Raleigh Becket Open RP Post

[righthemisphere]

"Please take the ghosts from my heart;
I don't want to be haunted anymore."

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[righthemisphere]

Raleigh furrows his brow as that sinks in, worry creasing his forehead. There's a few ways he could take that and none of them are good.

"How's that?" Because that's some heavy talk from a clearly foreign guy out in the middle of nowhere for no reason other than to, well, disappear. It rubs backwards against Raleigh's hackles.

[luckystriker]

Herc almost doesn't tell him, pausing as he stares at the worried look on Raleigh's face. But it also feels wrong to lie to this man, so...

He takes a breath.

"I'm probably older than you. I've... had more marks on me than I could count. I gave up, in the end, and got settled with a wife. We had a son together. I was gonna turn her, but... Hunters came. I told my kid just after he turned 18 what I am, why she died, and... he didn't take the truth too well."

He still feels a dull aching in his chest as he thinks of Angie and Chuck, but soldiers on, smoothing back Raleigh's hair as he continues. "That was a couple of years back. I've been alone since then and... I was ready to stop." Nodding over to his bag tucked in the corner as he explains, "Got a silver bullet in there. Last night was gonna be my last run, and I was gonna use it on me today."

[righthemisphere]

You coward, he thinks.

It's unkind. It's kneejerk. It's entirely hypocritical and ignoring the fact that he's been in a similarly dark space before.

Raleigh's temper flares in his chest and his eyes as he glances at the bag and back. Herc's story is sad and not far off from him. It makes sense and objectively he can't blame him but temper doesn't know logic. He bites his tongue to hold back a snarled you asshole but it's written all over his face and in the clench of his fist on Herc's chest.

[luckystriker]

Rude.

And yet-

"I know, I'm a bloody coward," Herc says quietly, feeling Raleigh's fury in the clenching of his fist and how his body goes tense. "But I figured you'd be like all the marks before. That I wouldn't find you, and it would all start again."

[righthemisphere]

"Well didn't you even look?!" It snaps out before he can stop himself. Raleigh pushes up into his elbow and rolls to sit, legs over the side, back to Herc.

Control yourself, Raleigh. It's life. It happens. He knows, he knows he isn't being fair.

Shoulders tense, he scrubs his face with his hands.


"Why would you've, you had a family."

[luckystriker]

Herc sits up, too, but doesn't reach out for Raleigh, giving him his space as he watches in guilty silence.

"I only had my son," he answers quietly. "And he's made it clear he doesn't want anything to do with me. He can take care of himself. And after never being able to find all the others before you... I figured it was impossible. So no, I didn't try."

[righthemisphere]

God that pisses him off. Hearing it aloud. You never looked for him. Not once. He's spent a century- You traitor.

Rals, he can almost hear Yancy say. What are you doing, man. He had a reason and he's here now. You did it, what are you mad about.

God fuck!

He's silent for a long moment, fists curled until he lets them relax and flexes his fingers.

"Thank you for your honesty," he finally says. As mad as he is, as close to throwing a swing and he still might, you asshole, Herc didn't end it. It hasn't been a hundred years for nothing. At he very last second, at the very last opportunity, Raleigh made contact.

[luckystriker]

Herc's honestly surprised he hasn't been punched or had his throat torn out, yet, but he's also not counting out the possibility of it happening later.

For now, though, he nudges Raleigh's hip with his knee.

"You're about due a meal, aren't you? And I can smell you didn't bring a blood bag with you in your coat."

[righthemisphere]

Raleigh growls under his breath. Don't tell him to eat like that'll make him less mad at you, he's not your girlfriend.

Well..

Humph.

"Probably" grunt.

"Booting me out already?"

[luckystriker]

At least Herc's used to dealing with this sort of grumbling and huffing.

Shaking his head a bit, Herc holds out his arm by Raleigh's shoulder, inner wrist turned up.

"Go on."

Before he changes his mind, you tick.

[righthemisphere]

He glances over and looks at Herc's arm. You tease.

"I'm venomous," he warns. He's so hungry but it's not fair to not tell him. Not all vampires are, its a bloodline thing, but some are blessed with a toxin to relax and disable prey and Raleigh is one of them.

[luckystriker]

"And I've been bitten by your type before," Herc retorts gruffly, clenching his fist and making the veins stand out all the more tantalisingly. "You're not gonna hurt me."

He doesn't even mean that last part out of some sense of bravado or machismo. He means it in the sense that Raleigh's the literal other half of his soul and wouldn't hurt him, just like Herc would never turn his fangs or claws on the vampire, either.

[righthemisphere]

He wouldn't. He couldn't if he tried. Raleigh sort of hates the idea because it means exposing his ugly truth but.. makes them equal in a way. And as loathe as he is to do that, the idea of leaving Herc alone to hunt is a hard, immobile no.

He swallows and wets his lips, gums buzzing as he looks at the offers arm. The veins Herc is purposely-

Fine. Fine, okay-

Raleigh gives a soft noise teeming with want and hunger and longing before he gives in and shifts back to face him a quarter, taking his arm gently and coming in nice and close. The anger is dropping away rapidly, replaced with Herc's scent and heartbeat. Lips to his skin, Raleigh savours the taste before he bites, sharp fangs from their own place above his human teeth which extent like a snake and slice into his flesh before venom fires into Herc's veins.

By instinct Raleigh shifts himself to support his mate in case he ragdolls back and hits his head on he bed frame. He's got you, it's okay, he will never hurt you.

[luckystriker]

There's that soft grunt again as the teeth sink in, but then the buzz of the venom makes Herc relax almost immediately. Like he said, he's felt this before when some aggressive vampires had tried to take down the old werewolf, and he knows he can burn through the venom quickly if he gets his adrenaline pumping... but it's not needed, here.

Instead, he shifts forward and rests against Raleigh, cheek to the blond's shoulder, free arm loosely wrapping over his back as Herc settles down. His fingers relax from the tight clench of his fist, idly carding through Raleigh's hair as he feeds.

"That's it," he murmurs quietly, closing his eyes and giving a little nuzzle to Raleigh's shoulder.

[righthemisphere]

Raleigh grips him but he's way too distracted to answer.

Blood. Not just any, bottom feeding nobody, it's his soulmate's. He'll be forever ruined by it because nothing and no one will ever come close.

Raleigh moans as he swallows, shivers racing up his spine as heat races down and pools in his belly. Herc's blood is ancient and powerful strong. It holds centuries more life than Raleigh ever has and though he doesn't pick any specifics out there's a library of information in him.

Even more than that, nothing has ever felt so right as it does now, taking another long pull and savouring every last drop- dizzy with bliss.

He drinks slowly, at his leisure, simmering in Herc's silent story if the man chooses to let him see. He's that old, that powerful, able to command the intimacy and vulnerability. Your truth is in your blood. That much is universal. And those with wild magic can use it as a channel between them. It opens a line of communication that doesn't require words. It's simply.. drifting in one another with the ultimate form being a fully sworn soul bond unobtainable by humans.

[luckystriker]

Herc's an open book to Raleigh. He doesn't see a point in hiding anything - he's already told the vampire his greatest shame. So he just lays himself bare to the vampire as he drinks, closing his eyes and resting his brow to Raleigh's shoulder and letting him take in those memories.

From the start of his life at some nameless little town in Ireland to him and Scott getting caught stealing horses one too many times, being shipped off to Australia before that's what it was called. The two had each other's backs and even if it was hard out there... those memories are full of pride and life.

The werewolf life doesn't start until Herc and his brother have set up their farm and wake one night to hearing their sheep bleating in panic, being slaughtered outside. That memory is full of blood and pain and darkness.

There's fear and uncertainty and ironically enough, it's by becoming part animal that Herc reins in his more wild side. Less drinking, less fighting, hopping in and out of the military, needing to vanish once a century or longer to give those he met the time to die. Scott, meanwhile, had grown wilder and more violent until finally, they'd had to separate after a rather bloody altercation. That was a few centuries ago.

Herc had tried time and time again to find his soulmates, but each time he'd been too late, seeing the mark fade on his skin before being replaced by a new one, again and again and again. Angela had been a warm, sunny reprieve, and they'd decided to move to the States with Herc's military career, because maybe they'd find a pack to join further north. Maybe, just maybe, even without his soulmate, he could have a family and belong.

Then more blood. An angered son hurling curses at him, damning him for being a monster before leaving, blocking all calls from Herc from then on. Bone-deep exhaustion and bitterness towards a world that had given him nothing in return for all he'd gone through that had finally driven him to getting that single silver bullet before he set off for the woods one last time.

[righthemisphere]

A sad, lonely end to a sad, long novel. Herc has been catching bullets in his teeth so long he's earned the one in his heart. Maybe it's cruel for Raleigh to appear now. For him to gather the man close and force him to continue with the prize of finally finding each other.

The sorrow in his blood is bittersweet and intoxicating; whispered prayers and secrets and long, long periods of darkness. It's strange to find such life in endless night and yet here they are.

Raleigh swallows and laps at the two small punctures he's made- precise and almost surgical in comparison to the bite of a wolf. His mind is far away in rolling Irish hills and a life not his own as he turns to find his mate's lips and pull him in, firm but gentle, so so gentle.

"Shhh," soft, against him. Warmth floods through Raleigh like bushfire but his heart aches for Herc. Hercules, Raleigh has gleaned. If there was ever a truer name for him..

[luckystriker]

There's a soft, muffled noise against Raleigh's lips and Herc shudders hard, arm tightening a bit around the blond's middle to squeeze him closer. For all he's weaker now that he's been drained of some blood, he feels warmer and more protected than before, leaning into Raleigh quite happily. The bite mark throbs a bit, needing longer to close up just thanks to the venom, but Herc pays it no mind, instead lifting that hand to run his fingers through shaggy blond hair, drawing Raleigh in for more kisses.

Maybe all that suffering was worth it, in the end.

[righthemisphere]

A soft noise of pleasure as their kiss deepens, sinking in as Raleigh explores. Herc isn't totally in control of his facilities right now so he doesn't push for more than sweet, lapping kisses. You beautiful, sad thing. His beautiful, sad thing.

Gently, Raleigh lays them back down, Herc on his back with Raleigh over him, laying against his side with one hand to card into cropped, copper hair. They can take their time. They have all the time in the world.

If Herc falls back to sleep, which he might whilst the wolf's blood burns through the toxin inside him, Raleigh will rise and stoke the fire before looking for something edible he can make for his mate. If Herc stays conscious, he'll do the same after kissing a while, wanting to reciprocate.

[luckystriker]

Good luck going anywhere, Raleigh, because as soon as Herc's laid down, he wraps his arm around the blond's waist, turning his face towards the hand in his hair to nuzzle and kiss against the now warm skin. He's already drifting, but unlikely to fall asleep, preferring to wrap around his mate to doze until the venom's out of his system and he can get up himself.

"Was that enough?" he asks drowsily, voice just faintly slurred as if he's been drinking.

[righthemisphere]

Well, there goes that plan. He'd order Herc something but 1, he didn't bring his phone and 2, lol.

Raleigh's anger has long since melted away, sidelined by centuries of history and rich, warm blood. The balance of the world is momentarily restored.

"Plenty," he murmurs, wrapped up nice and tight. His gratitude goes without saying but he thinks it's important to, anyway. Raleigh is more of a speak by example person but this is important. Laying facing, arms draped over each other. He traces the freckles on Herc's shoulder in a slow, rhythmic pattern.

"Thank you."

[luckystriker]

"Mm, no worries," Herc rumbles with a pleased smile, skin shivering reflexively under Raleigh's tracing fingers.

He knows he'll have to eat something himself, which probably means going out hunting rabbits or whatever else he might come across in the woods. Normally he'd have some canned supplies for days like this, but he hadn't exactly been planning to last the day, so...

Banishing the thought from his mind, he tucks his face against Raleigh's throat, breathing in the man's scent that's already growing increasingly familiar and just a touch addictive.

[righthemisphere]

Good. Let it consume you. Teach you a fucking lesson for never looking. He ought to spank you.

"Means a lot.." the gesture is touching and he's fine for now. "We could go back to the city in a bit.. if you want," he ventures.

"Buy you that dinner I promised"

[luckystriker]

Look at your life, look at your choices, Raleigh. Don't make Herc turn the tables to spank you right on back.

There's a quiet snort at that and Herc shakes his head. "I'll be fine, I can hunt something down, later."

He then smiles and rolls them over with a little burst of energy, pushing Raleigh onto his back and draping over him. He stares down at him for a moment, drinking in that handsome face before leaning down and kissing him with a bit more heat than before. Just like he's getting addicted to that scent, he's starting to get addicted to the taste, too. Give him enough time and soon he'll be wanting a kiss every other minute.

[righthemisphere]

Oh he is very...very okay with that happening.

Raleigh looks up at him with bright eyes and a soft smile, shifting dominance to Herc the moment he reaches for it. A soft noise. Parting lips. Open invitation as hands raise to skim down Herc's sides and back as they kiss.

"Are you sure?" He asks between kisses. "I have an apartment-" kiss "with heating and-" kiss "everything."

Like a big boy.