Sleepers, pt II

[ps_you_look_hot]

As he walks down the hall to meet Helen, a strange feeling settles over Nikola. He's...tired.

No, not tired. Exhausted.

That girl that...sniveling, little brat. She's drained all his energy. He hasn't felt as exhausted as this since...

Well, since Oxford. A very, very long time ago indeed.

Still, he straightens his shoulders as he steps into the room, hoping rather than believing that Helen will not see how tired he truly is.

Comments

[lifewithoutrest]

She's known him long enough to read the exhaustion, even if she knows she will never truly understand what he's lost. For Nikola, it is different. He hadn't simply gained a new talent or ability. His gift had come to define him. After so many years, even she is having difficulty believing he is once again entirely human. As far as she can tell, at least.

"So?"

[ps_you_look_hot]

"Yes, it's done," Nikola drawls as he sweeps around the arm of the couch to drop next to her, annoyance apparent in every movement. "Laura is back to her sniveling, spoiled self."

It's not that he minds having to essentially invent a power source to do it--that's what he's best at, after all--it's that he himself was...insufficient to the task.

[lifewithoutrest]

Setting her book aside, she watches him carefully a moment before retrieving an already waiting wine glass, handing it to him along with the bottle. "Maybe this will cheer you up."

As difficult as he can be, she truly does hate to see him this way.

[ps_you_look_hot]

Nikola accepts both glass and bottle with a mild expression, though he does appreciate the effort. Somewhat.

"Oh, the premier cru. You must be feeling guilty."

[lifewithoutrest]

She gives him a look. "You can't seriously blame me for this?"

No. He had brought this upon himself, though, she does have the good grace not to point that out directly. Or perhaps she's simply feeling sympathetic.

[ps_you_look_hot]

Oh, he can, Helen. Of course he can. You know him that well.

Still, he says, "Forgive me, Helen. It's just my soul-crushing depression talking." He sets the bottle on the table and leans back with his glass, watching the light filtering through the wine. "I'm not myself."

[lifewithoutrest]

"On the contrary," she counters, still watching him, "You are your real self again. Human. Mortal." It's an insult, she knows, one that slips out easily. Her sympathy has its limits. And if she can draw him into familiar banter, perhaps she can distract him from darker thoughts.

[ps_you_look_hot]

"Watch your language," he responds quickly, practically cutting her off. But there's no bite to his remark, and he knows exactly what it is she's trying to do.

And damn her, it's working. A little.

[lifewithoutrest]

"I'm sorry, Nikola, but it's true. I've tried everything I could think of. There's simply no way to revamp you."

[ps_you_look_hot]

He sighs as she speaks, knowing it's true. He knew, really, from the moment he devamped himself.

"You see how this puts a crimp in my plans for world domination. Not to say I won't keep trying," he's quick to add.

[lifewithoutrest]

His words prompt a smile, her relief obvious, though she tries not to show it. "I would expect nothing less."

[ps_you_look_hot]

Yes, loath as he is to admit it, she is helping here.

"Very well," he says, accepting that. "If this is to be a wake, let's do it properly." He gestures with his glass before looking in her direction. "Join me in a toast?"

He waits for her to lift her glass as well. "To happier times. To those halcyon days of bloodlust, now gone. Plus, you gotta admit, vampires are just plain cool."

[lifewithoutrest]

She raises her glass, feeling significantly lighter. He's sounding more like himself.

"Amen."

[ps_you_look_hot]

He sobers slightly, regarding the glass in his hand, and says, "Here's to the glorious vampire race: once mighty, now extinct."

Not the thought he'd hoped to end on, but fitting somehow.

[lifewithoutrest]

It feels like the closing of a door, another chapter of their lives ending. Studying her glass, she says nothing.

[ps_you_look_hot]

After he drinks, Nikola leans forward to set his glass down, and the tea tray on the table slides over to meet him. Wordlessly, he turns to regard Helen, not entirely certain what this means but with dawning revelation.

They both look back down at the tray, and he moves his hand over it. It flies up, sticking to his palm, and he moves it about for a moment.

"Well," he says finally, when he's gathered himself enough to speak. "I can work with that."

With a faint smirk, and a raised eyebrow, he turns to Helen.

This evening just became distinctly more promising.