The everyday monsters in our lives

It was quiet but not quiet like it had been back home. The waves made it rather serene along with the motor running. He hummed softly at the vampyre’s words, still taking in the view, the sounds and the atmosphere. It felt like a place he had to remember forever. Even sitting alongside what he still thought to be his immortal enemy, so to speak. The more he got to know him, the less he reminded himself of how much of a monster he had to believe him to be. Though he wasnt quite sure he was at a stage where he didnt remind himself every now and then. It had only been a day.
“You seem to like meeting new people.” He muttered, as he had gotten that impression. The request for him to come closer made him frown a little but he moved to do as he was told. He looked so puzzled as he was now taking the roar, unsure what to even do. The guidance was nice and he focused too much on the task in his hands over how close the vampyre was standing behind him. He followed his words, turning the roar slowly, not sure whether he understood the whole let the waves work for you because he couldnt translate the feeling of the waves into how he should be moving the ship. “This is hard.” He had to admit, though it was his first time ever having control of a ship like this. He could paddle at best on a small rowboat.

The praise didnt quite sit well with Joe but he had also heard it enough outside the context that bothered him to show a noticable reaction. It could also just seem like he was really focused on steering, which he was. Gods forbid that he made this expensive boat crash. The notion of getting used to it was not something he took to heart. He doubted that he would get to experience this again. He closed his eyes and though he felt nervous, he was also ambitious. He could do this. He was a quick learner.
He did feel how the waves moved and as the ship began turning, depending on how much he turned, the waves either helped or gave a bit of resistance. It was an odd feeling. But also interesting. He didnt quite realize how he was steering on his own until the vampyre made him open his eyes again. “Where can I go?” He asked, because surely he could decide, but what was there to decide if he had no idea what lead where? He did steer in some direction to see what was out there. A bit of young Benjamin did remain in him always, like he had said.

While he was steering and getting them somewhere he didnt seem to mind the vampyre. At least he was a little too occupied to tell him off or even realize that it was quite nice to be close. No, he would never think that being close to a vampyre could be nice!! North-west? He hadnt even ever seen Raleska with his own eyes. Though one day he wanted to. He steered in the direction the vampyre wanted him, accepting the help to not break the ship by sailing too close or into something. A vampyre’s sight was far better. He could probably see anything in the water if he wanted to. Joe couldnt do that, and the moon’s shine was not helping.
As he was told to go change, he at first felt a little reluctant, looking at the bag before he went to grab it. He saw the items inside and went to at least consider changing. It was hard to make himself do it willingly, but as the vampyre probably remembered, Joe was supposed to do what he was being told. So he changed, coming out to look at the water. He went to the edge to look into the water. It looked cold. He wasnt really that big of a fan when it came to the cold. The vampyre got up and Joe did notice his skin, frowning lightly at the sight. “Why does it shine like that?” He asked, though it was probably rather inappropriate, it wasnt like Joe knew about the social codes for talking to a vampyre.

The water was warm? It looked cold to Joe. But then again, the only times he had really been out at sea, it was almost freezing cold. He needed some more time to decide whether it was warm enough. The purpose of the shine wasnt really something Joe liked. But he couldnt say that he disliked it either. He felt unsure about lycan’s because many of them seemed so emotionally driven that they could be a danger to everyone around them. He could feel the warm water on the vampyre’s cold skin as the vampyre made him touch it. His skin was rather soft. Way softer than Joe’s roughed up hands from using them when he worked or when he was fixing a cars for fun.
His hand was guided uo and he looked at the vampyre’s neck, listening to him calmly explain how another creature could just end him. It was a little baffling that he was so relaxed about his own possible death, but then again Joe was exactly the same. Only if he was presented with how alike they were, he’d still deny it. The vampyre let him go and touched his cheek before going under the water again. Joe did sit on the edge with his feet in the water, looking at the vampyre. Okay, the water wasnt really cold at all, at least it would take a good while for Joe to turn blue. But he didnt know what the vampyre had planned. For them to just swim around? He didnt quite trust it.

He hummed at the question, lifting the bag up before he put it back behind him. It made sense that he would be needing them, though he also werent too sure that he could see much. He didnt have nightvision or really good nightsight in general. “Hey!” He exclaimed as the vampyre splashed water, sitting for a moment before he decided to slip in. He felt the tempered water surround him, drawing in a sharp breath as it was colder than him but nothing too bad once his shoulders got under. “You said you went out often like this. Do you really like swimming then?” He asked, grabbing onto the boat as he didnt want to tire himself out by kicking his legs all the time; at least if they were going to be in for a while.

“Uh-huh.” He hummed, noticing how the vampyre found himself amusing, yet he couldnt imagine himself that way. It felt good to breathe, he thought. “Have you ever done that?” He asked, confused as he couldnt imagine it to be that nice to just drift away. But then again, the vampyre didnt need air to breathe, so he could probably just do that. Joe would be worried that he’d eventually tire and drown. He looked at the hand that was offered, feeling a little reluctant. But he ended up accepting it, though he quickly realized that he had to hold him by the shoulders. He watched where they moved, until they arrived at some middle ground. “Yeah they are.” He confirmed, though he was a little distracted. The vampyre didnt feel all that cold in the water. It was odd. He had expected him to stay cold through everything.

Joe felt his hands be removed, looking at the vampyre as he gave him clear instructions. He held onto his hand and needed a moment to relax. He didnt really know what to expect, but he would do it regardless. The adventurer in him had taken over and he needed to see what there was underneath the surface. As he stuck his head under, his eyes had sort of adjusted to the nightlight. The fish swam by, though Joe noticed hiw fast they fled once they got too close. It was wild to see fish in real life like this. He noticed the algae, how it was shimmering with it’s movements. He wanted to see more. He felt some brave fish swim around his legs, finding it so odd and yet so cool. It was safe to say that he was amazed. His hand didnt let go of the vampyre, even squeezing it as he found something that he pointed towards. He couldnt quite make out what it was but he found it exciting.

He couldnt even see that it was a crab but it looked beautiful. He did appreciate how the vampyre was keeping him in place, though he would never see it. He noticed how the fish got closer, trying to be still too, though it seemed to only succeed for the vampyre. At least until he moved.
He did eventually start to feel a little cold, scooting just a bit closer to the vampyre as if he had much heat to offer. It just felt so natural and Joe wasnt used to be hanging out with a vampyre after all. And maybe he was sort of forgetting in the moment that he was supposed to be disliking this and being close to the other guy.

Joe did want to head back as well, even though it was odd that a vampyre of all was noticing that he would be getting cold. Or was it? Maybe it was easier to tell as a predator who basically could feast on him if he wanted to. He held onto the vampyre but also swam a fair bit himself so he could get some heat into his muscles. He was helped up and watched the vampyre get up. He got them towels and Joe followed the pull, though being dried off felt odd. That wasnt something he had experienced before in his adult life. Definitely had as a kid but it was a fair few years since then that he barely remembered.
He moved down as told, drying off completely, even slipping into a shirt so he didnt feel so naked. He sat on a chair and waited. The vampyre joined him and he didnt stare as he got himself a vial. Joe wasnt sure he found vials more ethical than someone willingly donating blood. It was sort of the same either way, wasnt it?
He accepted the bottle of water and thanked him quietly before he took a few sips. The question made him hum thoughtfully as he looked from one arm to another like he was trying to deduct the feeling he had right now. “It makes your muscles relax. And it feels nice, like you feel fuzzy and calm. Or if you’re angry, then you feel like a kettle, boiling over with these strong emotions.” He said to put it simply. “Cold is more apparent. You get goosebumps and start to shiver. I feel a tingle in my skin on the areas where I’m cold and my brain tells me to find a way to warm. So I usually rub my hands together and rub the area or put on a jacket to keep the heat I’ve got.” He explained, shrugging. “Do you feel that you’re cold?”