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Proper thralldom was not an ideal state to be in, logically Abolish knew this through years of training and preparation before he was even considered a candidate for the process.
That didn't mean anything, now that he was stood beside the vampire who's blood the organization willingly gave him. He has to be the only one to ever have the taste of Scott Goldsmith's blood in his mouth, if there was no one else to greet the now-awake vampire lord.
Abolish wondered if maybe, they only ever had the one vial.
Scott was not really a clingy sort, he performs as much as Abolish does, when he pulled him away by the waist. Putting a tone of friendliness in his voice until the town couldn't hear. Abolish almost misses the chill of his hand once it left his side.
The mirth remained, but as sinister as the vampire it belonged to. "I'm sure you already understand the arrangement you and I find ourselves in, yes?" He waits for Abolish to nod before continuing, "Excellent! I expect you to be a big help to me."
"Of course." The orders just waiting to be given to him were a compelling thought. Abolish never imagined it to be quite like this. It feels right. He knows its just the blood. He can still taste it.
"Cleo knows, about me. She can recognize it." He was told to help, and this was crucial information to give.
Scott just hums, savoring the information. If he had a plan, he would inform him of his role. "Thank you Abolish."
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Cleo was busy working on setting up farms for the approaching winter, but seemed to find plenty of time to watch Scott and Abolish go about their business. The pair had settled into a home near the screaming maniac and his now-suffering roommate, while Cleo's was nearer the center of the ruins with the ever-cheerful Pearl.
Apparently she smelled like dog to Scott. Abolish had made sure to gather up flowers and herbs for scent pouches after that comment.
Scott had made his way to the farm, designated near the broken fountain per his suggestion to use it as a water source, and made Cleo drop her shovel to chat with them.
Abolish hovered nearby, gutting a wild cow after someone had found salt to preserve the meat. He drained the blood out, a skill taught to him in case he had to aid any struggling vampires in his line of work. How useful it was now, even if unintentionally.
"You look like you could use some help." Scott was saying, but quickly shook his head and stepped back when Cleo held the shovel out to him. "No not that kind. I don't do… dirt."
Whatever Cleo replied with had Scott chuckle.
"Apparently there's some black tower in the middle of the river surrounding here, care to investigate it with me and Abolish later? We can continue our conversation then, since you're so busy here."
The farmer crosses her arms in annoyance. The cow blood sloshes into the bucket Abolish was using.
"See you then!" Scott turns and waves goodbye, making his rounds to the rest of town.
Abolish drops a kidney into a different bucket. Footsteps are behind him and not ones he actually cares about. They were uneven as they got closer. He decides to turn around anyways, even if it breaks his line of sight with Scott.
"Any idea what those two were talking about? I just got here and it was over, I didn't hear a thing!" Martyn asked. No wonder his steps sounded like that, Abolish looked down and his shoes seemed a size too small.
Nothing about him seemed quite right honestly. A critical gaze gave away where the shoulder seams were too tight, his eyes too shifty. Whatever he was hiding probably didn't matter. Not unless Scott asked.
That seemed to usually be the case about things these days. But that was just the blood.
"Nope, was too busy here." Abolish gestures to the cow, dropping the other kidney. "How's your house coming along?"
"Just fine, thank you!" Defensive too, great. "Maybe that lumberjack should help me out with all the wood though, instead of that other guy!"
Said lumberjack was literally going to live with "that other guy", Mr. M if anyone cared. So he had a good reason to prioritize that… but okay.
Abolish just let the conversation die until Martyn left. He wasn't sure if Scott drank purely blood or if he was a fan of raw meat like some vampires. He drops the stomach into the bucket.
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Abolish had been ordered to sleep until it was time, so he did. Once the sun threatened to rise over the horizon his body snapped awake. Convenient. He wished it always did that.
Scott just looks over at him while he climbs out of the bed and drums his fingers against his arm while Abolish prepares. He had found silver, and made a sword and shield. Stakes, carved with precision unlike some people. And some leather armor to supplement his clothes.
"You know," Scott begins, watching him strap the armor on, "I never made a habit of creating thralls. I found them more trouble than they were ever worth. I didn't even like it when my fledglings were dependent on me, much less a human that needed me to survive.
"But I find myself not minding your presence, even if I don't know how I got you."
Abolish looks up from the boot covers he was tying on, meeting that gaze and wanting to answer. A compulsion, maybe. "I was given your blood in an attempt to make me stronger, they didn't think you were still alive."
Scott seems intrigued by the answer, but doesn't pry for more. Even though Abolish would give it with little prompting. The taste of blood sits in the back of his throat.
"I'll just have to keep feeding you then, won't I?"
"Yes, sire."
That made him laugh, breaking the mood of the room, "You don't have to call me that! Especially not around the rest of them. Now, let's go."
So they left, Abolish walking beside him to the town gate and beyond. He watches Cleo leave their home quietly, following behind the pair with a lantern.
The sun still had a ways to go before dawn.
And the black tower, or was it an obelisk? Whatever, it didn't matter beyond the fact that it looms in the middle of this tiny, rocky island. Abolish turned around to face the shore that would lead back to town.
Cleo said something harshly, making sure she stood her ground. Why bother asking what Scott wants, was it not obvious?
"Have I not been obvious?" Exactly his thoughts, verbalized through Scott's crystal clear voice. "I want to help. I imagine it hasn't been that long since you'd had a drink, but its clearly getting to you."
Cleo's voice just raises and gets angrier, apparently not wanting to be thralled. Abolish couldn't reasonably comprehend that, not without ignoring every single instinct he had.
"I'll do you one better: I'll just turn you instead. I don't even like thralls, and I won't get mad if you fly the nest sooner rather than later. Especially not in this dump." Abolish hears the tip of Scott's shoe kick one of the rocks into the water with a splash.
They get quiet, probably thinking about it. Abolish hears his name be mentioned, and turns around.
"He's an exception. Besides, would you even want to be turned Abolish?" Two pairs of eyes look to him, but he only notices one. Scott tilts his head, he was genuinely interested in his answer!
Abolish had to be honest about it. "No, it's too much trouble to deal with." Paperwork, sure. But whatever these beacon things were, it was handy to keep him human for them.
He looks up. The one on the obelisk was a golden color. It felt… okay.
Cleo was saying something, pointing a finger accusingly at his sire. He decides to step in with his sword ready to be drawn. Blood pumps and fills his ears as Cleo continues to shout.
"Oh calm down, she hasn't done a thing to me!" Scott rests a hand on his shoulder, making him relax and move aside. "So, do we have a deal- that you are clearly getting the better end of?"
"Fine." Finally, some sense was leaving their mouth.