Justice... Differs between people? [HTH + Xiggy]

[High's .Valentine.]

"Don't touch me." Came Luther's terse reply. He continued gripping the edge of the building, his knuckles turning paler than his normal deathly color. He was so close...and it was gone. Just like that. The Vampire was back at square one...

And he was losing blood. Nevertheless, he was not going to let the other help him right now. Especially when he was about to burst an artery.

"I don't need your sympathy, human. Touch me and I'll tear you to minuscule pieces and scatter you to the winds. Now, leave me be..."

Standing up, Luther hissed, and gripped at his shoulder, fingers slippery. He had put too much force on himself, all the fury, now it was gone, left him loose and wobbly. It didn't help that in order to pursue this dodgy nobody, he had forgotten to feed for several days...

"I..."

He needed blood. The world spun and he tipped towards the edge of the roof. Unlike Xigbar, Luther cannot walk on thin air...

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[High Tea Hero]

Hmm. A dilemma. The tall man had threatened me (quite maliciously too), but he didn't look like he could do much. The man needed to be treated though... He started falling towards the edge of the roof. "No!" I encased him in a tea bag so that he couldn't attack me, then rushed over and pulled him back from the edge. Now all I needed to do was figure out how to move him. I tried picking up the bag, but it was just a bit too heavy. I had to lean him on my back, and drag him while almost crouched. Luckily my apartment wasn't too far away. "Why won't you cooperate with me? I'm helping you, whether you like it or not. And when you're healed, I'm helping you find that girl." I knew the guy wouldn't be happy at all, but It was what I felt was right.

[High's .Valentine.]

"Very determined...for a runt..." Luther mumbled, slightly bemused by the boy's insistence. Well...if he wanted to help. The Mantis King will let him muck up for now, since there's very little he can do to resist the stubbornness of at least nursing him back to health. But he won't be letting the human child mess with his progress. Nor will he allow the boy to hold him in a cage like this.

"Release this net of yours...I can walk." Luther pushed himself up, showing as little strain as possible, though he closed his eyes in order to avoid seeing the world do somersaults around him.

[/blockquote]

[High Tea Hero]

I didn't know if I should let him go. The threat still rang in my ears. Why the sudden change of heart? "Why the sudden change of heart? Besides, you still never told me your name." I was glad that the weight was temporarily relieved, but would it be for much longer? Maybe I was relieved now, but would I be torn up later? No. I had to believe in the power of the heart. {b]"Fine. But the second you try something on me, I'll leave you inside one again."[/b] I summoned my guitar, popped the axe-blade out, and cut it open.[/color]

[High's .Valentine.]

"My name is of no importance to you..." The meshing fell away, and the Vampire stood in a daze. "It is not a change of heart...I am not a fool, however." Luther Shiang knew his limits and when to withhold his pride.

"I need...blood..." He muttered, loud enough for Allen to hear. He paused, holding a hand up to his lips as if to gather himself together and refrain from doing anything vulgar. Let the meaning behind his words sink in for the boy. He should fear for the worse. The Mantis King stood up still again, and opened his eyes.

"Any amount would suffice," he said, with his head held as high as a regal man would. He gave the boy a look. "Preferably fresh. More than a gulp."

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[High Tea Hero]

And so my downfall from 'perfectly just' to just 'good human' started. He asked me to help him find blood... There wasn't a butchers shop near here. Looked like it was going to be animals... I looked around for something small. A rat maybe? A... Cat? I shuddered as I thought it. "You mean like... Human blood?!" I supposed I would have to make due with him. I wouldn't let him take a human's life though. Animals would be as far as it went. "Fine. I can let you take an animal's life... But not a Human's."

[High's .Valentine.]

Luther snorted. So naive. Just because blood was shed doesn't mean there is death. "You think in black and white, mortal." The Mantis King held out his hand, motioning for the boy's arm. "Animals aren't going to do any good. Just give me your wrist. I won't kill you." Yellow Eyes looked expectantly at the child.

Other side of the City

"Man, that was close," the nobody sighed, leaning against a wall. Next to him, hidden by the shadows, someone grunted as the sound of liquidy slurping can be heard. Xigbar glanced to the left and grimaced. "Woah, guys, get a room, will ya?" Turning back so he faced this strange desolated city, Xigbar rolled his eyes.

"Oooh~ Can't stomach it, Freeshooter?" A willy content voice sang from around the corner. A deep chuckle could be heard following. "He did meet your father, Arianne. We all know how much of a blood sucker he is."

"Oh Jade, your jokes are not funny."

Xigbar rolled his eyes. "So, Freeshooter...?"

"I led him on. He thinks the Organization has her. I got interrupted by some kid though."

"Daddy can't really be looking for her--"

"Huuush. Just drink...you'll need it for later. Tell me about this child, Freeshooter..."

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[High Tea Hero]

What? My blood? I didn't really know what to think, then. Should I trust him? Trust his heart? Maybe he doesn't have one... No. I always teach the art of selflessness. Even if I die, I'll have helped others. Maybe even have impacted more people to help out around here. "Fine. Here..." I gave him my arm. I was still unsure of what would happen.

[OOC: Sorry for the post size getting smaller and smaller =(]

[High's .Valentine.]

[Stop worrying. XD Speed RPs are usually suppose to be a few sentences long.]

"Hrm...slightly stringy for a human," Luther commented off-handedly, turning the boy's arm over with disinterest. "Look if you will, but do not move. Whatever I do, you must not move."

And with that, he sat down with much strain, pulling the boy down with him and bit him on the arm. What followed might have been a strange experience for Allen, having the blood sucked right out of his wrist...

[Feel free to take some initiatives though. XD]

[/blockquote]

[High Tea Hero]

And so I let him drain me. It was most definitely not something I would want to do again, yet at the same time left me with a feeling of sleepy bliss. He was right though, I suppose. I wasn't dead. I could hardly move, but I was still alive. I stood up after he was finished, stumbling, and eventually falling back down. My wrist was still dripping blood, but it wasn't nearly as much as it should have. There must have been something in the man's saliva. I tried standing up again- This time, a success. "I... need to go... apartment... my..." What had he done? Perhaps I was just weaker than he had expected. After all, he did say I was slightly stringy. I stumbled over to the nearest wall, and used it as support as I went in the direction of my apartment. I wouldn't be able to do much in my current state. Maybe sleep was a good idea...

[OOC: I dunno what your plans are with Jade/Arianne/Xiggy, so I just pretended that part didn't happen for me ]

[High's .Valentine.]

[Dun worry, I have something epic in store for them.]

Hm...he probably took too much. Luther released the child and licked his lips, pondering over the fresh taste of the kid. There's always something different about each individual's blood be they farmers, scholars, or vampires. And this boy...he had a bold flavor. Strong...earthy tea?

The Vampire took enough to recover and sate his hunger. It doesn't take much to keep the Mantis King going though, especially since his 'death'. And the boy's blood...it was fresh and thick. The taste of fresh blood was welcoming for the Vampire, who had put feeding on hold since pursuing the nobody.

"You are weak," Luther said nonchalantly, picking up the human child by the arm with the bite wound. It wasn't Luther's job to guide the kid home...but Alan had made a promise.

"My name is Luther Shiang. Where is your home, human?" Luther slung the boy over his shoulder like a potato sack. Hard labor wasn't something the Mantis King usually lowers himself to. How the Vampire managed to make himself look superior while doing it was beyond explanation. "Make it quick, child."

[/blockquote]

[High Tea Hero]

My apartment... Yes, the man seemed to have had a change of heart. He would at least try to help me to my apartment, for which I was grateful for. Then again, I was slumped haphazardly over his shoulder. I managed to slur out "The local hotel... Room 419." I realized I should have thanked him. "Thanks for... help..." I passed out for a short time after that. I didn't know how long it had been, but the man who called himself Luther was walking. The shifting and the movement of the bricks below me made me a bit nauseous, though, so I closed my eyes.

[High's .Valentine.]

"Humph..."

It wasn't very nice of the young man to mumble some words and then to collapse on the spot. Luther had the mind of dumping him in some street corner and go back to his hunt. He knew that pushing himself at this state might just tip him into exhaustion. Chasing after the nobody, who's whereabouts he had no idea, would be a foolish thing for the Mantis King to do. Luther might be back at square one. He gave a grunt of displeasure at the thought as he walked towards the stairways leading down to the streets of this dying city.

~~~

Luther wasn't very good at asking directions. Socializing with humans [appearing courteous to them in general] wasn't exactly of the Vampire's forte.

After the fourth person ran from him--Luther watched with grumbly stomach as her delectable neck ran from him into the distance--he had no choice but to drop the human boy on the rain and oil slicked ground. And give him a kick. Not a hard one, but should be enough to wake him up.

"I do not know where this local hotel of yours is, boy."

[High Tea Hero]

Where am I..? It seemed the man had dropped me against a wall and shook me awake. I was still groggy at that point, but I was getting better. "Sorry, what? My... Hotel? Ah... Yeah. Eh..." I slowly looked around, trying not to pass out. Pushing myself up against the wall for support, I managed to stand. It seemed we were not that far from the Hotel. "This... Way..." I stumbled along the alleyway, clasping my head with one hand and pushing the other against the wall. Should be better in no time... Just need... Rest.

It was a slow journey, though thankfully not long. I led Luther into the Hotel- Hopefully he wouldn't think it too odd. Then again, I didn't see why I cared. Trudging to my room, I turned twisted the knob. Odd... I thought I locked this earlier? Whoa! This place is a mess! "Sorry about the... mess. I left this place cleaner... when I left, I suppose... my 'roommates' left it this way... Feel free to take a seat somewhere clean." I managed to get out. I headed to the sink to clean myself up.

[High's .Valentine.]

It was painful watching the boy walk lead him back. Painfully grating on his patience. The Vampire had the thought of turning and heading off to grab a bite. Maybe not returning. What was this madness that had gripped him and convinced him into this futile endeavor? The Elf was of no importance to him. This boy will not help him in any way. There was nothing he should be doing except to resume his former search, before he had met the elf. The search for a murderer.

He followed the boy into the hotel room. It really was a downright mess. Luther, who had always lived in nomadic tents, but neat tents that have been cleaned to his level of acceptance could do nothing but grimace at the sight and the...smell. It was as if someone had stuck a clover of garlic in the place, and you know how much Vampires hate the smell of garlic. If Luther was in his right mind, he would have left. Killed the boy and then leave.

"A few hours rest should be enough for a human to recover, I did not take enough blood to kill you." Luther marveled at the weakness of humans as he watched the boy struggle. How were these things able to multiply by such numbers when killing them off was about as easy as snapping a twig?

"What is the name of this city...?"