Young and wild

He didnt recognize the area they were headed to but you had to be dumb to not realize that it was definitely somewhere up northern where everything was so fancy. He fiddled a little with a hole in his pants, pulling loose threads out of it which probably would only broaden the hole until it didnt look that snazzy and edgy anymore but more like it was unintentional. He didnt really care much about his clothes at this point, because he worried what was happening and where Maddie would be. He hoped that she was still out partying and now would be the time where he would receive some sort of threat to back off and leave her for good; But he would never do that, not without a good reason to. They stopped and he was pulled from the car, hissing that he could walk fine on his own before he was promptly escorted up and into the mansion. He saw Maddie and frowned a little but only subtly. He didnt like seeing someone hold Maddie like the guy was, but what could he really do? Everyone around him seemed to be a vampyre or something that wasnt human, that was for sure. He had to believe that the warning for her was for him as well, he wouldnt really want to know what would happen to a stranger if they did anything remotely disrespectful among all these seemingly loyal vampyres.

Maddie knew this was bad news, but seeing Tyler just made it all that worse. Then at the top of the stairs a figure appeared, long blonde hair almost hitting the floor, her eyes bright red as she moved down the stairs. She looked almost ethereal, moving elegantly, almost floating above the ground. "Mama Lorraine," Maddie said in a small gasp, bowing her head with respect. The head matriarch was one to be feared, she held all the power, and going out of her frame for the perfect family could be fatal. Maddie was only lucky that she was loved dearly, for whatever reason, by the matriarch. Even Maddie's parents where there, her mother seemingly hurt while her father was just looking on in a stoic manner.
"Maddison Kara Vincent," Lorraine spoke, her voice elevated, her accent unclear. The red eyes then fell on the human. "Tyler Jackson," she spoke, but it was clear there was not the same sort of affection in her voice. She sounded almost disgusted. Her gaze went back to her granddaughter, stepping down the stairs, dismissing the man holding Maddie in place. "For every time I see you, your beauty grows stronger, my dearest one," she spoke softly, the vampyres in the room just looking on in silence, standing eerily still.
"I hope you are in good health," Maddie said, but it was clear that her voice was a bit different than when she spoke with Tyler or her friends. There was something formal about her voice, and she looked up at her grandmother with a calm gaze. "Always so thoughtful, but you have demanded this, have you not?" she asked, looking over to Maddie's parents who looked down in respect at the blink of an eye. Lorraine looked over to Tyler, approaching him as her gaze evaluated him. "So this is the human you wish to have be part of this family?" she asked, making a few of the vampyres gasp, whispering among themselves. Maddie swallowed, nodding. "Tell us, little human, what do you have to offer my granddaughter?"

Maddie knew that this had been waiting for them eventually, but she had tried her best to avoid it, and now she couldn't avoid it any more. Her family was strange, they were too focused on their own race to even notice how uneasy they made the human feel, but Maddie could see it, and it pained her deeply that she couldn't just walk over to him, wrap her arms around him and tell him that everything was going to be alright.
Lorraine listened to the human, her face stoic, standing still like a statue of goddess Caemille herself, but she did lift her eyebrow at the mention of what he could offer. He didn't look like he came from a fortunate place, what with the holes in his clothes and his messy kept hair. Maddie looked at Tyler as he spoke, feeling her body wanting to move. There was something in the way he spoke that made her feel like her still heart was beating, like he called out to the humanity in her. Lorraine however seemed very unchanged in her opinion. Her eyes moved to her granddaughter, nodding as it was clear she wanted Maddie to talk as well.
Feeling a bit brave she walked over to stand by Tyler's side, she didn't want it to feel like they were each fighting for a cause, no they were in this together. Her hand moving down, taking his carefully, but not entangling their fingers. Just simply holding his hand, giving it a soft squeeze before she looked at her grandmother. "I know it is unorthodox, I know it goes against the rules of our family, but I could look forever and never find a mate more suiting than this human," she said in a firm voice, but it was clear that by saying this, the vampyres around her now knew her greatest weakness. She turned to look at Tyler, feeling his warm and slightly sweaty hand was comforting, it reminded her of all the things she loved about him. "We are both very young, and the future can change very rapidly, but I wish to get your blessing to be with him," she said, turning her gaze back to her grandmother.
Lorraine just looked at her granddaughter. It was clear that the matriarch bore some sort of affection for her granddaughter, but this was asking a lot; It was bending the rules or perhaps change them, even though they had been what had protected them for so many years. Their survival as a family depended on those rules passed down by generations. "So you intend to change him at some point? Let him join our kind?" Lorraine wished elaboration on. Maddie looked down for a second, not knowing what to say, because she didn't wish to take Tyler's autonomy from him. "If he himself wishes it at some point, then yes, but otherwise I would be perfectly content with what he already is," she said truthfully, looking to the human with a faint smile. She loved him, all of what made him well him, and if he at some point wished to become like her, she couldn't deny him that. But she also knew that it wasn't just a decision that could just be taken right now. A few of the vampyres were whispering in hushed voices, it sounding almost like rustling in the trees as they spoke so fast. Maddie looked around her, feeling her entire family judge her and she was afraid. Because she was putting her whole known life on the line for Tyler, and she hoped he knew that.
Lorraine hummed softly, nodding a bit as she stepped away, pacing a bit back and forth as she thought it through. She then looked out at the gathering of vampyres. "We seem to have encountered something our clan has never seen before; One of our own being satisfied with a mortal," Lorraine addressed the assembly. "While she is my granddaughter, the rules of this family is clear; We form unions only with worthy partners, someone who is our equals," she said, and Maddie could feel her heart sink. Was this the ruling or was she simply speaking to cause a bigger debate? "He is my equal," she protested, but a firm gaze from her grandmother made her shut up, look down and clutch on to Tyler's hand. She had no power here, only the matriarch.
"As you can hear, my granddaughter persists that a mere mortal could in fact be equal to the life of a vampyre; But I do not think that is the case," she said calmly, looking at Tyler with cold eyes. Was the human going to protest in any way? She was curious to know.

He knew at this point that Maddie's family was a little odd when it came to their traditions but to hear Maddie call it unorthodox made him lift his eyebrows slightly because it felt more like they had gone back by 200 years or so, it didnt sound very like everyday talk. Was this really what was happening? Despite what he thought, he couldnt let it show that the words were beginning to get to him. The feeling of simply not being enough and being less than, he hated that feeling. It wasnt Maddie's fault, so he wasnt just going to act out and kept his composure even if every fiber in him told him to fight against it. The notion that he would have to change at some point, like it was just expected that he was willing to give up his humanity and mortality just like that made him clench his jaws. Not that he was completely against it, but it was a really big change that he couldnt just agree to. He liked being human and feel alive, even if it sucked a lot of the time. He was very grateful for Maddie's answer, giving her hand a soft squeeze as any show of emotion felt like something he wouldnt be able to control with all the fleeting things he were feeling right now. Just feeling her next to him made him feel a little braver too.
The elegant elder addressed the crowd and Tyler looked around at them, though they really seemed like inanimate statues to him, beside the fact that they all looked equally disappointed about all this. He clenched his jaw as he was called inadequate again. Maddie's protest made him look at her with soft eyes but he knew her words were falling on deaf ears. He felt the matriarch's eyes on him, looking at her before looking down while he thought about it for a second. He usually wasnt much of a thinker, but he didnt want to step out of line and risk that Maddie would pay for his insolence. "Okay yeah. Sure. I'm no equal by genetics, I come from a lineage of poverty, alcohol and abuse as the three defining factors. I have no money and barely an education. By all means, I could be worthless. But I make her happy in a way you wouldnt be able to miss. I know if we walk out of here having to go seperate ways..." he paused, folding his lips to wet them, his eyes darting from side to side as he sought for words, looking back at the matriarch as he felt another burst of bravery, clutching onto Maddie's hand before carefully letting go to step forward while he spoke. "Her heart would break and I believe you only want the best for her. So even if I dont choose to become a vampyre and change.... I would only live 200 years. And then you would never have to worry about me again. All I ask is just a chance to make her happy with the time I have, because I know I can," he said, even getting on his knees even if he wasnt the kind to beg. He didnt know what else to do or if his words even bore weight.

Maddie didn't like this one bit, she knew that this would end badly, and right about now she wondered if Tyler even found her worth all of this trouble. He could find any other girl with less of a strict family than hers and be a teenager, but right now he was confronted by the adult severity of her own upbringing. Her grandmother was a true public speaker, she had the whole clan listening as she spoke. Then it seemed like the human was trying to be brave, Maddie wanted to grab at his hand, pull him back, but he had seemingly made up his mind, and what he spoke made her look at him with soft eyes. He let go of her hand, and she thought that he was going to just give up, before she heard something that she felt hit home. Her heart would break if she couldn't have him, and the fact that he knew that made her both happy and sad. He mentioned his expected living years, and frowning she looked down, because she hated thinking about that this had to have an end. Maybe she was spoiled by being immortal, her life just continuing forever in every which way she wanted, but Tyler would have an end. And part of her knew that when that end came she wasn't sure how she was going to cope.
The vampyres started speaking up, demanding that Lorraine shut up the mortal, or yelling that this was out of line for any of their clan. Lorraine held up her hand and the room fell silent, her red eyes staring right at the human. "You are either very brave or very stupid, young mortal, but I do not take offense to your rudeness," her grandmother proclaimed, the vampyres whispering among themselves once more. "And you plead a good case for yourself, I must say, but I cannot allow any mortal thinking they can simply join our ranks," she said, folding her arms in front of her, her skin pale as marble and just as smooth. "However 200 years is nothing of great value; I will allow you to stay by her for your lifetime being," she finally said, making Maddie look up at her grandmother, hope in her eyes. "But you must know that you will never be her equal, you will not be joining this family and that means no children between the two of you, no marriage, and I will not have any further discussion about this," she said. Maddie swallowed looking down. She knew what that meant. It meant that she could be with Tyler, sure, but that her family eventually had a plan of finding a real match for her, even if it was within Tyler's lifetime. "Have I made myself clear?"

Maybe he was reckless and dumb doing what he did, but it felt like the right thing to do. To at least show that he wasnt just going to cower and hide away, even if he was practically on his knees and pleading. The outrage from the crowd didnt affect him, him just keeping his eyes on the matriarch, knowing that her verdict was all that mattered in the end. It was a relief that she wasnt offended by his unknowing, but then again, he wasnt exactly raised with a caring hand to teach him manners.
He wanted to keep hoping, that he at least had made some sort of sense with his words. The matriarch spoke and he just kept quiet, listening to her as she made it rather clear that he never would be the same worth as them in their eyes. That he didnt really care much about. It was the fact that he was allowed to stay by her side that made him feel that rush of relief, holding back a smile as he looked at Lorraine. "Very clear. Thank you," he simply said with a bow of his head as he got to his feet. He wasnt really sad about her words, because he felt like he was way too young to even be thinking in the ways she was insinuating. He took a few steps backwards to Maddie and took her hand again, looking at her with soft eyes, even if she didnt seem happy about the situation.

Maddie didn't really know what to feel, she just stood there, taking Tyler's hand as he returned, but it seemed like all emotions had gone from her face. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she knew that she wasn't satisfied with the ruling. She didn't even care about children or marriage, but being denied it? That she wasn't going to get over quickly. Lorraine looked at her granddaughter, gesturing for her to come forward, and she did, letting go of the human's hand, even though she didn't want to. "Stand still," she said, and it was as if Maddie could hear the following words ringing in her head from growing up: And don't show emotions. Lorraine lifted her arm, smacking Maddie across the cheek, making the whole room go quiet. The slap had sounded like two marble plates being smacked against each other, and it was clear that Maddie's mother had looked away.
"Thank you, mama Lorraine," Maddie whispered, her self confidence gone and she bowed her head before both her and Tyler was dismissed and allowed to go. The vampyres slowly disappeared in to the shadows, moving away and off to their daily doings. Maddie refused to look at Tyler, just grabbing his hand and moving outside and away from the mansion. She felt empty, she felt angry, but most of all she felt humiliated, and that was exactly what her grandmother had wanted to do. Humiliate her in front of the entire clan and then smack her as if she was a disobedient child once more. She knew Tyler would try and say something but she just shook her head, however if he managed to make her look at him, he would see that her right eye had turned red. "Don't look at me like this," she mumbled, covering up her eye because she was desperate in trying to hide this part of herself.

It was naive to believe that they would just be sent off just like that. He felt reluctant to let go of the vampyress' hand but had to as she stepped forward. He frowned a little before he realized what was going on and it was like it was over in one blink of an eye. His eyes widened and he clenched his jaw like he could somewhat feel the pain and humiliation both at the same time. He just stared at the matriarch in disbelief, before he watched Maddie in his peripheral view and felt her hand around his. He felt quite speechless by it all, the fact that it had happened and that his mind was pulling out his own painful memories from the times he had gotten a reminder like that.
Once they were outside, he looked at Maddie, simply refusing to accept that she didnt want to look at him. "Maddie please" he begged softly, trying his best to make her look at him. Seeing her red eye made him gulp but her mumble made him shake his head. "Dont shut me out now," he said, though he could understand why she would. He carefully placed a hand over hers but didnt try to remove it, letting go of her other hand to lift it and cup her face. "I know how you feel, I've been smacked, punched and beaten by my own dad. I just want you to know that you're not alone in this," he said, looking at her with saddened eyes. "Let's go home, alright?"

She didn't want to talk about what had just happened, she just wanted to forget it, but she couldn't. Mama Lorraine knew how to humiliate her, and doing this in front of Tyler was a sure way to make Maddie doubt herself. As he pleaded with her, she looked at him with her good eye, feeling him cup her cheek made her feel guilty. She was shutting him out, but only because she didn't want him to feel guilty or think that this was something they could've solved. Her family were brutal, often more so than just a slap, but if either of them had overstepped even more in there, she would've lost a finger or maybe a hand. It was hard to tell, because her grandmother had a temper that rarely showed.
Part of her didn't know if they could even dare compare their stories, and yet again, here she stood and felt like a spoiled brat. She nodded at his words about going home, but it was clear that she wasn't able to say much else than a faint thank you. A car arrived shortly, and she got in, burying her face in Tyler's chest, but not saying a word. She just wanted to hear his heartbeat and feel his arms around her. Feel like what had happened in there wouldn't affect her further, even though she knew it would creep in to her mind from now on.
They arrived at the apartment complex, the driver being awfully quiet and as Maddie stepped out the driver reached behind rather fast, placing an arm on Tyler's shoulder. "Look after her," he just said, but it wasn't a warning, it was much rather a plea from one person to another. The driver let go of his arm shortly, turning to face forward as if nothing had happened between the two. Maddie walked ahead, going to the elevator and pressing the button. Her eye was still bright red, and it looked eerily like her grandmother's in this state. She hated it, she hated being reminded of what she was, that was why she loved being around her friends who weren't vampyres. They had a soul, a purpose - she was in the end just an empty husk with nothing real to offer the world than damnation and destruction. The elevator came, and she took Tyler's hand. She didn't see the point in hiding anymore as her grandmother knew. "Can we take a shower when we get up?" she pleaded, a weak voice, almost as if she was a child and not a voice she had really spoken in before.

Maddie felt grateful that Tyler was there, but she also felt so angry that she had been humiliated like that. What was he thinking about her? That she was now weak and not as confident as she had shown to be? She took off her shoes, letting him help with her jacket. She was still wearing the skintight dress, but she wasn't really bothered by it. His words made her look at him, frowning slightly but ultimately nodding her head yes to his suggestion. She touched his cheek softly, more gentle than she usually did, but it was because she was afraid of hurting him all of a sudden. She knew it was her grandmother who had planted that in her head with her slap, but had Maddie been too reckless when she was around him? "Do you still love me?" she asked, her voice a little weak, but she just had to know that he wasn't playing pretend with her just because he pitied what they had gone through today.
After a while she managed to dig her phone out of the pocket of her jacket, texting Tessa that she was home with Tyler and that everything was fine. It was a lie, but she couldn't bring herself to tell the full story right now, and everything was fine right now. Placing her phone down on a table she took her time in moving to the bathroom, turning on the water and letting it run to the temperature that she knew Tyler liked. Looking at herself in the mirror she felt a little disgusted at the view of her red eye, but she hoped it would heal soon enough. She stood for a while before she finally took off her dress, placing it in the corner of the room before turning around to face the human with her. Reaching out she took his hand as he had gotten undressed, moving towards the shower, letting him adjust the water to his liking before she just wrapped her arms around him, her cheek against his chest just listening to his heart.

He looked at her as she touched his cheek, holding her jacket in his hands as her question made him frown in confusion. Was she doubting his feelings because of what had happened back at the mansion? He shook his head without hesitation and grabbed her hand on his face. "I love you like I loved you yesterday, and the day before. This isnt going to change anything in the way I feel about you," he assured her, giving her hand a soft squeeze.
He let her grab her phone before he hung her jacket in the closet, making sure it was in the right spot before he went over to her to place his hands on her shoulders and that way hold her close from behind without restricting her. He wasnt sure if she needed the comfort but he sort of felt like he did. To not let the matriarch's words about worth get to him. He followed her to the bathroom, not really minding the silence between them, even if his past had made him fearful of silences there wasnt really any implications that it would be like his past when he was with Maddie. He undressed and let the vampyress have her space, because surely he would come to her if she wanted it. And as soon as she turned and reached out, he followed her under the water. He wrapped his arms around her barren body, barely noticing that she was cold. He had sort of gotten used to the fact that she was just colder than him. "I dont think we should worry about the future now. I will figure out a way to become worthy in your grandmother's eyes," he whispered to her, even if it would be a lie in the end, the way he spoke was as if he fully believe he could do it. "I would fight for you, even if it would be my last breath," he assured her, leaning down to kiss her scalp gently.

His reassurance was what made her keep going, looking down at his hand holding her own, feeling his warm fingers against her skin. She was happy to hear that all of this hadn't changed what he felt for her, but the worry would always be there in the back of her mind.
Once under the warm water she felt a bit better, just washing away the experience of it all was clearing up her mind. Nodding at his words she looked at him, feeling once again like she had a heartbeat. He just had that power to make her feel alive. The kiss made her smile, his words in her mind reassuring her over and over. "You are worthy, you are so valuable to me," she whispered, letting him know that all of the things her grandmother had said was not something she believed. She had spoken up back there, but had been silenced before she could say much more. "I don't see you as a human or a blood bag ... I see you as you, as my equal; I see you as Tyler, my awesome boyfriend who just got to stand up to my grandmother," she said, a faint smile coming back on her lips. She chuckled a bit, burying her face in his chest as she just held him close. She was always worried about making him feel cold, but he had never seemed to mind anyways.
"Now, you are right, we don't need to worry about the future," she said, moving her head to look up at him. "Because I know you'll be in mine," she said, breathing out before kissing his chest softly. She looked at his few tattoos, and she felt as if transported back to the first night he was here. Narrowing her eyes a bit she looked up at him. "I want that tattoo tonight," she said. Maybe it was a bit out of the blue, but it was genuine.

It warmed his heart to hear her say that he was valuable to her. It was really all he needed to hear and it did surprise him that she was saying it now. Wasnt it supposed to be him comforting her and now the other way around? The notion that he stood up to her grandmother made him chuckle. "I was scared shitless, I'll be real," he admitted with a small sigh. He ran his hands down her back, closing his eyes as he made a short sigh. He always liked showers because it mostly felt like all the worries and cares were being washed away. And after today, it was definitely something he felt like he needed. He was just grateful that he was still able to stand there with Maddie in his arms. He looked down at her as she spoke, smiling softly at her words while he stroked her back. Then she mentioned the tattoo and he frowned for a bit before his expression turned rather serious. "Like tonight, tonight?" he asked a little confused. Then he sighed and nodded. "Alright. We can figure something out," he remarked, leaning down to kiss her lips. Even if it did feel like a sort of rebellious outrage from her, he wasnt going to question her decision

Maddie just felt the comfort of staying in Tyler's arms. The human's warm touch all over, his breath and heartbeat there to calm her down. In her eyes he really was perfect, more than perfect in fact. The fact that he had been scared by her grandmother wasn't really anything new, but she was still grateful that he had been brave enough to stand up for them.
The mention of the tattoo had been something she had contemplated for so long, but now felt the best time as ever. "Only if you're up for it tonight - If you're too tired we can do it tomorrow?" she suggested, although she hoped he would agree to do it tonight. And he did, making her smile as she looked up at him, greeting his lips with her own. She deepened the kiss slightly, just moving her hands up and down his sides as the water heated up his body. Maddie had always been very sexual by nature, but with Tyler she had found that gestures like these could satisfy her as well - something she had never experienced with someone else. "I have the needles and the ink, I just need your crafty hands," she smiled.

He didnt mind that she was deepening the kiss but after tonight he wasnt so sure that he could go further than just light touches and kisses. It was like he couldnt really get the image out of Maddie getting struck and it wasnt exactly appealing to him. The kiss broke off and he chuckled softly. "No, I'm definitely up for it, I just... I havent drawn in a while so I'd like to sketch out something so I at least know what I'm going for," he assured her to let her know that he was more than up for it, but just needed to prepare himself a little. It was a big step and if he thought that his existence was annoying her family, he wouldnt imagine the lack of hesitation they would have to rip his throat out for inking Maddie. He grabbed the soap and turned off the water before he started lathering her skin, watching the small bubbles form where his hands moved. "So is there anything specific you want? A symbol, some text or something third?" he asked as he moved his hands down to grab her behind and press her a little closer. He just liked how she felt when she was pressed against him with nothing between them. It wasnt really as sexual as it was comforting.

Maddie liked feeling him like this. It was still so strange for her to be touched and it only being to soothe her, not to get her in the mood. There was something reassuring about that, how he lathered her in and took care of her, when her mind was racing a million miles an hour. He pulled her closer and she placed her chin against his chest, looking up at him with a faint smile on her lips. "I want your name on my collarbone ... Right above my heart," she said. She knew it was a serious request, but she also knew that it had been what she wanted ever since he had offered to tattoo her. "I don't care if it's cursive or messy or anything ... As long as it's your name," she said, kissing his chest gently. The soap didn't bother her, but she turned on the water once she was sure he had been washed down as well.
The shower had been a nice way to clear her head, make her focus on what was really important, even though her eye was still red, she just avoided looking herself in the mirror. Grabbing her towel she dried herself off a bit before wrapping it around and fastening it at her chest. Brushing out her hair took a while, but once it was done she wrapped it in to a wet bun, just to have it out of her face. "Do you want some sleep or?" she asked, not really sure what to do, so she let him do the thinking.

Of all the things he had thought that she would want, the thing she'd actually say wasnt something that had crossed his mind. His name above her heart? He could understand her reasoning for wanting that but a part of him also felt like it was a bit rushed. Maybe he would never get used to the fact that he could have any sort of meaningful impact on someone else, at least to the extent where they would want his name on them. But he tried not to be weird about it. "Your grandmother would kill me," he jokingly said but there was also something serious about it. He shook his head and sighed. "It'll be a cause worth dying for," he chuckled, washing her off with the water before they finished the shower. He grabbed a towel himself and dried off fairly quickly while she was brushing her hair. He ruffled up his curls that seemed to live their own life, in a way that wasnt always in favour of him. Her question made him sigh as he wrapped the towel around his waist. "Nah, I dont feel like I could close my eyes after what has happened tonight," he remarked, before he went over to kiss her temple. "But I really do need a cigarette before we do anything," he chuckled. It had been a while since his last and he could already feel the urge in his fingertips, like an irritable feeling that wouldnt just go away. He went out on the balcony, not really caring that he was only in his towel. He leaned a little against the railing as he clapped the bottom of his pack and lifted it to clasp his lips around the bud. He looked out on the city and lit the smoke before he made a deep sigh.

She worried that he would deny her, that he believed in bad luck regarding having your partners name tattooed, but she knew this was what she wanted. However he seemed to agree with her, comply with the wish she had. Maddie looked at him through the mirror, smiling as he came closer and kissed her temple. She didn't mind him smoking, frankly she had started to associate his cigarette brand with his scent, so it just gave her a sense of comfort. Drying her hair a bit more, she decided to head in to the bedroom and grab some comfortable clothes. Or at least something that would make it easier for Tyler to access her collarbone. Maybe being topless would be too much of an annoyance in the long run.
She picked out some pajama shorts with a loose tank top to go along with it. Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed at the look of her eye. The red color was scaring her a bit, perhaps it was just a reminder of her grandmother. Worst part was that it was not something she could hide, unless she had an eyepatch, but that would just cause more attention. She joined Tyler out on the balcony shortly, looking out at the city, touching the metal frame and leaning against it slightly. "I've been thinking ... Do you want to get a place together?" she asked, frowning as she didn't know if he felt like he could even think about that now. "I mean, this apartment is nice, but everything about it just screams vampyre," she sighed, glancing in to the living room. Sure, the furniture was nice, but most of it stood almost untouched, only being touched when it got cleaned.

Watching the city like this always somewhat calmed him. It was like it was beautiful with all those different lights in the night, hearing car horns in the distance and being reminded that it was just right outside his broken house. It was knowing that he had somehow managed to get away from the things that had weighed him down so much in the past, to now be up at a balcony in some place that even if not fully feeling like a home, at least wasnt what he was used to. He drew in a deep drag from the bud, feeling his lungs fill up. It felt like a fresh breath of air, even if it was killing him in the long run. He exhaled and watched the smoke disappear into the night. He turned his eyes to the vampyress next to him, a small smile appearing on his lips. Even if her eye was red, he was still seeing her for her. Her question made him sigh as he looked back in on the living room. Her sigh made him chuckle before he drew in a short drag and then a breath to press the smoke down into his lungs. "I'd go anywhere with you, as long as I'm with you. It doesnt matter if it's some rundown home like the one I came from or this," he explained which may seem like he didnt care, but he really didnt when it came to where they would be. He bit down on the bud and lifted both his hands to cup her face. "But if you want to be somewhere else, I'll go with you," he clarified, sending her a sure smile before he caressed her face while letting go. He blew the smoke away from her and looked out on the city. "But I hope we can have a view like this one, above the city life and not down in it" he remarked with a scoff, finding it quite funny that that was his only concern.

It was rather reassuring to hear him say that he didn't care where they went as long as it was together. She couldn't agree more. However this place was not a home, it was a place for her to stay when she had no plans. She wanted to have a better space, one where Tyler could have room to be human too. He cupped her face, and she looked at him with soft eyes, smiling a little because he knew just what to say, nodding to say that she agreed, but she felt more occupied with his touch. He let go, and she followed his eyes out at the view, chuckling a bit at his comment. "There are some new apartments downtown ... Some even better than this one - If you want we could go look at some, see what we like?" she suggested. Maddie came from a home where there was always more money. If she bought another apartment, no one would even bat an eye because it would hardly scratch the family vault of vast amounts of money. "As long as it's with you," she smiled, chuckling a bit to herself. It felt strange to even laugh after a night like this. But if she didn't at least try, then her grandmother would've won.
She moved a hand out, carefully touching one of his tattoos on his arm, sighing to herself. She was really doing this, and it felt a little crazy. Maybe Tessa would even call her a psycho for doing this, but to the Abyssus with it! She just felt happy around Tyler. "Sometimes it feels like my heart is actually beating when I'm with you," she said. Maddie wasn't all that good at explaining her emotions, she was better at showing them, but she just didn't want anything to be left unsaid. "Like when you press me close ... It sounds like your heart is mine," she said. Looking out at the city once more she felt a little sad. Ever since she was a child she had wanted a heartbeat. It was just something silly she had thought you could acquire. Growing up she learnt that it wasn't that way, but it didn't take that childish dream away. Was it bad to say that she envied him? That she wanted to be human, to be able to feel her heart beating, to feel what snow felt like or a warm summer sun?

"Downtown sounds doable. I should probably figure out how to get a job or something," he remarked, scratching the back of his neck a little. He knew he wasnt very fortunate when it came to wealth, but he at least wanted to feel like he was contributing something more than just existing. If anything then to feel less like his good for nothing father. "See, when you say it, it's like ten times better," he chuckled with a smile.
He watched her as she touched his arm, continuing with his smoke as his nerves finally seemed to be laid at rest. But then again, he was here with his cigarettes and her, how could he not be calm? Then she said something that made him frown a little, not because it was weird or well it was because he hadnt heard her say anything like it before. But the way she was saying it, clearly told him that it wasnt just something she was saying for the sake of saying it. He reached out to grab her waist and pull her a little closer, mindful to not ash on her. He finished up the cigarette and flicked it out into the open. "So like this?" he mumbled in a warmer tone, wrapping his arms close around her as he held her in his embrace. He placed his nose in her hair and closed his eyes. "My heart is yours in a way anyway, so you're not wrong," he mumbled into her hair, smiling to himself.

Maddie didn't judge if Tyler had a job or not, she just wanted him to be happy, to do something that he himself would be proud of. Besides they were only in their late teens early twenties anyways, so there was really no rush. He pulled her close, and she smiled as she placed her ear against his chest, humming in agreeance with his question. Exactly like this. It just felt like she was alive, something very rare for a vampyre to feel at all. Hearing his blood rush through his veins didn't make her hungry, rather it made her feel as if it was her own blood. Sure, she was vain at times, but what she felt like she lacked was physical flaws. Her body was too perfect in a way. Not to say it as a brag, rather it made her feel like she stood out for the wrong reasons. His mumble made her chuckle softly. "What I wouldn't give to feel it really in my chest," she whispered, closing her eyes, just listening and feeling.
He was always a different temperature, always changing, always evolving, but she felt like she was frozen in place. Would she ever grow older than this? Would she be able to get grey hair? Mundane things like that was something she thought about a lot since getting together with Tyler. He made her wonder what it was like to be human. With it also came some intrusive thoughts, like the fact that he would grow tired of her not changing, or that he would stop holding her hand when the weather was cold. "Do you have any plans for Solstice?" she suddenly asked, feeling a little silly asking, but she didn't know if he actually wanted to go home and visit his parents. He rarely spoke of them, only accidentally mentioning them if he talked about something from his past. "I mean, my family doesn't really celebrate it ... But I've always kinda wanted to; Like getting a tree and baking cookies," she chuckled. To think that a vampyre wanted to bake cookies. Perhaps she deserved another slap from her grandmother just to think about it?

Standing here with her would always be the best feeling he could feel. Even if she would always be cold, it was barely something he ever noticed. The feeling of her closeness was overlapping the sense of cold. Her question made him hum as he seemed to have dazed off into his thoughts in her hair, lifting his head to look down at her with a soft smirk. "My family doesnt really celebrate it either. It would require that my mother would actually be home for once. And my dad to be sober enough to not sleep the day away," he remarked with a shrug. He kept the talk about his family quite simple, because he wasnt really the type that talked a lot of things through; He had mostly learned to rely on himself, especially if it was about his family. Oh the times he had been teased in school when they found out how his home situation was like. The fights he got in for his mother's pride. "Why? Do you want to do something?" he asked, running his hand down her back in a gentle motion.