InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Hey Todd. How's it going?"

tao_ (tao_) wrote,
@ 2010-09-25 21:33:00

Who: Riley and Tao
What: final plans
When: four days later
Where: Sanctuary

Tao had worked on getting the schedule for the next couple of weeks so that Riley's people could find out more about this Dubois. He had already started his own research on the man and had not left his sanctuary since. Only the people there and his second knew that he had not really disappeared. He ran the club for Tao in his absence and kept people from panicking.

He was still concerned over Marie's attitude but kept her out of things as much as possible for now. Feeding her information was all he thought of right now and Jeanne had kept her distance during their very short visit. The dizziness had passed, finally, the next day, but he had still felt weak. Smaller meals, and more of them had been William's suggestion and rather then argue it, he agreed and was reminded with a glass every two hours or so.

For now he had let himself go just a bit, a pair of jeans and an open shirt were all he wore while he padded around the house. Sitting in front of the computer, he had finally gotten the office cleaned and new hard wood floors rather then carpet, he ran a hand through his hair and went over the files of Dubois that he had gotten a hold of.

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amulius
2010-09-26 02:38 am UTC (link)

Consulting the shamans was never difficult, they were always extremely willing to share their opinions about Riley and the way he was running the pack. He had known that things would go badly if they hadn't agreed with his plan. However, thank the gods, they had agreed, and had immediately gotten to work capturing the attention of their dieties so that they would be happy to help them in their quest to discover what lay beneath the surface of pastor Dubois.

Riley's outside, however, had been doing much, much better than his inner thoughts. His talks with the shamans had been neat and organized, they had goals and they had a plan. His inner thoughts, however, had been muddled and confused. His dreams had been full of darkness, sex, and blood - but mostly blood. Puddles of it, buckets of it, splashes of it on sheets and on his skin. Every night had been a whirlwind of waking up, shaking his mate awake, and then fucking her like a mad man until his hips wouldn't move any longer. If he didn't have a new pup on the way by now, he had even more worries.

He had decided to take his beat up gunmetal gray pickup truck to Tao's home this time, if only to keep himself out of the animal mindset that seemed to be stuck on the vampire's body. This time he would not end up shredding his clothes, he was determined, he would not have to use the spare set that he had plopped down onto the passenger seat of the truck. He pulled up in front of the house, turned off the truck and left it, and stuck the keys in his front pocket as he ascended the steps to the house. This time he didn't bother to make his presence into a big showy announcement, instead he passed by the human attendant without a word.

Riley paused in front of the door to Tao's office briefly, and then turned the knob and stepped inside. "The gods have willed that the Dubois' man have his spirit bared to the four winds." He announced in his best cryptic old man voice with a small smile. "Or, in other words, we can grab this motherfucker's brain by the balls as long as he stays within a four yard radius."

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tao_
2010-09-26 02:44 am UTC (link)

Tao leaned back in his chair, one leg stretched out beneath the desk and his chin set in his thumb and forefinger. He stared at the screen, something was missing, he was missing something important about this man and it bothered him. Information could be difficult to get but not impossible.

Glancing up as Riley made his small speech and shook his head at him. "Well then, the schedule won't be in vain. The floors have just been redone, so don't go throwing more gore around." he added.

Sitting up he reached for a file and handed it forward. "This is all I have, I'm afraid I was unable to convince the human of shifter and were differences so she won't be back here. We are keeping contact to a minimum."

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amulius
2010-09-26 02:59 am UTC (link)

Riley took the seat in front of the desk and leaned forward to take the file. He opened it up and spread it across his lap, careful not to meet Tao's eyes in the process. He scanned over the information, taking care to go through every line, to take in every detail. "A lot of this isn't very surprising." He murmured. From what Marie had observed, Dubois' habits fell right in line with what he had expected about the man; typical white American protestant, with just a pinch of crazy mixed in for giggles.

He set the file down on the lip of Tao's desk and looked up at the vampire, his gaze resting just to the left of his eyes, "The sermon on Sunday mornings seems to be the best bet." He said evenly, his tone unusually reasoned. "He stands in front of a pane of glass while the sun rises behind him - very theatrical. Fan-fucking-tastic." He pressed his lips into a thin line and looked back down at the file. "Anyway, that will work. They'll be able to measure the depth of his abilities, find out who - or what - this man is."

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tao_
2010-09-26 03:06 am UTC (link)

Tao glanced from his screen to the shifter, at first not noticing the change. Once he did, he made it a point to watch him as he spoke, catch his eyes, but Riley was careful. So that quickly then. Not that he hadn't expected it. When Riley looked up and his gaze went more towards his ear then his eyes he cleared his throat and looked back at his computer screen.

"Then the information is satisfactory? Once we know more about him, I will get things in place for an unveiling. He seems intent on knowing your pack's resting place, so we should be able to use that to get them together. An area on the other side of town, I believe you hunt there but do not reside there correct?"

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amulius
2010-09-26 03:19 am UTC (link)

"It's enough for now, at least." Riley replied with a small shrug, and leaned back in the chair - not his chair, the chair. He had to stop thinking about Tao's things in terms of ownership. Maybe then the dreams would stop. He swallowed. "Our settlement isn't anywhere near that side, no. Hunting's not that great either, since it's downriver of the city. Deer know better than to drink that water." He ran his fingers over his jaw and chin, there was stubble there - had he forgotten to shave again? He really was losing it.

Riley set his elbows on his knees, "We could set up a fake rite of passage ceremony. Make up some ritual, maybe play into that myth about leaving our young one alone in the deep woods so that they prove themselves." He knew that there were rumors about the shifters among other supernatural creatures, that they treated their children in an almost Spartan-like manner. "It's bullshit, of course." He muttered, "We would never do that, but those humans believe we're animals, so why play along with that."

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tao_
2010-09-26 03:24 am UTC (link)

A faint smile played across his face. "Yes well, there's a usefulness in allowing humans to believe what they want about you. It's a kind of control." His eyes flicked back towards him once again. "If they had any intelligence they would remember that most animals are better parents then humans these days. I believe they prefer their nightmares."

He hadn't said it intentionally. He had no idea that Riley was having nightmares. He himself didn't dream, not that he ever remembered. He wasn't lucky enough to have his subconscious work out issues, he went over them in his own mind in the waking hours. "I can funnel information through Marie, but by phone. I, recommend, that no actual information be given. I am unsure it's safe. Jeanne has noted, a difference in Marie as well."

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amulius
2010-09-26 03:32 am UTC (link)

Riley didn't hear a single word that Tao said after 'nightmare.' Instead, he felt that blind rage bubbling up inside his chest, like a chorus of teeth ripping and tearing at his insides. He rose to his feet so quickly that the chair under him toppled over. "You son of a bitch!" He shouted, hard enough to hurt his throat. Now he did meet Tao's eyes, with the wide, angry eyes of a cornered animal. "You sit there pontificating about this human who has psychic abilities, you claim you only use yours when it's necessary- you've just been full of bullshit this whole time!" He bared his teeth at the vampire and seemed ready to leap over the desk at any moment, "Tell me what you did to my head, you sick fuck!"

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tao_
2010-09-26 03:37 am UTC (link)

Tao's brow furrowed as he watched Riley leap up at him. His words made no sense and Tao slowly stood, hands up defensively. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable without his shirt buttoned, no shoes. His suits were a kind of armor and they may physically not been much but they were something. "I have no idea what you are talking about. So why don't you explain it to me?" He kept his voice soft, calm, though he didn't feel calm in the least. He hadn't gone near Riley's mind. At first because he simply wanted to learn what he needed on his own, then a kind of respect that he refused to admit to. His own mind raced over things. Yes, he had taken some blood, once, but it was long enough ago that it should be purged from his system and since he wasn't seeing anything, then Riley shouldn't have either.

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amulius
2010-09-26 03:49 am UTC (link)

The tone of Tao's voice did nothing to calm Riley. He could feel his heart racing in his chest, his pulse pounding in his throat. "Stop playing games with me!" He growled, "I haven't been able to get you out of my head- it's fucking constant- nightmares, I can't even sleep anymore! It's just- sex and blood and that fucking room!" He brought his fists down hard on Tao's desk. "Don't tell me that you have nothing to do with that, Tao!" He could feel himself beginning to panic. How else had the vampire managed to manipulate him? He was questioning his every motive. He'd been fucked by this creature, he'd fucked this creature, he had trusted this creature with knowledge about the pack - fuck, what had he told him about the pack?

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tao_
2010-09-26 03:56 am UTC (link)

His words sunk in and hit Tao hard. He almost wanted to double over from the force of the blow but instead closed his eyes briefly. "Nightmares. I am, nothing more then your nightmares." he breathed. When he opened his eyes again they were dead, and he lowered his hands to his sides. "Listen carefully, because it is not something that is discussed outside of council. Every vampire is brought over into a line, a lineage of others. A family." He spit the word. "Each family has certain abilities, and drawbacks because of them. My, family, has blood knowledge. To feed, and not kill, means sharing knowledge. Both ways. You open your mind to them as theirs is open to yours. Which is why I. Do. Not. Feed. There was, that first night, some blood, but not enough to affect you, and has been out of my system more then long enough to no longer affect me. The only thing I garnered from your blood, was the face of your mate and pups. Nothing I would ever use. If I am the cause of your nightmares, it's only by existing. I will send William to the edges of your territory with information from now on. You need not come here again."

He couldn't be in the room any longer, it was suffocating. He moved from behind the desk to step past Riley and out of the office. Leaving the file behind for him if he wanted it.

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amulius
2010-09-26 04:08 am UTC (link)

Riley's breath caught in his throat midway through Tao's words. He realized now that this was what Marie had been talking about, the secret that had made her suspicious of the vampire. He shrunk back instinctively from him as he walked past him, and followed the vampire's back with his eyes until he disappeared out of the room. Left alone with his own thoughts, he was able to calm down somewhat and think over what Tao had said. It only took him a few moments to realize the truth. He let out a growl and tossed his head, then quickly strode after the vampire. He caught Tao in the hall and immediately reached out a hand to grab the vampire by the back of the neck.

"Stupid vampire," He growled, "I want to come back here." With all the strength in him he reached around to Tao's waist and pulled him in to crush their lips together.

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tao_
2010-09-26 04:22 am UTC (link)

He'd not gotten far, certainly not far enough, but he could feel him. Feel the shifter still behind him. Without thinking he'd lifted a hand to brush away the one clamped to the nape of his neck, "Do not -"

It was too fast, and somewhere in his mind was a voice screaming to back away before it got worse, before he would refuse to give up the shifter. Unfortunately that voice was drowned out by the sound of a heartbeat, by heat pressed against him, and the taste of his mouth. He turned, hands gone for his hips and pressed him back into the wall. A growl as he let his tongue run over his teeth.

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amulius
2010-09-26 04:29 am UTC (link)

At first, Riley was afraid that Tao would make good on hs initial intent of pushing him away, so when the vampire actually pulled him closer and pushed up against him, he felt something flutter in his chest. Tao still felt cold, but Riley was determined now to wrap him up in his warmth and to draw out that beautiful breath once again.

"I trust you." He groaned, hooking an arm around Tao's neck. "Gods, I want you more and more until I can't feel anything anymore."

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tao_
2010-09-26 10:10 pm UTC (link)

Coherent thoughts were always the first to go. He wanted to taste, to feel. More and more he wanted, to take, to own. The heat, the sun he could taste on his skin, the heartbeat he felt under his lips as he kissed along his jaw, his neck. Hands moved up his sides, looking for a way under the shirt, to skin. He faltered, then stopped. Lowering his face he kissed the frantic pulse point and pulled back. A faltering step back and he brought a hand up to run his thumb over Riley's lip. "No, you were right, little wolf. We don't want this kind of dangerous. I, don't feel, it's cold, and isolating, but a way to survive. You need more then to just survive."

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amulius
2010-09-26 10:24 pm UTC (link)

Riley reached out and grasped Tao's arms just above his elbows. "No, wrong." He growled, digging his fingers into Tao's skin. "We'll kill those humans and it won't matter anymore. I want you, I can feel it in my bones." He let out another growl and surged forward, shoving the vampire up and against the other side of the hallway, catching his lips in a savage kiss. He took advantage of Tao's open shirt and released his vice-like grip on his wrist to push his hand under and slipped an arm around the vampire's waist.

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tao_
2010-09-26 10:38 pm UTC (link)

Tao frowned, why was he stuck being the calm one? Why was he making this so hard? Did he think Tao wouldn't rather just strip him naked and take him in his own bed, spend hours tangled in arms and legs, indulging in the feel and taste of him? His head hit the wall behind him and he closed his eyes, groaned into the kiss but jaw stiff he turned his head and pushed at the shifter. His eyes went dark, solid. "No, we kill the humans, we stop the threat and we have no cause to even speak again. Treaty keeps it that way for a reason!" He reached for Riley's wrists, he needed him away, he needed to not feel his skin, his warmth so close.

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amulius
2010-09-26 10:54 pm UTC (link)

"You're my reason." Riley groaned. It was wrong, but it felt good to have Tao struggling against him. The change in his eyes told Riley that he was pushing at the vampire's boundaries, but he didn't care. "I couldn't leave your side that night and I won't now." He whispered harshly. He wouldn't accept the kiss to his lips and so Riley turned his attention to the vampire's neck, still holding him steadfastly to the wall. He was determined that his desire to keep the vampire against him would be stronger than Tao's desire to push him away.

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tao_
2010-09-26 11:10 pm UTC (link)

His fingers tightened on Riley's wrists. He wanted him, and unlike any other fleeting desires, fucking him hadn't stopped it. He felt the danger, felt it rise in his chest as he took in a breath. His words came out as evenly as he could make them, spit between clenched teeth. "There is, no pulse there. There is nothing, little wolf. I have no heat, no heart, and no emotions in it. It's dead, it has been dead longer then you have been alive. You mistake a, a fuck, an indulgence in your flesh for more. Don't." He kept his head turned to the side, refusing to look at him. The air in his lungs hurt, but he controlled the panting and stayed stiff, strung tight.

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amulius
2010-09-26 11:20 pm UTC (link)

"It's not just that." Riley growled against Tao's skin, squeezing him that much tighter, as if he was trying to merge their bodies together by sheer will. "It's not just the fuck, it's the fight, too, and all that power, clashing and scratching." He turned the attentions of his tongue to just beneath Tao's jaw. "I'm not looking for a pulse," he continued, "I've already found what I want." He pressed his nails into Tao's back. "And if you don't have a single emotion in you, you can at least acknowledge that it wasn't a fuck- it was multiple fucks, hours of fucks." His voice wavered slightly, "Just make this one more."

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	tao_ 2010-09-26 11:31 pm UTC (link)
	"Damn you!" He hissed out at him. He had tried, being sensible when he didn't want to be, being cruel when he usually didn't care if he was or not. The catch in his voice was too much. Turning his head just enough to lay forehead to shoulder, to feel buried in him, covered by him. "And there is the problem, it won't be, just a fuck. It can't be." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

amulius
2010-09-26 11:38 pm UTC (link)

Riley's grip on Tao did not soften. If anything, it became tighter as he did his best to wrap his arms completely around the cold body against him. He followed Tao's movement with his lips, pressing kisses along his jaw and then stopped with his mouth pressed tight to Tao's cheek. He began to stroke circles on the vampire's back with his thumb. "No one has to know." He murmured, "No one has the right to know."

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	tao_ 2010-09-26 11:48 pm UTC (link)
	His fingers loosened and hands ran up Riley's arms. He couldn't believe the words, but he could do everything he needed to, in order to make them true. Lifting his head he kissed him softly. "Upstairs. I want you in my bed." He pushed him back lightly towards the stairs. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

amulius
2010-09-27 12:03 am UTC (link)

Riley relaxed somewhat with the gentle pressure of Tao's kiss and realized that releasing that incredible tension had left his knees feeling positively weak. His expression brightened considerably from the stony mask he had tried to maintain before and he moved eagerly in the direction that Tao guided him in. He climbed the stairs as quick as he could, simultaneously accomplishing the task of undoing the line of buttons down his shirt.

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tao_
2010-09-27 12:10 am UTC (link)

Tao gave a look back down the stairs to make sure William and Jeanna had not come out to see what the noise was. He opened the door to his rooms and closed it quickly behind them. The doors from the sitting area to the bedroom were still open and here things were not light or airy, but heavy. The carpet thick and a dark wine color, windows covered by draperies, the furniture overlarge and over stuffed. The bed nothing like the one downstairs but round, and in cottons instead of silks, for comfort and not experimenting. As soon as the door was closed he reached for Riley, hands pushing at his shirt and mouth seeking his.

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amulius
2010-09-27 12:31 am UTC (link)

Riley breathed a sigh into Tao's mouth as the vampire's hands and lips found his. He immediatley began to respond, his hands sliding down the front of that already opened shirt to pull it off of the vampire's shoulders. He'd had scarecely a few moments to take in his surrounds and yet he knew he had crossed some line, the line, perhaps, between himself and Tao. There was only one thing left to be broken; his skin. He pulled Tao back with him until he was yanking the vampire on top of him as he fell onto the bed. The cotton felt much more comfortable, more familiar, perhaps it had something to do with the absence of straps. Tao was dead, but this room seemed much more lived in.

"Tao." He groaned, arching his hips up against the vampire's.