite nod and salute back before turning away. No need to attract more attention from another predator, even a living one.

The barmaid winked and giggled at Marc’s playful words, then went to fetch some more whiskey for the flirting pair. She dropped it off, smiling sweetly.

“This round is on the house, boys. Enjoy,”she said with a giggle. She then walked off.

“On the house? Well, this might just be a sign. A lucky day, don’t ye think?”the drunk said cheerily, his words slurred. He gave Nok a naughty grin, and downed his glass in one gulp.

“Indeed,”Nok agreed, grinning back at the man.

However, he didn’t touch the drink, nor did he look at the drunkard. His eyes were locked on the youth from earlier. He knew this game all too well. The prey let his guard down too soon and the hunter had sighted his prey. But, as this youth would soon find out, Nok was no simple catch.

“Darlin’, I’ll be back in just a second. Meanwhile, have a little gift. A sure sign of things to come,”Nok purred in the drunkard’s ear, sliding his whiskey over to him.

The drunk eyed him closely, even more enamored of him. Nok chuckled and pecked him on the cheek before getting up. As the drunkard downed Nok’s drink, the vampire made his way over to the empty seat beside the youth.

“You have my attention, darlin’. Was there somethin’ you wanted? Or, maybe… someone?”Nok asked, alluringly brushing a finger along his bottom lip. He had no reason to drop his act just yet.

Marc bit his tongue to hide his frustration, silently cursing himself for such a premature move. The other man had returned his acknowledgment, fine, that wasn't a problem, but sending the drinks had clearly tipped him off and that was a problem.

He smiled easily as he adjusted his long dark coat, making sure nothing… unfriendly was showing, and let his eyes rake the man over. He was attractive, he had to admit, but maybe a little too attractive. It didn't seem fair to be that alluring. Not that he was any slouch either. With his broad, well-defined build and slightly taller-than-average height, he had many women swooning… as well as a couple men.

“Well,” he drawled, lazily, letting his words slur just a bit. “I do want someone but I apologize for taking you away from your… friend there.” he shrugged. “Didn't mean to do that. But I have to say that you are quite a puzzle. And I enjoy a challenge like that.” he grinned, waving his hand towards the empty seat as an invitation.

Nok recognized the small movements the man made as he approached. The forced composure, the subtle adjustment to hide equipment, the assessment of his quarry. All telltale signs that Nok had caught him by the balls. The prey wasn’t supposed to find the predator, after all.

Nok leaned on the back of the empty chair next to the man, listening closely as he eyed the man’s features. He wasn’t much shorter than Nok, but he was definitely wider. Nok had a more wiry frame, with slim shoulders and long legs. It was an interesting contrast, to say the least.

His slur was obviously fake, so was his casual manner. The apology bored Nok, but the puzzle comment caught his attention. Despite his better judgment, Nok couldn’t help taking the invitation and sitting down. That this man considered him a challenge, and liked that idea, didn’t bode well.

“My friend is a forgivin’ man. Though I wouldn’t want to make him jealous. That might start a brawl,”Nok replied jokingly, chuckling.

He looked the man up and down again, calculating his next move carefully.

“You say I’m a puzzle, darlin’. Yet, it’s you that’s the puzzle. I come in here, frolic aroun’ a little with my dearies, then go on my way. But, you… I have ne’er seen you here. New to town?”Nok purred.

Something sparked inside Marcus as the man engaged with him but didn't let it show. He couldn't. That would be even more dangerous. Instead, he simply leaned back in his chair and laughed a little with him at the comment about the drunk.

“That's good. I’d hate to be in any unnecessary fights.” he grinned playfully, though his eyes hardened slightly at having his banter turned on him. “Oh, I’m just a traveler. No real home of my own so I get to see as much of the world as I can.” he said casually dismissive despite feeling like they had both already marked each other. “Honestly, I can't remember if I’ve been here before or not but it is my first time in this tavern and as I said, I am looking for someone.”

“So would I,”Nok replied.

He noted the change in the man’s eyes as Nok used his own words against him. It sent an odd thrill through Nok to see that change. Damn, how long had it been since he’d last played cat and mouse? Centuries probably.

“A traveler? Really? How intriguin’. Well, I know some folks aroun’ here. Any chance I might be of some help findin’ this person, darlin’ traveler?”he asked.

Nok was certain that the man was looking for him, but it had been a while since he had toyed with anyone. Besides, if this man was going to try hunting him, Nok saw no reason not to fuck with his head.

Marcus nodded at the agreement, hoping that they could maintain that little “agreement” while they were still in public. There was no need or reason, in his opinion, to cause a scene here.

“Well, I’ve been told that the man I’m looking for is dangerous and apparently frequents places like this for easy targets.” he explained, grinning in a way that no doubt spoke volumes about how he was looking forward to the hunt, the challenge, and the slightly macabre enjoyment of his profession. “I doubt you would be interested in helping me find such a person but I appreciate your offer.”

Well, at least the man had the courtesy to think first before starting a fight. Otherwise he wouldn’t have nodded to Nok’s agreeing comment. They both liked discretion. That was something Nok could tolerate, and even respect.

Nok’s eyes widened and he easily feigned horror at the man’s description. Danger in a tavern? Oh no! To the average drunk, it would be horrifying. But, to Nok, it was nothing new. Few taverns existed without some kind of trouble haunting it.

Though, the way the man grinned, Nok was almost tempted to reveal what kind of ‘dangerous’ individual he was. The mere thought of breaking the man’s jaw brought him delight. However, he quickly stifled those temptations. He had just agreed to no needless fighting, and he wanted to keep to that.

“Oh dear! What kind of man is he? I don’t want any of my dearies gettin’ hurt!”Nok burst, still feigning horror. The irony of his words was not lost on him, and it took a lot of willpower to keep from laughing.

He even glanced over at the drunk he’d been with earlier, just to accentuate his words. The sight of him passed out on the table made it even harder for Nok to avoid laughing. Though, the reminder of the sheer inconvenience this hunter was served in helping tone down the humor of the moment.

Marcus had to close his eyes at the overdone show of terror on the other’s face. He knew if he was talking to anyone normal they would be scared, and with good reason. But this guy… Marc shook his head, bringing a hand up to his forehead. It was just too much for him.

Unfortunately, the man’s comment did nothing to help as he had to focus on his breathing to keep what remained of his mask intact. He thought he had it enough under control to open his eyes again before noticing the glance at the drunk.

“He…” he had to pause and clear his throat to keep his voice from cracking. This guy was already messing with his head. “Excuse me. The man in question is a Rouge. Doesn't seem to follow certain rules and likes to be alone.” he finally managed to play along. “Not that I begrudge anyone a little solitude and peace every once in a while but this man is supposedly one of the kinds who does more damage when alone rather than with his… his kinfolk.” he added, choosing his last word carefully.

The man’s reactions to Nok’s false terror was hysterical. A small grin even broke through his facade when the man shook his head. He quickly composed himself though, hiding his amusement with practiced skill.

The man finally found his footing, describing his target. So, that’s what they were calling him now. A damn lawless rogue! The only time he had ever gone against the clan or its ‘rules’ was when that little bastard followed him.

“Oh dear! But… what do you mean by kinfolk, darlin’? Family, maybe? Or clan?”he asked.

His eyes bored into the man, daring him to comfirm his question. Despite the humor of the moment, it was time to bring the conversation to an end. Nok didn’t have all night. He needed a quick meal, and then he needed to get back to his library and work.

Marcus was finally able to meet the other's eyes again and saw the hardness in his gaze as he asked the question. So, their little game of wordplay was finished? That was a shame. It had been almost as fun as he suspected the upcoming fight would be. Marc shrugged slightly, just enough to fool anyone else but he knew this man would no doubt see through it.

"As far as I know, this man has no family. Not anymore." he answered smoothly, not taking his eyes off the cold grey ones staring right back. "As far as I know, he hasn't been cooperating with anyone. I don't know what the issue is between him and any clan but that's not my problem either, now is it?"

The man’s shrug told Nok much. Whether he’d been hired by the city or the clan itself, they wanted him gone. The man’s words only furthered solidified that reality. He had hurt one little insignificant brat, and now the clan wanted him either dead or gone from the city, probably the former considering that they had sent a hunter after him. The clans only ever did that when they couldn’t handle things themselves. Which made Nok wonder, was that brat clan royalty? Had he maimed a royal newborn? Great…

Nok had to hold back a snort at the man’s comment about his lack of family. He’d never had a family, at least as a vampire. His living family still continued though, the bloodline of his little brother steadily enduring time and politics.

The man’s last comment brought Nok out of his thoughts and he finally did snort. This hunter probably only cared about the thrill and the money. One of those ‘no questions asked’ sort of hunters. They were always a pain in the ass to deal with.

“A rather short-sighted approach, don’t you think, darlin’? Goin’ after a rogue like that without learnin’ any context of the fellow. A situation like that could be disastrous for e’erybody,”Nok remarked.

"It's not like I didn't ask." Marc pointed out when the vampire snorted. "They were just exceedingly tight-lipped about it and kept dancing around the question every time I tried to get that information. It was easier to just say that I'd deal with it and walk away." he scowled, dropping all pretense and crossed his arms over his chest. "Besides, I never cared for their company."

"Normally, I would look into things like this more but…" he shrugged again, not wanting to admit that they were offering a bonus if he did his job quickly and would decrease the promised price incrementally if it took too long. Instead, he let a slight smirk creep back across his face. "It's been interesting so far and I did say that I enjoyed a good challenge, didn't I? How else am I supposed to continue improving?"

Though the man’s response wasn’t exactly what Nok had expected, it still wasn’t surprising. It was always either the hunter that didn’t care or the clan that refused to explain. And, if he really had hurt a royal, then the clan was undoubtedly going to be secretive about it.

The change in demeanor and his next comment then revealed the one question Nok hadn’t yet asked. So, the city had nothing to do with this hunt then. It was strictly clan business. It was a bit surprising that the clan had managed to hire a hunter without first turning him. He either had a perfect reputation, or the clan was in a hurry. Or both.

“Some challenges aren’t worth the risk,”Nok replied, dropping his own act. The cold starkness of his normal, aristocratic speech was a grand contrast to the playful accent he’d been using.

“Now, I must be going. Things to do, clans to avoid, and such things. Farewell, and enjoy the drink,”Nok added.

He set a few coins down on the counter, paying for the man’s drink. He then stood up and calmly walked out of the tavern. He headed for another tavern a few streets away, mostly to see if the man would follow him.

Marc raised a brow at the warning and the change in the man’s speech but wasn't completely surprised by it. Of course, he would take an extra step to hide himself. Probably from everyone considering how natural the accent sounded.

“How do you know which one is which unless you take the chance?” he countered lowly, not bringing up his opinion that the vampire’s words sound like that of a coward to him.

He nodded, putting back on the show of just two guys talking, as the bloodsucker paid for his drink. A part of him was almost insulted by the action while another found it ironic that the one he was hunting had just spent his money on the one who was going to kill him… and yet, another was almost disappointed that such a challenging (and attractive) man wouldn't be around much longer to continue such interactions.

The hunter downed the rest of his drink and waited a reasonable amount of time before swaying to his feet and staggering out the door. He kept up the drunk walk for a while in case anyone else walked out around the same time as him before switching back to his natural quiet gait, quickly covering any lost ground between him and the vampire.

“One can easily tell the difference when they are in over their head. Like you are,”Nok replied, his tone so casual despite the gravity of his words.

He left the conversation like that. He had learned enough to gauge his situation and the hunter. So, when he later saw said hunter following him, he wasn’t surprised.

Nok neared the tavern, but instead of going inside, he walked past it and into an alleyway. He checked that the alley was empty then leaned against the wall, patiently waiting for the hunter. If he passed by, Nok would leave him alone. If he turned into the alley, then the hunter would become his next meal.

He was debating if he wanted to kill the man, but he quickly decided not to. He’d give the man the courtesy of surviving his first feeding. But, if he met the hunter again, Nok wouldn’t be so gracious.

Marcus blinked at the weight of the words, not denying the truth and reason in them but the vampire had left before he could even think of a reply. It was probably for the best since he couldn't think of anything to say after that.

He sighed as he saw the vampire choose the location of their fight. An empty, dead-end alleyway was almost a boring choice and would force them into much closer combat… which he had to admit would likely play in the vampire’s favor considering the greater strength of their kind. He was going to have to be smart about this.

Reaching inside his coat, his fingers wrapped around a specialized pistol and a silver stake as he quickly muttered a prayer that the cross around his neck would help. “You know this isn't personal.” he stated from the entrance, not yet stepping into their soon-to-be arena. “But even if I wasn't after you now, I would be sooner or later. Just wanted to say that conversation was probably the most civil and enjoyably challenging one I’ve had with someone like you.” he added respectfully.

An alleyway honestly wasn’t Nok’s first choice for a fight, but he wanted to get it over with so he could get back to his regular routine. And, an alley served as a quick way to dispose of the hunter without involving anyone else.

As the hunter neared, Nok heard him whispering a prayer. Nok nearly laughed at that. Not many things scared or hurt him anymore, considering his age, least of all religious symbols.

The man’s words both bored and intrigued him. Every hunter said it wasn’t personal, and that they would eventually be after him. But, not many told him that his conversations were civil, yet alone enjoyable.

“I have long grown bored of the petty arguments and the drama. When one gets to my age, a lot grows boring. Not conversations though, whether it’s a battle of wits or simply talking about the moon. And, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a battle of wits with someone that could keep up. So, because of that, I’m willing to give you the choice. You can fight me, and realize the hard way how out of your league you are. Or, you can walk away, and let me deal with the clan face-to-face,”Nok offered.

Marc smiled faintly at the compliment and nodded. “The feeling is, surprisingly, mutual. But I’m afraid I can't walk away.” he admitted, drawing his gun. “Normally, I would draw out the fight a bit but I don't think you deserve that, whatever you’ve done to annoy that clan so much. I actually think that in another life, when I had met you first and didn't care what you are… maybe we could have been friends.” he shrugged, unsure if that was just wishful thinking or maybe just that last bit of alcohol loosening his tongue. “As it is… I’ll try to make this quick.”

He took a step, finally hiding himself from the rest of the world in the alley, leveled his gun at the vampire’s heart, and squeezed the trigger.

Nok hummed in disappointment as the man turned down his request. He then contemplated his next words, a wave of sorrow falling over him. It was always ‘in another life’ or ‘had things been different’. Well, he couldn’t change his nature, and he had already lived so many lifetimes. He had long wondered why anyone bothered saying those phrases, especially when it was obvious that no other lifetimes or timelines or circumstances would make a difference.

By the time Nok realized the conversation was over, the hunter had entered the alley and pulled the trigger. The sharp jolt of pain ripped Nok out of his thoughts and he gave a small yelp before bursting into a short coughing fit.

“Fuck, I forgot how much those things sting!”Nok blurted.

He glanced down at his chest, rolling his eyes at the new hole in his robe, then looked at the hunter.

“I told you, you’re in over your head,”he mentioned.

He then took two long strides, swatted aside the gun, grabbed the man by the wrist, and threw him against the wall. Nok then simply watched him while fighting back another little coughing fit.

Marc was surprised by the vampire’s outburst at being shot but quickly moved to reload, narrowing his eyes at the overconfidence of the following comment. Before he could even bother to come up with a reply or fire another shot; his gun was gone, leaving only a stinging sensation in his hand, and his breath left him as his back was slammed into the wall, making his head spin.

He groaned at the pain but forced himself to move past it as he got back to his feet, pulling the silver stake out from his coat. His eyes narrowed, gritting his teeth, trying to focus on one target instead of two. “Getting a bit slow, old man?” he quipped at seeing the vampire still coughing from his first strike.

Nok rose a disdainful eyebrow at the sight of the silver stake as the man got to his feet. He noted the man’s apparent dizziness, up until he spoke.

“Fuck off. It’s been a few decades or centuries since I was last shot in the heart. And, you’ve been fucking up my feeding routine, so there’s that,”Nok huffed irritably.

He didn’t want to admit that the hunter had also startled him. Though, after another moment, it didn’t matter much as the wound fully healed and Nok quit coughing. He then locked his eyes on the stake again.

“Nice touch with the silver. Your gun did more damage than that ever will,”Nok commented with a snort.

He flicked his finger, the stake flying from the man’s hand and landing several feet away. He then waved his hand like he was beckoning the hunter, and the same force that threw the stake tossed the hunter into the wall next to Nok.

He turned to face the hunter, nearly grabbing him by the throat with the intention of biting him. However, he didn’t do that. Once again, he just stood there and watched the hunter. It was a little confusing why he was putting so little effort into a fight that was supposed to be quick. Most days, he would’ve already murdered the hunter and been done with it. What was so different about this one?

“You know, I never asked for your name,”Nok abruptly said.

Marc chuckled a little at the vampire’s irritation as his vision cleared, though the swear caught him by surprise. “Whatever you have to tell yourself, old man.” he smirked again.

He adjusted his grip at the comment on his secondary weapon before it was ripped out of his hand and he was back against the wall. “You’re older than they told me.” he groaned as he struggled against the invisible force. This kind of power was something he really hated about vampires. It just wasn't fair. How was anyone supposed to be able to fight something that couldn't be hit? It was only then that he noticed the vampire hesitating. They both knew what was coming, but Marc wasn't going to make it easy once he was close enough… but neither of them moved. He physically couldn't, despite his best efforts, but why wasn't he? Was this some new way of messing with his head?

He blinked at the sudden question and stopped fighting for a moment before raising a brow. “And you're asking me now?” he asked incredulously. “Why? So you can have something to carve on my grave?” he snapped, knowing vampires didn't typically bury their victims.

“Quit calling me ‘old man’! I don’t need reminding that I’m fucking old,”Nok hissed.

He then snorted at the man’s comment.

“That’s because I pre-date the clan. They don’t actually know my age, and I haven’t bothered to tell them either. Yet another reason why they don’t like me,”Nok mentioned.

The hunter struggled against the force holding him against the wall, but Nok knew it was futile. The hunter wouldn’t be free unless he let him go. It was so simple a spell, with such devastating an effect. It didn’t do anything to motivate him to eat the hunter though.

“No. Something to remember you by. All of you hunters say and do the same exact things, even after ages have passed. It’d be nice to remember your name, that I can still tell you were memorable even after another millennium has passed,”Nok said, his voice growing quieter as the sorrow from earlier creeped back into his veins.

Marc smirked a little, despite his situation, and decided to keep using the moniker even if he was going to die because of it. If the vampire didn't want to be called that, he shouldn't have reacted so vehemently. But the information that he was older than the clan was interesting. No wonder they didn't get along.

But he was so surprised by the sentiment that he completely stopped struggling. That was definitely the first time that a vampire showed this kind of emotion for him. He wasn't even sure what emotion it was. “Marcus. My name is Marcus.” he answered softly, still trying to process what was going on.

Nok rolled his eyes at the sight of the man’s smirk. He could already tell that he was going to keep using the nickname. Great… He might have to kill him eventually, just to be rid of the annoying nickname.

The hunter’s surprise didn’t go unnoticed. It only served to remind Nok even more of his age and solitude. All of the ancient vampires he knew of were long gone, having walked into the sun because they couldn’t cope with the loneliness. Nok had nearly done the same many times in the past century alone, but he always found a reason to not do it. Considering that, Nok wondered if he was the oldest vampire still around.

“Marcus… I haven’t met a Marcus in a very, very long time. How fitting,”Nok mumbled to himself.

He waved his hand, releasing Marcus. Then, he gave a long sigh and shoved down his sadness before looking back at Marcus.

“I would give an alias to, maybe, throw you off my trail, but I really don’t feel like it. So, my name, my real name, is Norkhal’rokh. For the sake of ease though, you can call me Nok. And, if you feel the need to research my age, I’ll save you the trouble. You won’t find any mention of my real name for about four millennia, maybe a little longer,”he said.

Nok had no idea why he’d just said any of that, or why he had suddenly decided to spare Marcus. But, he was already committed, and he didn’t feel like trying to get out of it. Was he really that desperate for company that he would keep a hunter alive? Apparently.

“I’m going to head inside this tavern here and find a meal. I implore you, don’t follow me. Let me have this one meal in peace. Then, if you are so adamant about it, you can continue your futile attempts to kill me,”Nok requested.

Without waiting for an answer, he walked away.