Sustenance for Immortals

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Rein was guiding Vera through the halls, her umbrella securely under his arm, only a few times did he open a door and peek in. At least he remembered these rooms and knew he was a heading in the general right direction, or so he hoped. They rounded a corner and a small rat scurrying towards them made Rein pause. It ran up to his foot and jumped up and down at his pant leg and then took off again down the hall it had come. Smiling, Rein followed, urging Vera to do the same with a gentle guiding pull on their linked arms. The little zombie rat ran around in zigzags across the floor while the humanoid pair followed confidently in a more linear fashion. It lead them around a few turns before stopping and pacing back and forth in front of a door. Upon opening it, Rein found a clean kitchen with a terracotta cork flooring. There appeared to be no one inside as the man escorted Vera to a stool at the counter. The little rodent followed at his heels.

"There you go miss, seems finding the kitchen wasn't so hard after all with a little help." Rein laughed and lowered the umbrella on to the counter, placing it with great care as if were made of glass. With the free hand, he tapped his hip and the rat climbed his pant leg and shirt all the way to his shoulder, where it ducked behind his hair to curl up at the base of his neck. "Now, you should probably take a seat while I try to find something. What would you like to eat tonight?"

Now, Rein was no chef, but he had enjoyed making simple dinners with his mother before he sealed his soul, and he had often cooked for Jared if the man worked late, but it was something he still liked to try every one and awhile even if he could no longer eat it himself.

Vera followed Rein as she still had her arms wrapped around his own. So many rooms and yet still no kitchen, but when she saw the rat and his behavior Vera smiled at the thing and followed it with Rein. She felt she nearly tripped a few times but catching herself quickly she made an easy recovery and was walking again at the pace Rein was. Stopping at a door, Vera watched as Rein opened it and smiled at the sight of the sought out kitchen. Walking in she looked around and noticed that everything was neatly put away and that yes this castle was fit for many many people. Very pretty indeed as so was all the detail to the rest of the castle that she had time to admire.

Finally being seated she looked at her umbrella that was set down with so much care and smiled. She respected this man more after he proved he would care for others belongings as if it were to be his own. The little rat snugged under his hair made Vera giggle a little. It was so cute with its actions to its body could have been a little less, how to say, decayed looking. With a shrug she looked around and couldn't see any food in sight, but knew that there must have been some sort of fruit or a nice warm soup that could be warmed up. "Well I don't need to eat much so....how about some grapes and maybe a banana if you can find them. I really don't need anything cooked and if so I can just flame it up and have it done in a gif!" She smiled as she wanted to play with her fire again, but restrained to save her energy. "Don't you want anything? You must surely be hungry after travel?" She asked with a tilt of her head making part of her other eye show slightly. "Oh and thank you for helping me, both of you." She said with a smile to both Rein and the rat.

Rein walked around the counter to stand directly opposite of where Vera was seated and leaned forward, crossing his arms over the counter as his slim hips bent languidly. Strands of hair swayed forward, dipping around his head and pooling on the counter. A sliver spark went off near his pupils and the rat scurried down his arms and on to the counter, where it raced over to the woman and squeaked for attention, nearly falling over the edge of the table with its enthusiasm to cuddle closer to her. Rein tilted his head at Vera, studying her with his glowing eyes a moment, finding himself wanting to brush back her hair so he could see her other eye that there was just a hint of, before he smiled slightly.

"As you wish, my lady." Rein's smile was smooth as he pushed off the counter and collected his long hair. His fingers pulled it up into a messy bun that left hair looping around everywhere. At least it was mostly out of the way, and in no danger of swinging in to any food. That settled, he started pulling open pantries. With some clatter, he pulled out a bowl and with some more rummaging, he found a closet-like room that had deep shelves of food and various ingredients. From large containers, he collected a few handfuls of strawberries, two apples, an orange and a roll of bread. As a last minute decision, he scooped a few sugar cubes from a small box near the door. Returning, he placed the bowl of fruit before Vera, the roll seated on a napkin beside it. He leaned again on the counter and shrugged.

"I am not hungry, but please, enjoy." Rein gestured towards the colorful arrangement, casually popping a sugar cube from his palm into his mouth to play with. He may not be able to eat any longer, but he did still enjoy things like gum or sugar just for the taste and for something to do with his mouth.

Vera smiled at her fingers as they tapped on the counter top. She listened to Rein as he responded to her response, totally oblivious to her eye drawing his attention. Looking up she watched as he walked over to the cabinets and searched for what she had asked for, and she just couldn't help but watch as his hair swooshed back and forth and up and down. Her attention was only brought away as the little rat next to her and his little squeaks for attention. She smiled and patted the little creature on the head with the utmost care. She had wondered if she was to rough with the little guy would a piece of him fall off? Either way she didn't want to risk it so she touched him that once then no more.

Looking up she watched as Rein returned with the bowl of fruit and smiled at the riches he was able to bring her. Looking it over she was happy to not see a banana in sight. She hated those vile yellow pieces of fruit. Taking two of the strawberries in hand she playfully licked them to taste the small hint of their outer flavor before finally biting into the tip of plump red fruit. Savoring the flavor she let out a little satisfying moan as her taste buds thanked her with the sweetness that was presented. Finishing it off by pushing the rest in her mouth, she prepared the other. As she chewed she watched as Rein popped little sugar cubes in his mouth and she smiled. Swallowing the fruit she felt herself feeling better already and was glad that it was only taking a few bites to go back to her normal self, though at the moment she wanted to cuddle up to something.

Seemed quite cold all of a sudden and Vera didn't like to be cold. Standing up she grabbed one more strawberry and a small piece of bread. "Shall we go ahead and walk around the castle?" She suggested as she went to grab her umbrella. As she reached for it seemed her aim was off and she steered off to the right of it missing it completely. She blinked a couple times and laughed nervously, "Oops.....something was uh...in my eye." She said before getting the aim right and grabbing her umbrella. "Sooo shall we?" Vera smiled and swung the umbrella over she shoulder as she waited to Rein, "Oh yes, do you like just have a high metabolism? Or do you just not eat a lot, or maybe diet? You are extremely skinny!"

Rein was absently twisting his tongue around the small sugar cube that was quickly melting in his mouth. He paused, watching as Vera thoroughly enjoyed the strawberries, though something about this made him a little uncomfortable and he felt his cheeks warm and looked away. He ate another cube to distract himself.

He looked up when the woman spoke. Rein nodded and straightened, walking around the counter as he watched Vera miss her umbrella horribly. Slight concern settled on his face as he wondered about her health and if she was feeling better.

"Are you alright? You didn't eat much, are you feeling better already?" There was slight doubt in his voice and he wondered if she was just unwilling to take up his time because he was unable to eat with her. "I really don't mind waiting if you need to sit longer, I just want you to feel well. Though, if you feel up to it, I wouldn't mind exploring either." Rein's smile turned a little self-conscious and almost apologetic. "I'm really just enjoying your company, I don't care what we do."

A few rebellious strands of hair escaped from the hair tie and they fell into his face in defiance. Rein narrowed his eyes on them as they hung in his vision annoyingly and he flicked his head to the side to try to cast them off. When they fell back, tickling his nose once again, he sighed and pulled the tie out of his hair. As it cascaded down in ripples in release, he pulled out drawers in search. Finding a culinary knife, he grabbed at the brown, blonde and red streaks of hair, throwing it all over his shoulder to the front of him, and was about to cut it to about shoulder length when Vera's question of his weight gave him pause. He blinked at her and shrugged, smirking.

"And here I thought I was getting fat." He chuckled. "I really don't know. It's true I don't eat, but I've always been this way, I shall forever be I think. Sorry, I don't think I'll ever be a particularly handsome and buff man." He gave her a last chuckle and a smirk, a playful gleam in his eye, before he refocused on the knife at his hair. He would at least try to make a swift and relatively clean cut so it wouldn't look completely stupid for an hour.

Vera looked back at Rein as he questioned her and her condition. She personally felt fine and was actually getting quite full, but how could this mortal understand her body? Smiling a little she walked over to him and nodded, "I'm quite fine I assure you! I just needed something to snack on. As you can see I am quite skinny and I like to keep my figure." Spinning on her heels so she could show off to Rein made her laugh and just smile one of her biggest grins. She opened her eyes and saw as Rein and his sudden frustration with his hair. Watching him walk over to the drawers and grab a knife made her jump in her spot with sudden surprise as he tried to cut his hair.

Wondering why he would want to cut his hair to such a short length Vera grabbed his hand and stopped him from continuing the act. She just started at him and the knife and shook her head. "What are you doing? Your hair is beautiful and if I'm not mistaken I think that you looks quite perfect in my eyes." She took the knife and walked back over to the drawer placing it back in its place. Nearly skipping back she grabbed Rein's hands and pushed him into the doors that they were just about to go through. She stared into his eyes with her own and smiled. "Really, people these days can never truly stop though they know deep down they look just perfect." Reaching up to her mask while still holding onto Rein's hand with her other, she pulled out a pin and smiled.

Turning Rein herself she took his hair and all its great mass and began working her magic as she formed it into a bun. Sticking the pin in she backed up and watched as the bun stood its ground and maintained its shape and smiled. "There we go! See isn't that better instead of having to cut it all off? I must say it would have taken forever for it to grow back...." She looked down and smirked, "I remember when I was younger I had long hair....not as long as yours but still it had quite some length to it. I used to brush and maintain it everyday and in the end it was always up as mother instructed.....I decided one day that whats the point in having long hair if I can't enjoy it, so I cut it down....it never grew back." She looked back up and turned Rein back around, "I wish I never cut it.....so keep yours, I think it would be better than you with short hair anyways." Leaning in to Rein she found one strand that got away that managed to dangle at the side of his head and she leaned on his chest and began to fiddle with it. "Your hair is really special....."

Rein looked up as Vera twirled, and since she was showing off anyway, he really couldn't help but see how really beautiful she was. However, he was confused when she stopped him from cutting his hair. Letting her take the knife, he watched silently as she returned it to the drawer. He was going to say about how it would grow back, it was only hair, but he was cut off as Vera walked back to him.

He was entirely unprepared for the way he was pushed against the doors. He was never a very strong person anyway, physically, so the force the woman used threw him off. With much little else to do, Rein leaned into the structure suddenly at his back. Processing just what Vera was telling him, a compliment really, the man blinked and his face burned a light pink easily. His eyes trailed to his captured hands and back to the woman's face as she pulled a pin from her mask.

"Vera...is this-..." Rein's voice was meek, unused to someone being so close and forceful. He was cut off as he was turned to face the door, and stood perfectly still as the girl played with his hair. He turned just his head to look at her as she finished, but was somewhat afraid to move. He calmed slightly as he was told the reason behind her being so unwilling to let her cut it, but he stiffened again as he was turned back around. Vera leaned in, and Rein's face turned a violent red feeling her so close. She played with his hair, and didn't show any signs of pulling back at the moment. The teenage boy stood kind of awkwardly, back straight, eyes continuing to wander, not knowing what to do. Hesitantly, Rein wrapped his arms around the back of the woman leaning against him, though not actually touching her. Shuttering slightly, worried about repercussions, he awkwardly forced a breath and rested his arms around the small of her back in a loose embrace as he leaned back into the doors again. He glanced to the side and tried to will his blush away with little success.

"T-thank you, Vera, for helping, but you know it wont stay like that, my hair has a mind of its own. B-but...if you like it..." Rein trailed off and looked down at Vera. He let a hand trail up to play with some of the black hair at the nape of her neck, long fingers lightly and gently twirling some of the hair strands around themselves. "If it makes it any better, I think this style suites you. It's...uh...beautiful." He was losing his train of thought, he could feel her too well, her curves, they were too close, and his voice lowered to something of an embarrassed whisper on the last word. There was some sort of strange intimacy in the way they were holding each other, and Rein was still technically in the body of a teenage boy despite mental maturity. He only hoped she didn't realize the stillness of his chest, the way his heart beat inhumanly slowly, if it decided to beat at all, or the way in which he had no moving organs on the inside; how his body was in stasis. This was not something he should be feeling. He forced another shuddered breath through his nerves and the arm around Vera's midsection tightened unconsciously. But that didn't mean he didn't want it. He didn't want the fabled life of loneliness and despair that supposedly plagued the immortal. God, this was going to be the more permanent death of him.

Vera felt the tension that was given off by Rein, and was preparing to release herself from his presence, but before she could she felt the long cool fingers of his gentle touch the ends of her hair. She stopped and listened to his delayed compliment and smiled. She eased herself back onto his chest and became aware of every movement that he made. From his hearts strange beating to his arms that jerked in uncertain motions that she knew he couldn't even understand. She breathed slow as if in rhythm to his heart that now barely seemed to be moving. She wondered if maybe he had not fallen in love with anyone. This feeling she had, it was warm and satisfying, yet confusing in many many ways. She couldn't find the words to explain it if asked. It was so very strange....

Feeling the arms rest gently on her torso made he only melt into him more as his touch just seemed to calm her in every way possible. She wasn't thinking about her immortality and the fact that he was someone she would have to drop later, she was hoping that any moment found would be with him and would be wonderful in every way. Why, why was she feeling these strange feelings? He made her wonder so much and the fact of this made her smile. He was her little wonder boy and she loved it. The embrace around her waist tightened and she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck and literally hung helpless from them. His breathing was unsteady and now so was hers. She could barely open her mouth to say anything, so instead she stared into his eyes and pulled herself up from her complete lazed stance and still she could not find herself close enough to even reach his collar bone. She felt her face burn as she realized how short she was compared to him, oh hos silly it was. Her heart began to race as she realized the warmth between them and her lip began to quiver as her mind couldn't barely understand the motions her body took a hold of on their own.

Unknowingly she stretched her neck up and stepped up on her tippy toes. "I...I" She didn't know what to say and nothing else had came into her mind but the stutters she had just made. The whole purpose of leaving the room now became meaningless.

Rein sighed in relief, releasing a tension he didn't know he had been holding, when Vera melted back in to him. He had been terrified of doing something wrong, or offending her somehow. Making her mad at him was the last thing he wanted. Her arms came up around his neck and his breath hitched. His arms pulled her closer to support her weight, he tried to keep everything gentle and smooth. The man let his eyes slip close as he tried to gather his breathing. The sensation of his heart being moved to beating even as slowly as it was now was foreign after all this time. For many years, it had stilled and had been left to sit with nothing to persuade it to start again. Now, he felt almost mortal again.

Feeling Vera shift against him, he opened his eyes to look down at her. She took back her own weight, and the glow of Reins eyes hued her cheeks as she looked up at him. He watched her blush and saw her lip quiver. He found himself focused on that, of all things. Something about it put him at ease; it showed that maybe she didn't know what they were doing either, that she was just as nervous. Again, the woman's body shifted against his as she raised to her toes and reached up. Rein found himself letting the arms around his neck weight him towards her in return. His spine curved and slowly his half-lidded eyes were hovering directly over her own, height difference having Rein looking vertically down on Vera. She stuttered, but he only vaguely heard. He felt their breath mingle and a few strands of hair fell loose and framed their faces. The man felt a ghost of a brushing of lips before he pulled back slightly, hesitant. Logic tried to break through.

"Vera-" It was a broken whisper of a husky tone, it sounded both needy and warning. What distance between them could be crossed easily, but Rein wasn't sure that it was wise. The hand that was playing with her hair settled to rest where neck met shoulder, and it lay there torn, unsure whether to pull in or push away.

Vera felt heat come over her as they seemed to have an ever growing closeness than was expressed before. Her eyes never stopped watching his own, even as he had leaned over her in a way that seemed strange yet quite funny. Vera's heart was thrown into an irregular beat and she just wanted to grab it and calm it down. She wasn't sure if she was more excited or her heart was. It felt strange, but she didn't want to back down. Still caught in his gaze she could only faintly smile as the hair fell around their faces and seemed to cast shadows in all the right places. Rein's eyes only glowed more brightly as the hair darkened the area around them, and her heart skipped a beat once more.

She began shaking as the strands danced on her shoulders and trickled down her back as they continued to fall loose from the hair tie that Vera had tried so hard to maintain his hair. Feeling him come closer and their breathes intertwine set the feeling of want all through out Vera's body and she wanted him. Nothing but him! She continued to hold her arms around his neck and she felt the brush between their lips and at one moment she thought that maybe she had tried to lung forward for the connection, but seemed to have just been in her mind.

Then suddenly, there it was, the pull that made her only more excited. Her mouth was dry from the wait but it seemed that his own must have been as well. Though with instinct she managed a quick lick of her lips before she was pulled closer. Closing her eyes she prepared for the touch,....but it never came. She kept her eyes closed hoping it was just the time that was being slow in this and not the man before her than had showed such promise. She didn't want to think this feeling was fake or that it was never going to be completed. However, she had to open her eyes at some point, so she did.

At first a blur appeared before her and she could only recognize Rein from the natural glow from his eyes that she was oh so familiar with. With vision becoming clear she saw the look on his face, and knew that it wasn't doubt, but it was some other feeling that Vera knew all to well. He didn't want to hurt her, and she could only smile at this. Tilting her head to the side she pulled him down to where her mouth was next to his ear and she grinned, "I don't mind....i'm all yours...." Her voice was quiet as if for this to be just for him to hear, though no one else was in the room.

Going back to their position with his hand holding to pull her in she nodded slowly and pulled herself closer and gently locked lips with his. A sensational feeling ran through her body down her spine and out her feet as one seemed to automatically lift itself up on its own in pure enjoyment. She wondered if Rein was feeling the same as her.

Rein watched Vera's face, brows creased in worry as he studied her beauty. This was bad, this was very very bad. Still, he didn't want to back away. He watched her smile, it was understanding, but how could she understand? She didn't know he had sealed his soul in an object for the pursuit of knowledge. She didn't know that he would never look a moment different, or that he would not die unless someone destroyed his phylactery. His head was pulled down, and a shiver ran down his frame as Vera's breath caressed his ear as she spoke. That sentence broke both his heart and strengthened his will. 'She didn't mind'...she had no idea what she was agreeing to.

She pulled away again to their previous position and Rein's heart wallowed. This was what he wanted, but it was what he couldn't have. Slowly and gently, Vera closed the distance and the kiss that followed was completely and wholly just as slow and gentle. Rein literally felt the elation shoot down his spin and down his limbs, and it crumbled any resolve he had and melted his muscles. His chest shuddered as if it wanted to release a shaky breath, but the exit it would have taken was sealed. There was but a moment of brief hesitation before he felt the final resistance break and he returned the kiss with just a bit more force and a bit more passion. Catching himself after a moment, he hesitated again, and his entire body stiffened. Finally, he broke apart with a sigh and just laid his forehead against Vera's.

"You don't know what that means, you can't mean what you say. Th-this is too fast." Despite what he was saying, Rein quickly stole another peck, though he sighed and berated himself under his breath. "My god, what are you doing to me?"

Vera felt his body as it seemed to melt into a more relaxed and comfortable state than it was before and she was happy. She wanted him to accept this. She wanted him to accept her. Before in the past Vera was one who was shunned and pushed away for her actions, but here she could run from her past as nothing was here to bring it up. She hated the cruel world that hated her in return and never wanted to return to it. Feeling Rein push into the kiss with more passion and urge made her go right along with him. The moment, though short, was perfect in every way it made her want him only more. However, it ended before she could actually do anything more. He had for some reason pulled away.

Looking down for a moment she opened her eyes, then finally returned the look back up to him. She saw the state of his face, as if he was scared and confused like a child lost in the forest with no one around to say it was okay. Vera leaned her head slightly to the side as she listened to him talk and she just chuckled to herself with the second kiss that had immediately pursued his words. Putting one hand on his cheek, Vera smiled and sighed a bit, "How do you know if I mean it or not? I'm the one who said it silly." Vera lowered her hand and her smile faded as it did. She held her hands behind her back and blushed, "Okay....we may be moving to fast....but for some reason it feels right." She paused for a moment before returning the look, "You don't understand, I don't accept a lot of people....and not many accept me in return. Here I'm trying to find people I can be with....they always leave way to early..."

Backing up she put space in between them so that Rein could think. "Its all up to you, but if you want we can take a walk and talk about it. I would like to know why you think I don't know what I'm agreeing to." She said with a cocky smirk on her face as if he didn't know what he was talking about.

Rein sighed. Vera had backed away and is was harder than he would have liked to not follow. He ran a hand down his face and for once, he felt exhausted. Not physically, but definitely mentally. He pushed off from the door and stood straight, looking down at the woman with a slight troubled look.

"Please, don't think I have any intention of leaving." Rein tried a hesitant smile and nodded. "Yes, lets take a walk." Without looking, he reached down to grasp the handle and pushed the door open behind him. He held it open for Vera to walk through. "As for your curiosity: I don't believe you know what it would mean to be mine. I don't doubt your sincerity, but I worry that you will regret starting something with me when you find out more about me." The man smiled and winked at Vera, mood lightening to something more playful. He knew this wouldn't work in the long run, but why not short time? At least for a little while, he could pretend, they just couldn't get married. He would not make her watch as she grew and he stayed the same. Really, maybe he was thinking too seriously. He chuckled. "Do not worry, we'll see where this is going first, yes?"


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