#ꜰᴛ. ɪᴛᴍᴇᴀɴꜱᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ

[godricofgaul]

one muse brushes their fingers through the other’s hair

( ᴡᴀʀᴍ ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜰɪʀᴇ ) It was the only source of heat that the vampire had felt since his human death. No, this was warmth like the sun but the color of a fire. If he even recalled what the warmth of the sun felt like. The temperature radiating from Shiloh was exponentially warmer than from human skin---- even warmer than the Supes like Weres and shifters, and Godric never strayed too close to them of his own will.

Without consciousness---- like moving through a dream---- he felt his own hand rise to graze the red strands near her shoulder.

[godricofgaul]

A sound like laughter erupted from his chest, a reaction to the way her comment caught him unguarded. He did not consider it offensive in any way, merely an observation and not unlike the ones he had made of others in the past. "I am not certain that the precise word was used, but yes, it has been implied that I am unlike others of my kind. This revelation does not bother me."

The unspoken considerations lingered among them. Godric sensing with much confidence that she was cross examining her own upbringing, just as he had spent many years doing the same. "It was not how I was raised, as it were..." If his circumstances could even be considered 'raising'. "I certainly was not made to be different, but only as a copy of my sadistic maker in the hopes that I would spread as much cruelty in the world as he did." And he did for a time, conforming to the evil world that his maker had strived for, until Godric broke and then healed.

"We do not have to be what we were intended for. If that is any condolence."

His children... War only half listened as Godric continued speaking. She'd suddenly worked out what made Godric and Dante so fundamentally different. It was something she should have caught it when Godric called one of his progeny a daughter. Apparently the word children was just more impactful.

When Dante gazed on his creations, he only saw tools. Weapons to be used when and how he wanted. The idea of her creator considering herself, or any of the other Horseman or Sins, to be his children was almost laughable. War had spent most of her life being told (and believing) that she was her function set by Dante. Nothing more and nothing less. And she had been reminded many times that was not the first War he'd ever made.

But Godric viewed his progeny, his children, as precious. A fact that Godric showed a willingness to be vulnerable in a way Dante never would was fascinating. War could only conclude that Godric had some semblance of a soul while Dante had...nothing. Mind boggling considering Dante was the one who was still breathing.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're kind of weird for a vampire?" War finally spoke. Softly and without any real bite behind the insult. "Especially such an old one?"

[godricofgaul]

@itmeanspeace​ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ

War’s head gave the slightest of tilts as she kept forget-me-not eyes locked with the vampire’s own cornflower gaze. She’d suspected by his name that he was old, now she was sure of it. His eyes gave away so little. Only time and experience, a lot of it, perfected such a skill. Most would have probably found that unreadable gaze intimidating. But she was War. She could hold her ground.

Or at least she held her ground until the bartender came over with her newly filled drink. War looked away then so she could smirk at the service worker. Finding himself in the middle of an intense stare down would definitely draw unwanted attention from him. She even winked as he took her empty glass away, making the bartender blush.

When the bartender was gone, War sighed. “Best case scenario for me,” She paused to sip her whiskey. “I walk out of this bar alone and you pretend this whole interaction never happened.” Another smirk, half hidden by the whiskey glass, was now shot in Godric’s direction. “Best case scenario for you? Maybe we can find some middle ground.”

The quick yet overt interaction with the bartender did not go unnoticed by Godric----- a creature with ages of experience in observation. By his account, this woman sitting across from him had her own experience with manipulation or persuasion or whatever one would prefer to call it that would rival his.

The vampire ignored the bartender---- not even so much as glancing in his direction, instead keeping his eyes locked on his drinking companion. Her offer at least managed to get a chuckle from him, although it was not completely good-natured. 

“ It may not seem like it because we do not know each other yet, but I am unused to not getting my way. ” Which was to say that the vampire had no intention of letting this go. He laid pale hands on the dirty table between them. “ Middle ground... Perhaps, ” he mused, almost turning the possibilities over in his head.

“ Why do I have the impression that this middle ground will still lean closer in your direction? ”

[godricofgaul]

@itmeanspeace​ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ

"Well it is imperfections that make the world interesting." War shrugged and her cool demeanor never faltered. In reality her toes were all but curling in her shiny red heels. There was no doubting that she'd won. Not all battles were fought with weapons but victory of any kind always tasted sweet. There was also something especially satisfying about coming out on top against one as ancient as Godric likely was. And War wasn't even done.

Ever casual, heart rate staying steady and not a drop of nervous sweat, War placed her whiskey glass on the table. "Fine. I'm willing to hear some of your suggestions on how we make this work." She stood and pulled something out of her bra. "After I use the restroom."

The object she had removed from her cleavage turned out to be a cute, pink flip phone. An accessory that played well with will the character she'd used to lure her targets into the alley. War placed it in the middle of the table. "Good faith." Was her final comment before she turned and headed towards the bathrooms.

She gave herself five minutes, maybe eight if she wanted to risk stretching it, before Godric grew suspicious. Thankfully War had scoped out every bar on the block block in preparation for her job. She knew in the bathroom of this particular bar had a window in it. An almost too small window. Almost.

Any cuts or bruises or scrapes from the window frame didn't slow War in the slightest. Her blonde wig was dropped just outside the window as a final teasing goodbye for Godric. The motorbike she'd stashed at the end of block whisked her away. It took War a little under four minutes to disappear.

A snaking tendril of doubt uncoiled in his stomach, warning him that his target was not truly invested in his offer. He would not waste his words on these suggestions, and he would not have the time to. Before Godric could so much as consider the options, the woman opposite him set a slim device down on the table and left him behind to stare at it.

Heightned hearing allowed him to listen to her heels retreat to a far corner of the bar before disappearing behind a door. That same snake of doubt told him to not wait for her return------- this was a planned escape. 

Pale fingers reached for the phone and flipped the screen open. It was wiped save for a single contact. The vampire scanned the room quickly before tucking the phone into his jacket pocket, standing and moving towards the exit in one fluid motion. Outside, he slipped the phone out again and hovered his thumb over the CALL button, the unknown number lit boldly on the screen. 

Lifting the device to his ear, Godric set his gaze on the dark horizon where the night sky met the damp pavement as the line rang ominously... 

[godricofgaul]

@itmeanspeace​ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ

Years of brutal conditioning combined with supernaturally enhanced instincts made War very good at sensing when eyes were on her. Unfortunately, Dante's choices in her twisted creation meant that War's looks often drew attention. It had taken years of practical experience be able to gage if someone was just checking her out or if she should be on guard. The guy in the corner had been looking at her far too intently for far too long. War had to be fine keeping him in the corner of her eye, not entirely able to make out his face, while she finished up her grift.

After the dejected frat guys finished counting out her winnings and a final fake giggle, War finally turned her full attention on her watcher. Her face gave away nothing, but for all of five beats, War's heart picked up it's pace. Godric.

Members of the vampiric council, especially Godric, shouldn't be seeking her so soon. The way she'd planned, she should have at least heard from an informant that vampires were asking about her. And those whispers weren't expected for another few weeks. Godric had subverted all her carefully covered tracks and scared her. If he could do it, who was to say Dante couldn't do it too? A scared War was a dangerous War.

There was predatory energy in the way she moved closer him. She picked up her glass of whiskey and practically prowled her way over. It might have looked flirty to the other bar patrons. War didn't doubt that Godric knew better. Eyes cold enough to leave frostbite peered over the rim of the glass as she downed the last of her liquor.

War set the empty glass on the bar while sliding into the seat next to him. "You realize everything in me is screaming to kill you, right?"

ʜᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ɴᴏ ʟᴇꜱꜱ from the entity as she stalked toward him. Perhaps a less stubborn creature would find the capacity to shrink and disappear into its own skin-------- this vampire unfortunately fell prey to a similar indestructive attitude that plagued the rest of his kind.

Surprisingly not another pair of curious eyes or ears sought attention from their tense corner of the bar. Which was why Godric felt comfortable proceeding. Leaning forward on arms folded atop the shiny table, the vampire raised a brow while quipping, “ It’s been a long time since I have had the pleasure of dying. ” Because he was not confident that she would cave----- and because of that stubborness. 

“ You and I have a bit in common, I think. ” He absentmindedly scratched at the surface beneath his finger. “ ...Beyond the murdering of vampires, even. I think our commonalities are quite foundational. ” Truthfully he was stranded, left to his last resort in attempting to reason with her. Godric knew that she was not pleased by him or his interference------ he likely would feel the same if they occupied opposite positions. If there was any hope of keeping the dredge of momentum he managed to claw at, he surely would claw. Stubborn vampire.

[godricofgaul]

@itmeanspeace​ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ

The wink to the bartender did more than just distract him from Godric’s staring. The young man was likely to remember it. The pretty blonde who winked at him. Then the wig would come off the as soon as War down the block. She’d be a redhead once more. A dead end on the extraordinary chance someone, other than Godric, could link her from the dead vampires in the alley to the bar. Perhaps she was being overly cautious, but their interaction was way out of the ordinary for one of War’s jobs. Paranoia exacerbated a concern over contingencies. She already had so little control over the whispers of her that got back to the Inferno. Godric was stealing most of that control away without even realizing it. And that terrified War.

Burying the fear was almost as easy as breathing for her though. Not even a twitch of the small muscles in her face or a glint in her eyes. Fear had been the first emotion she’d been conditioned to suppress after all.

No, War remained collected. She just casually twirled a lock of her currently blonde hair and shrugged at the vampire. “Making deals is about trying to get it to fall in someone’s favor. There’s no real thing as an even divide. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either adorably naive or purposely ignorant. "You never told me what your ideal resolution to this would be. What’s the perfect end for you here?” She turned the attention back on him while bringing the whiskey glass to her lips once more.

The ancient silently weighed the probability of manipulating the scenario in his favor-------- he determined it was unlikely. This was a powerful entity, one he had limited experience with for all his collective years of exposure. This was perhaps one of the few instances in which his new companion was inherently more influential than he. It would be in his best interest to not disturb her.

At the start of this strange, unpredictable interaction Godric would have expressed a much different ‘ ideal resolution ’. His eyes met hers as the vampire decided to test a new strategy. “ Perfection... I’ve abandoned the concept. ” 

With softened eyes----- perhaps even a bit pleading---- the vampire made a decision----- perhaps a fatal one: “ I hope we can set aside our differences and work together on this one. ” Truly not a strategy an ancient vampire sheriff would have chosen under perfect circumstances.

[godricofgaul]

Intriguing; horrifying. The invisible pull he felt by a creature who was very clearly repelling him. In fact, she could not have made it more lethal. Godric's innate curiosity to explore to be headstrong was akin to a moth flying directly into fire.

" You have me misunderstood. " The vampire could still attempt some damage control. " ------- Not about the ancient aspect. That you are quite right in assuming. " However, the how and why of Godric yet again escaping his own destruction was a mystery. The Sheriff always treated information as sensitive; knowledge was power in his world, and facts were things that could not be stripped away from a wanting grasp. " Due to the circumstance of my creation, I am aware of Him, yes------ but I never pledged any amount of fealty. As for Making me, no, not at all. " That accomplishment had gone to another sadist.

Some truths had been revealed at her opposition. Her own Maker would not have a progeny so powerful, so exceedingly dangerous that it threatened his own position. " I have no intention of reporting to anyone. I am but a humble vampire Sheriff, not a cultist with a legacy of agony to protect. " His expression implored her to trust, just a little. " Besides, there was no possibility of me leaving this bar alive. "

“Liar.” She hissed almost before he’d finished speaking. It was nothing personal against Godric. Not really. War had just never heard of anyone learning those secret, damning words then turning their back on Dante and living to tell share the phrase with others. Besides herself anyway. And she wouldn’t entirely call what she was doing living. Running and hiding maybe, but not living.

“You can’t believe I haven’t figured out how ancient you are.” Her skin prickled all over. War forced herself to take a breath. If only to keep her heat low enough to prevent her clothes catching fire. Her warmth was already starting to spread through the bar and several patrons were removing sweatshirts. War didn’t even bother glancing at them. Her eyes stayed firmly locked on Godric.

“He doesn’t take kindly to creatures that might challenge him in wisdom and power.” Dante had disposed, had her dispose once or twice, several older vampires that he saw as “uppity.” Why would Godric get to walk freely? “Either you’re for Him or your dead.” Especially if He made you. “So I’ll tell you once more. One of us will not be leaving this bar alive. Because I won’t let you report to Him either.”

[godricofgaul]

His chosen warehouse remained abandoned. It was too decrepit for most human occupants but that hadn't prevented a handful of delinquent teens or the underserved to use it ocassionally, and much to their misfortune when they were caught.

Taking her jacket, he stood in stony silence as his companion appeared to easily draw upon her power to produce the shield of flame from her hands. Perhaps a cautious vampire would not have bore witness to a display of the one element that could cause irreparable damage to them. His people--- his human people--- had been ones who worshipped the water they made their home upon, yet Godric had little fear of fire even in life.

He blinked a few times, clearing his current cache of thoughts to process her question. With no certain answer to offer, he provided the first example that came to mind, "a stag."

There was an bubbling sensation of gleeful excitement in Shiloh's chest. A feeling that came not just from the eagerness to actually play with her flames for the first time in years. But from the knowledge she was going against her purpose and bringing joy to someone with her power. A small sampling of her flames had already coaxed out one of Godric's rare smiles. Shiloh wondered what a larger display might earn her.

By the time they finally reached the warehouse, Shiloh could feel her fire flickering wildly in her soul. Burning to be released. She was unbothered by the darkness in the building. She figured Godric could see fine and Shiloh herself had better sight in the dark than a normal mortal. Plus, there would be plenty of light soon.

Shiloh took off her jacket and handed it to Godric. Then took a few steps away from him. Holding her hands in front of herself, Shiloh called forth her fire. A glowing orb with circumference of a tire engulfed her hands and forearms. "I don't suppose you have a favorite animal?"

[godricofgaul]

He walks beside her, his movements light and graceful. It's dark enough that there are few people on the street--- ones who are living, at least. At this hour, most who are still up can be found in the district boasting most of the nightlife, not likely to notice two who step from the library.

He presses his hand to his heart, feining embarassment. "Forgive my misjudgement. It was not my intention to suggest that you are not a very professional arsonist." A smirk. "----- An artist, even." The light from the butterfly casts a glow on his pallid features momentarily. The smirk growing just enough to reveal his anticipation as they approach an empty warehouse.

"Pft." Shiloh's amused huff was basically as close as she got to a laugh. "If it makes you feel better," She picked up the book she'd previously been reading then slipped her arm through Godric's. "I much prefer your voice to Siri's."

As they neared the exit, Shiloh placed her book on the librarian's return cart. Rebel as she may be, she still had an appreciation for some forms of neatness and order.

It's not until the chilled night air hits them that Shiloh promises, "There will be no arson. And if there was, I'm offended you think I'm amateur enough to let it get linked back to us." As it was a fun way to prove her point (and the street was empty), Shiloh summoned another butterfly from her fire. It fluttered in quick circle around their heads before flickering out.

[godricofgaul]

"As if I am a personal navigation device." His attempt at snark----- clearly a trait that had been aged out of him. A stone which was once jagged enough to cut, now smoothed with time. Although, there was more truth to this statement than he led her to believe; vampires were peternaturally gifted with an instinctual sense of direction. Plus, he knew this city's topography expertly.

Despite the fact that he could make himself quite impossible to move if he wanted, Godric rose at her behest. He was quite eager to witness what she was implying. "As long as you agree that we are at no risk of burning the place down. I cannot imagine that arson is something the AVL would appreciate a Sheriff being tied to, and the League is quite irritated by my behaviors already."

Shiloh dropped her arms back to her sides and flashed Godric a smirk over her shoulder. “Well it’s rude to make assumptions about people isn’t it?” She teased back. “I am glad I lucked upon an expert though.”

The copper haired woman turned to fully face the vampire, leaned down to grasp his wrists, and urged him to stand with a light pull. “You taking me is easier then trying to remember directions.”

Impishness glittered in Shiloh’s blue eyes. Her voice also dropped to a playful whisper. “And I figured you’d want to see what my flames can do when I have space.”

[godricofgaul]

The vampire snickered at the idea of his abilities being referred to as 'neat tricks'. He was no stranger to the awe and shock that vampiric powers seemed to instill in others, while he felt that they were quite second nature to him now.

As she stood, he reserved a small portion of his keen hearing on the human who wandered about in desperate anxiety but his eyes remained trained on Shiloh who seemed to move on as if she hadn't conjured pure fire from her own skin. The thought of stretching briefly crossed his thoughts---- it looked like such a luxurious feeling, yet his body had no need for the relief.

He almost chuckled. " You're asking a vampire if he knows of any secluded spaces? " His mouth quirked in a lopsided smile, teasing her. " Not to mention a vampire Sheriff... I essentially have a mental map of such places. " His own frame leaned forward on the couch, inching closer. " Are you asking for me to take you? "

With the fire she’d been holding now stuffed out, Shiloh dropped her hand back to her lap. She made no move to shift her legs from atop Godric’s or to pull her face back. Shiloh felt no discomfort sitting so close to a vampire.

What she did feel was slight disappointment that the humans, even if they did have to cram, had ruined the moment she and Godric were having. For a second a pout even flickered over Shiloh’s face.

“It seems we both have neat tricks.” She was quick to cover the dissatisfaction with her usual smirk. Shiloh finally swung her legs off of Godric’s and stood. The books she’d been reading was abandoned on the couch cushion. Shiloh interlocked her fingers, reached her arms up, and stretched her back.

“What are the chances you know of any empty warehouses or open spaces where we won’t be spotted?” Shiloh asked cooly. Like it wasn’t a strange question.

[godricofgaul]

As the delicate wings of the butterfly fluttered as if of their own accord, Godric tracked its movement with his gaze momentarily lost to reality. This was a rare moment of wonder, yet despite experiencing all that he had, the ancient being still found that he was able to be surprised.

He imagined that this discovery of her own skill felt joyous and hopeful to Shiloh---- that she was not only a weapon as she may have been intended, but that these intense powers could create something whimsical. It was not unlike the trials the vampire had gone through to effect something other than blood and death with his own power...

Without turning away from the tiny horse made of fire, from her, Godric assessed the approaching individual; "Human. Young---- likely a college student attempting to cram before a test." This ability had always served to find him a meal, but it had other fine uses as well.

His out of character reaction to the flickering butterfly brought out an equally out of character reaction from Shiloh. A soft, pretty upturning of her lips. The smallest flash of teeth. A smile. An expression usually saved for when she got to give her carefully selected name to people.

It was...exhilarating. Bringing joy and wonder to a man who had seen so much. Even more so when considering her purpose was supposed to be spreading blood and conquest and chaos.

"Well probably not anything." Shiloh wriggled her fingers lightly and the butterfly transformed into a tiny horse; galloping in place on Shiloh's palm. "But definitely a lot."

She was about to say something else. Her smile even grew a smidgen. Only to immediately sputter out, just like the flame in her hand, as Shiloh's sharp ears picked up footsteps coming closer. Probably someone just looking for a book in the shelves around them, but Shiloh wasn't going to risk her power being spotted.

[godricofgaul]

Intriguing. Godric was uncertain if he had ever met a living creature who did not require to regulate their body and adapt to such external stimuli. Although, he certainly could understand the feeling---- or lack thereof. And because she was the only of her kind, truly, this felt like privileged knowledge. "You will not get into dire trouble for sharing this information?" Not that it mattered---- he had no intention of sharing it, and he had already taken some secrets beyond the grave.

"Yes, definitely," he answered in near-cheerful response to her invitation. His lips parted in a crooked smile, looking unusually boyish as his eyes met hers as befits the sharing of secrets. A rare look of wonder passed over his face as the firey butterfly hovered between them, more questions already forming on his tongue. "Can you create anything you want in this way?"

"My body's never needed to cool itself." Shiloh shrugged and reiterated, "I was made for heat." Whatever creatures or magics Dante had used in her creation, fire was part of her. It was melded into her very DNA.

Sharing information about her powers with someone outside the Inferno was...nerve wracking. Shiloh had been told her entire life she needed to keep such precious secrets close. But it also felt liberating; breaking more of Dante's laws. The fact that she was sharing with Godric, a vampire who she knew already told Dante to fuck off (okay maybe not fuck off but same idea), was especially satisfying. Dante would be pissed if he ever found out.

There was also something charming about the expression on Godric's face. Something that made her feel special in a good way. It was an ego boost to know she could bring wonder to a creature who was older than most modern civilizations.

"Do you want to see something really neat?" Shiloh leaned her face a little closer to Godric's. There was a playful tilt to her whisper. And before he could respond, the ball of flames rose from her palm, hovered a good inch from her hand, and began to warp. In just a few breaths, Shiloh had a simple butterfly, an insect made of fire, fluttering it's wings over her fingers. It had been some time since she'd made a construct of fire and it felt like a good stretch of a underused muscle.

[godricofgaul]

The vampire was all too familiar with the art of acting to avoid suspicion. Casting off unwanted attention to one's nature was one of the most important skills a vampire------ really any Supe could learn in order to survive. He remained transfixed on the lively flames she weilded, aware of the fact that he had seen fire many times before, but never like this.

An inquisitive brow lifted at her admission. It had been long enough that Godric retained no personal memory of the sensation. "Vampires do not sweat," he shared in a low voice. "We do not shed any moisture, technically speaking---- we are no longer chemically comprised of all the water that humans are." The blood that was shed in the form of tears was a curse that Godric frankly found disgusting, as he was loathe to be discarded of his own blood.

A thought occurrred to him then, one that may be silly, but he chanced the opportunity for an answer regardless. "Will you not combust if your body cannot cool itself?"

"Yes," Shiloh agreed, "They are. There's an advantage to sharing that awareness. Easier to gauge if I should be acting uncomfortable or not. So I don't draw attention to myself." There was also an aspect of torture that was simpler when one didn't have to guess if an implement was too hot or cold for a victim. Shiloh kept her mouth shut on that. She had no plans to torture anyone (except Dante), if she could help it.

"I sweat too." There was a hint of amusement in the admission. She let the flames crawl down her fingers; shifting her hand as they did. By the time they were at her palm, Shiloh had turned her hand flat and facing upwards. The fire swirled into a little ball on her hand. "Only when my heart rate is up or I'm out of breath though. That one really is just for cover. Since my body doesn't actually need a cooling system."

[godricofgaul]

Quiet patience radiated from the vampire as he waited for an explanation--- for a chance to learn more about his powerful and mysterious new companion. He did wince as he watched her fold the page of the otherwise unmarked book, mentally recognizing that he now led a very neat, orderly existence compared to his past; his past iteration would not have given a second thought to destruction--- nor likely a first.

"Humans are very aware of temperatures," he added. And it seemed that perhaps she was not as sensitive as her legs moved to make closer contact to a body that had not held any warmth for over 2 milllennia. There was no one else around--- a human on the floor above them but not within range of overhearing their conversation. Godric was certain that the orange glow of the flames were reflected in his eyes as he openly gaped at the spectacle, tempted to bring his own fingers closer.

His questions were intriguing. No one had ever asked her how she felt temperatures before. Those around her in the Inferno had seen her grow up and just sort of got it. Or just didn’t care enough about her to think about it. Shiloh wasn’t even sure if she could explain it well.

“Hm…” She hummed. Then dogeared her page (Mun: LIKE A HEATHEN) in the book and closed it. Shiloh moved away from Godric’s touch next. Not for long though as she was just shifting to face him better. And to get more comfortable; her long legs draping themselves over his lap while she sat as close as possible.

“It’s a little complicated.” One of her hands reached up. Slim fingers replacing Godric’s playing with a copper curl. “As far as I can tell, I’m aware of temperatures the same way humans are. If you handed a cold object to myself and an average human then asked us to guess the temperature, we’d probably end up guessing pretty close. So when temperatures reach extremes I know it, but it just doesn’t usually bother me.

She glanced around quickly, confirmed there were no eyes on them, and removed her hand from her hair. Shiloh held the hand between them and let just the tips of her longest three fingers ignite. She gently started to move her digits. Playing almost absentmindedly with the little flames. “If it gets too cold my internal flames warm me. And I was made for heat so that’s not really a problem.”

[godricofgaul]

He moved just enough to turn his face toward her. "Warmer?" He watched the movement of a single curl through his pale fingers. "How much warmer?" Now the vampire considered the alternate--- that he was colder than humans or any other living creature. "And do I feel colder to you, colder than anyone else?" Voice matching her own low tone, aware that even though no one else was visible around them, there may always be someone listening from the shadows.

Godric did not come off as a particularly cuddly creature. Then again, neither did Shiloh. But it was surprisingly comfortable to lean against him. To let him brush his fingers through her copper curls. Even when his stroking became a little more tentative.

“No.” She responded to his question. Pausing in her reading but still not tilting her head from his touch. Shiloh continued in her soft, library tone. “My internal temperature rests two or three degrees higher than a humans.” It wasn’t information she minded sharing because it was obviously something Godric could already feel. “But I can get warmer.”