[ he's forcing himself upright, grabbing for billy again. realizing that this isn't going to go well - that steve is absolutely stupid enough to escalate the situation and billy is volatile enough to meet it. ]
[He doesn't say speak for yourself, because well. He doesn't want to hurt Steve Harrington so much as he wants to sink his teeth into that pretty neck, just for a while -]
[It takes a moment for him to lower his hackles, unbare his teeth. He takes a step back into Eddie's touch, lifts the other hand in surrender, but his eyes stay alert, glancing between the lamp and Steve.
He doesn't really think about how easy it is to just sort of submit to Eddie Munson. If he does he might act out just on principle. ] Please put that fucking lamp down, Steve.
[ Warily, he sets the lamp down. Stays on the other side of the room where it's still within arm's reach, eyes wide as they rake over the pair of them. He lowers his voice to a hiss. ]
I know that something happened, I'm not an idiot. How are you different? Are you some fucked up version of cursed?
[ gives billy's wrist a little squeeze, trying to calm himself before a nurse busts in here at the sharp uptick in his heartrate after that little lamp stunt. ]
Probably, yeah... we're still us, but the Upside Down made some improvements.
We heal real fast. Usually. [he spares a glance at Eddie, turns his wrist in his palm to wrench it free, to loop a pinky instead. ] Speed. Strength. All the shit we'd need to survive.
[he's still looking at Eddie. a quiet we kind of have to tell him now goes unspoken. ] There's a price. You don't survive that and don't pay a price.
[ he lets billy free, keeping their fingers tied together. his voice is low and hushed, because he knows all too well what will happen if the wrong ears are listening. ]
[ He's about to point out how badly they're selling being vampires when he's swiftly distracted by Eddie's state. Lost his leg, mostly, and almost got chewed to ribbons right through his ribs. Billy's looking way better than Eddie, that's true enough.
Covering his mouth as he thinks, he shifts from foot to foot, hand on a hip. ]
Human is best. Works fast - keeps us ticking. But it's - you crave it, after you get a taste.
[he needs to sit, again. ] I drunk monster blood for a year and it kept me going. Tasted foul, probably fucked up whatever bit of human I had left in me, but it kept me going. Then I got a taste of Eddie and - [he exhales, runs his tongue over his teeth. ] You ever been so thirsty and then you get a sip of water? It was a goddamn religious experience.
You ate Eddie? That's how you saved him? Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening. Actually, I can. Of course it is! Vampires? Why not! Okay.
[ Let him have a mild freakout. ]
Okay, all I need to know is that you're not going to hurt the others. I hope you understand why I have to ask because you literally just told me you need to eat people to survive so I think I'm allowed one rude question.
Never, man... And. No. Kinda. I was dying... He just made sure it didn't hurt.
[ grimly.
and Jason doesn't count. ]
And I didn't get myself killed just to turn around and eat the nuggets in our happy little family. They're safe. We're - we're on your side in this. I promise.
- Yeah, I don't really give a shit, but I promised him I'd keep my fangs to myself.
[a beat. idly, his fingers thread through Eddie's - it's. it's a step, ok. trust for trust. ] And I want Max and Susan safe. They look like hell enough already.
[ Frowning, he runs his hands over his face. Takes a deep, steadying breath. The I don't give a shit but I promised is less reassuring than Billy intends. ]
[for him. he is giving slight puppy dog eyes. a can i please have a little bit after Steve goes to mom somewhere.
it's not easy to take this seriously when they have already accepted the consequences of being alive. killed for it, too. and, well, he and Steve are precarious. never really had a proper resolution after the whole thing at the Byers house. he doesn't suppose this helps. ]
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[ he's forcing himself upright, grabbing for billy again. realizing that this isn't going to go well - that steve is absolutely stupid enough to escalate the situation and billy is volatile enough to meet it. ]
We're -- we're not going to hurt you, Harrington.
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[He doesn't say speak for yourself, because well. He doesn't want to hurt Steve Harrington so much as he wants to sink his teeth into that pretty neck, just for a while -]
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[ Steve skids a look at the door, debating how likely it would be that he could escape if needs be. ]
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[ he's holding tight to billy's wrist. ]
And if it didn't, we'd be dead. Chill the fuck out.
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He doesn't really think about how easy it is to just sort of submit to Eddie Munson. If he does he might act out just on principle. ] Please put that fucking lamp down, Steve.
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[ Warily, he sets the lamp down. Stays on the other side of the room where it's still within arm's reach, eyes wide as they rake over the pair of them. He lowers his voice to a hiss. ]
I know that something happened, I'm not an idiot. How are you different? Are you some fucked up version of cursed?
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Probably, yeah... we're still us, but the Upside Down made some improvements.
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[he's still looking at Eddie. a quiet we kind of have to tell him now goes unspoken. ] There's a price. You don't survive that and don't pay a price.
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[ Straight to the point, on alert. ]
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[ he lets billy free, keeping their fingers tied together. his voice is low and hushed, because he knows all too well what will happen if the wrong ears are listening. ]
We need to drink blood.
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[He's being exceptionally good, actually. ] Unless you ask.
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You're ... you're really vampires? So you have to eat people?
[ He's gonna need more than a lamp at this rate. ]
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[ he licks his lips. ]
... Hargrove's been doing this longer than me. But... we don't... have to kill, if we feed.
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[honestly he could go another hit of o neg morphine to make this less awkward. ]
Doesn't even have to hurt, if we feed. But - but we have to feed. Eddie - Eddie especially.
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Covering his mouth as he thinks, he shifts from foot to foot, hand on a hip. ]
Does it have to be human blood?
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[ billyd know best. ]
We didn't really get a tutorial.
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[he needs to sit, again. ] I drunk monster blood for a year and it kept me going. Tasted foul, probably fucked up whatever bit of human I had left in me, but it kept me going. Then I got a taste of Eddie and - [he exhales, runs his tongue over his teeth. ] You ever been so thirsty and then you get a sip of water? It was a goddamn religious experience.
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[ Let him have a mild freakout. ]
Okay, all I need to know is that you're not going to hurt the others. I hope you understand why I have to ask because you literally just told me you need to eat people to survive so I think I'm allowed one rude question.
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[ grimly.
and Jason doesn't count. ]
And I didn't get myself killed just to turn around and eat the nuggets in our happy little family. They're safe. We're - we're on your side in this. I promise.
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[a beat. idly, his fingers thread through Eddie's - it's. it's a step, ok. trust for trust. ] And I want Max and Susan safe. They look like hell enough already.
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[ Frowning, he runs his hands over his face. Takes a deep, steadying breath. The I don't give a shit but I promised is less reassuring than Billy intends. ]
Fuck. Let me think for a minute.
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Okay, man.
[ ... ]
Maybe we should wait until we're not fulla drugs.
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[for him. he is giving slight puppy dog eyes. a can i please have a little bit after Steve goes to mom somewhere.
it's not easy to take this seriously when they have already accepted the consequences of being alive. killed for it, too. and, well, he and Steve are precarious. never really had a proper resolution after the whole thing at the Byers house. he doesn't suppose this helps. ]
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[ A finger holds up at Billy. ]
You get blood second because you're fine by comparison. Argue with me and see where it gets you.
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... Way more than you got, Harrington. But.. uh... [ he glances at billy. ] Enough to keep me going 'til I get out of here.
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