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There was a knock at the door, late in the evening in a quiet place such as the casino there were hardly any visitors, let alone to Vince’s door, so it was one of two options.
“You awake?”
It was Rams.
“Vince got you some coffee, was thinking that you try and do some drink mixing today.”
They sounded cheery, humming softly as they waited at the door subconsciously tapping the glass as they waited around for a response.
"Ah, evening Rams," Vince called, sitting up from his slump on the couch and turning to the door.
"Coffee sounds great right now actually, I don't particularly feel like sleeping."
Opening the door to see Rams looking so pleased made him strangely nauseous, he ignored a pang of hunger and yawned.
"Drink mixing yeah? Guess I haven't got much else to do."
Rams held up the cup to him and nodded softly, however, they took this time to look him up and down furrowing their eyebrows.
“Do you need anything to eat?” Rams asked gently as they met his eyes raising an eyebrow.
“You know I can make you whatever you need.” They reminded him as they held the cup out for him.
"Nah, I'm fine," Vince closed his eyes to avert their gaze and took a sip of the coffee, half expecting to burn his mouth. But of course, it was the perfect temperature, just like every other time Rams had made it.
"You know I don't eat much anyway."
In truth, all Vince was worried about was avoiding owing anything more to Rams, even something as simple as a hot meal.
Rams furrowed their eyebrows and sighed at that. “You still usually eat more than you have been recently, what- Pandaz cooks better than me? I’m hurt.” Rams snickered playfully with a gentle smile.
Although in all honesty, his statement worried them a bit more than they’d like to admit.
They’d never wanted to see Vince hunger, to starve.
Who knew the last time he had blood, he seemed adamant about not wanting their own.
“Which bar you wanna work on today?” Rams asked leaning against the doorframe contently looking to the man for an answer.
While Vince was apathetic to his work at the casino, it at least gave him time to hone his bartending skills.
"Uh, third floor maybe? Still don't know where anything is 'round there."
He turned his head away from Rams to gaze out the window, the tinted glass they had recently installed to keep the draft out. He still wasn't quite sure how to talk to Rams after everything, so he opted to just avoid them as much as possible (which wasn't much).
“Well, then you’ll be happy to hear that I'm working to install some labels for you.” Rams offered up with a slight smile as they leaned off the doorframe and took some steps back as they looked him up and down furrowing their eyebrows as they looked away from him.
“Well… I’ll go ahead and head up there then and you can just, come up when you are ready.” They offered before moving away to head upstairs, leaving his door open to try and give him some space, almost like trying to put a frightened cornered animal at ease.
Rams headed up the stairs to the lounge, looking at the large empty bar and the tall stools, they hopped up onto a seat making themselves comfortable as they waited for Vince.
Vince didn't wave to them as they left, merely sighing before getting himself collected and presentable, though he didn't bother to tie his hair back as usual. At least the outfit Pandaz had sewn him was stylish.
He made his way upstairs to greet Rams, checking once around the other casino floors for other guests to distract him from the day's work, of course, there was no one around.
"Helloo," he called to Rams on entering the bar, "Gonna take a wild guess and say red wine?"
“Oh, you know me so well.” Rams chuckled softly as they leaned against the counter, humming softly as they watched him.
“You know when the parties come in a lot of the drinks can have blood mixed into it due to the patrons. I’m assuming that’s not a big problem for you unless you drink all the blood yourself.” They teased as they watched him.
“Some can be garnished with golden apple slices which I can provide of course.” They said trying to pass the time of silence between them.
Vince's ears twitched at their comment, but he paid it no mind, continuing to mix a drink for himself,
"You needn't worry about me, I'll be on my best behavior," he said with a sarcastic smile, taking a sip of his drink.
"Besides, pretty soon you shouldn't have to worry about that at all."
“What, still keen on leaving after everything’s said and done? I’m hurt, thought you would’ve liked to stay around, everyone here really likes you.” Rams offered up a growing playful grin.
“You really gonna kiss and run on Pandaz? I thought you were a gentleman, Vincent.” They remarked shooting him a playful smile and raising their eyebrows as they chuckled leaning against the counter, a hand holding their head up as they hummed.
He hated how casually they could talk about such things as if he didn't still burn with shame over the whole ordeal. He couldn't let Rams see that though,
"I'd like to think so. But hey who knows, seems my reality got thrown out the window long ago."
He knew they were trying to get a reaction out of him, playing with their food once again.
"You think I'll want to spend what I've got of a mortal life hanging round here? Dealing with your bullshit? You've really got no sense do you..."
Rams furrowed their eyebrows…
Right…
“Ah yeah, right, still all determined to be human again.” Rams hummed as they looked away, looking around at the fixtures as they tried to choose their next words carefully.
“So, what bothers you the most then? Being a vampire? Or being immortal? Because you know once you become a human, I could make you immortal too. You can catch up on the years you lost being a vampire.” They suggested looking back over.
“Unless you want the authentic human experience.” They corrected.
“I mean hey either way I’m probably gonna have to deal with you.” They laughed with a smile.
Vince set down his glass, gently.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" he raised an eyebrow, looking directly to Rams.
He rested his hands on the counter to lean over the bar,
"Soon as this is over, I owe nothing to you, not for my crimes, nor my life." Though he spoke sternly, his words were genuine,
"Everything I've come to care about has been destroyed by myself, by messing for forces far above me. That's something I understand now. It's not a mistake I intend to make ever again."
He finally stood back, backing off Rams and breaking his gaze.
"As for why I want to become human... Well, who wouldn't?" he chuckled.
Rams blinked a few times trying to process what just transpired as they chuckled awkwardly.
“Well, I guess me, I for one don’t see any good out of it.” They retorted “Give up my powers? My abilities? Never get to see how the world changes and grows in the entirety of it all? Instead living as a being that as much as a cough can put you 6 feet under for the rest of your life, with no second chances, no nothing. No thank you.” They scoffed before looking back at him.
“You know all of this was really just because you killed me, you think I’d be trying to get you into some kind of extra debt? I’m trying to be friendly. Hey, if I didn’t like you, I would’ve just damned you to hell on the spot.” They half-joked shrugging.
"You think I don't know that? That's the problem Rams! I'd have rather you threw me in the darkest pit of fire than be another victim of your little obsessions!"
Vince shouted with his back turned to them. He sighed, almost thankful to let a little frustration out.
He got back to work reorganizing utilities, still refusing to turn to see their reaction, though their silence said more than enough.
Rams took a moment to refrain from getting frustrated.
“So, you think you’re a ‘victim of my obsessions’ because I’m having you do the job you already do, at my place. So that you can see I’m not the ‘monster’ you said I was on the day you killed me.” They snickered.
“I mean hell one could argue I was the victim of your obsessions, hunter.” Rams remarked with a chuckle.
“Wanting to be the hero so much that you look past who a person is and much rather settle on what they are. Killing me even though I was trying to help you oh yes what a victim you are.”
They paused.
“You know what, maybe you are right. You do make all of your own problems.” They sneered.
Vince fought back another outburst and finished up cleaning the bar-side.
After what must have been an eternity he finally turned back, and looked Rams up and down,
"Hypocrite," he said.
"One hundred pages..." he started, walking towards the lamb,
"And who knows what more... I thought I was the author ‘round here. You know, for someone so keen on focusing on people as people you seem to care an awful lot about my vampirism, what did you say? That you were my creator?"
He tapped his fingers on the wood alongside his words,
"Pretty high and mighty of you. But no no you're right, I'm obsessed. I hate you, and isn't that the worst obsession there could be?
Personally, I'd argue that love was much stronger... But that's just me."
Rams looked at him and went silent, their entire body freezing as they took in his calculated attack, they furrowed their eyebrows trying to think of something, anything…
“Did you want me to say yes that day? When you asked me that question?” They muttered meeting his eyes.
“Or we’re you praying that the answer would have been, no? Or-... or perhaps my answer wouldn’t have even changed a single thought in your head because you hated me that much.” They huffed.
“That seems pretty damn strong to me.” Rams sighed out.
“Unless you want to argue me letting you kill me was much more ‘brave’ or whatever.” They scoffed leaning back in their seat.
Vince tilted his head, thinking through his options, though there was no way he could back out of this conversion now.
"No, really I think you took the coward's way out. Didn't even get a straight answer off you then you practically laid your head on my sword" he laughed.
"But when have you ever been entirely honest with me?" he mumbled, resting his elbows on the side, chin in his hands.
“Well, my answer is yes.” They said very matter-of-factly as they looked to him.
“Like I said I don’t have a reason to not be honest with you anymore you just about know everything about me, don’t you?” They said softly.
“So, is that what you wanted to hear Vince?” Rams asked raising an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, I guess it was... I mean I already knew, obviously. You're easier to read than you think." He stared out at the open floor, trying to picture party guests all around.
"You and Pandaz... I don't understand either of you. You must be dense in the head or something." he almost whispered, blinking away an itch in his eyes.
"You know I could never love you in return, so why?"
“Hey, you kissed Pandaz, not all hope is lost.” They teased quietly looking to him.
“It’s odd really, I’m just drawn to you because you hate me, I guess, it’s like a tango you and I, at least I like to think of it that way.” Rams suggested.
“You’ve spoiled me with attention, given so much care into planning ways to strike me down I take it as a compliment, I half thought you’d just push me down the stairs if you wanted to kill me.” They muttered awkwardly.
"You love me because I hate you? That... seems unhealthy. Maybe check into a clinic sometime," Vince tried to joke, but somehow though the aggressive tension between the two was now broken, there was still an air of discomfort that made it difficult to appear genuine. He couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of everything though.
"The whole thing with Pandaz," he started, "It should never have happened. I don't know what I was thinking doing that..."
Rams chuckled “Hey gotta keep life interesting somehow.” They offered up as they then smiled sweetly their eyes looking away as if lost in thought.
“Hey, you and me both, Pandaz just has something about her. Just so full of love and so beautiful and caring, hell I don’t blame you at all.” They smiled.
“Although I have to admit I was a bit jealous.” Rams muttered with a playful smile.
Vince shot them a look at that.
"You're serious?" he snickered, standing up to stretch. "How does one person have so little shame?" he wondered.
"Fine, if it'll shut you up c'mere,"
Rams scoffed, rolling their eyes as they chuckled at his statement.
“What? While we’re having some kind of silly sentimental talk?” They teased a soft faint blush overcoming Rams’ cheeks.
“I may be shameless, but I have standards.” They joked awkwardly leaning back in their seat.
"Oh yes my apologies your unholiness I'll prepare a candlelit dinner right away~" Vince mocked, taking a sarcastic bow.
"Don't tell me you're getting shy now, after everything you've said and written before? I mean hey you don't want it I don't have to kiss you do I," he threw his hands up and stepped back from Rams, hiding his smirk.
“Hey, I’m not ‘getting shy’.” They gasped with a playful scoff as they looked at him.
“And besides you technically already had me for a candlelit dinner, so I suppose that counts.” They remarked with a grin instead, moving to lean against the counter with a smile.
"You know some of you's still in my freezer, right? Unless it just vanished now I don't know how this works..." Vince said, bringing himself a little down to Rams' height.
He reached a hand out, and ran a gloved finger along their jaw, humming quietly.
"One more taste then?"
Rams’ eyes widened a bit at the touch as they looked to Vince meeting his own with a soft chuckle.
“Who said it only has to be one more?” They joked raising an eyebrow, but their joking cool facade was easily fading in the silence between them.
"Ha, don't get ahead of yourself... This is only so you and Pandaz are even..." Vince murmured, his hand now holding Rams' chin gently.
He leaned closer, hesitantly, and almost backing away when their lips brushed. But to break the contact now would just be cruel, so Vince swallowed his pride and tipped into the kiss.
Rams’ eyes widened once more for just a moment, shocked that it was actually happening, before slowly closing their eyes and melting into it a small smile growing as they let him lead, not wanting to keep him there any longer than he wanted to be.
But instead, they just let themselves enjoy the moment.
Just so we’re even… the thought made Rams want to laugh.
Rams was incredibly warm, Vince thought, kissing them now sent a pang of guilt to his stomach for what he'd done to them before. 'No way I'm getting into heaven now...' he thought.
He opened his eyes just barely to see Rams' closed ones, he deepened the kiss slightly to see them tense, then leaned back and released them from his hold.
He turned his head from them to hide a slight burn on his cheeks, wordlessly sighing.
Rams’ face was plastered with a stupid smile as Vince pulled away.
“You’re not half bad.” They teased playfully as they looked at him not caring to hide their flushed cheeks.
“You don’t need to be all shy now, wasn’t that supposed to be my thing?” Rams teased with a smile happily swinging their legs in their chair.
"Oh shut up, give me a break," Vince said, though he didn't sound too upset.
"Just can't stop yourself from messing with me, can you? Enjoy it while it lasts, one little kiss ain't gonna change anything I've said you know." he stated, now downing his almost forgotten drink.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that for a second.” Rams hummed watching him closely as they smiled softly.
“Well, you mixed a drink and from the fact you were able to drink it I’ll assume it’s potable.” They smiled.
“Since this… practice got a bit carried away why don’t we just wrap it up early and enjoy ourselves instead? Maybe go outside? Go lay down? Consider it my treat.” Rams offered up giving him a content and gentle smile. “I mean I do suppose I owe you.”
Vince paused a moment, trying to find any kind of hidden trickery in their offer.
"I'd like to go home, just for a while. Should probably clean out my freezer-" he joked, trying to enjoy the more lighthearted mood.
"You can feed my axolotls if you want, pretty sure they'll have eaten each other by now."
He took Rams' wine glass along with his and moved them to the side, he could clean them up later.
“Hey, I visit from time to time I’m sure they’re fine.” They said passively as they nodded.
“Why don’t we spend the night there then, make it special. Maybe I can help you clean out that freezer.” Rams chuckled raising an eyebrow as they moved to hop off the stool looking back to him.
"Bit morbid but alright,"
Vince washed his hands and stepped out of the bar as Rams waited.
"You can sleep in Pandaz's bed, I doubt she'd be too willing to come with us right now. Pretty sure she's still pissed at me for uh... yeah."
It was remarkably difficult to talk about a murder to the victim themselves.
Rams hummed at his comment and shrugged “Well I guess we’ll see huh?” Rams teased playfully.
“Let’s get going then, shall we?” Rams asked holding a hand out playfully as they gave him a content grin.