Merry Christmas, Darling

[Mikhail Vakhteiar Iul'ian]

Mikhail simply smiled to himself as Chase shooed him away, his head tilted thoughtfully. If she was implying that she was still pure, he was not surprised, though not in the context that a modern thinker might. While the modern mind might have thought her 'prudish' or 'not independent enough,' Mikhail thought it made sense, because in his mind he associated chastity with discipline, something he thought that Chase had.

Sighing a wispy sigh, he shrugged at the mention of the food, thinking that this way, they could save it for later, or maybe share it with some of the less-fortunate (who actually needed food; the vampires were having it for the sake of flavor).

He cast a glance out the window before looking back to Chase in surprise when she drew close. Truthfully he didn't mind the warmth at all, and he chuckled lightly, slipping an arm around her. He hadn't at all expected their talk to have stirred up as many thoughts as it did, but his mind was wandering this way and that now, reflecting on the both of them, wondering about things he had up until now avoided thinking on.

They sat in silence for a while longer, Mikhail losing track of the time until he realized Chase was beginning to fall asleep. Blinking, he looked around with a slight blush, and after a moment's debate he sighed and nudged her.

"You are tired. Bed now," he insisted, smiling faintly, and trying to hide the reluctance in his tone.

After another moment's hesitation, during which he eyed her consideringly, he suddenly leaned forward to plant a kiss on her forehead, pressing his palm to her cheek.

"Goodnight," he murmured as she departed, watching her leave, and remaining sitting there, lost in thought. It had been a strange evening, full of strange thoughts that he had figured long dead - no pun intended.

Eventually he did change into his shift, before curling up and pulling the blanket around him. He closed his eyes and tried to will himself to sleep, but it never actually happened. For at least a couple of hours he tossed and turned, trying to keep his mind away from thoughts he deemed dangerous. Granted, his was not a fragile soul at all, but Chase was a curveball (though he did not know the term) and ... was it a bad thing if it was mutual?

He was still human, and humans had weaknesses. But it seemed an insult to call it weakness when it required strength to even get up and ...

Trying not to think about it, Mikhail huffed and sat up, pulling his blanket over his shoulders and dragging it along with him as he crept silently to Chase's room.

He thought to knock, but then simply turned the knob and pushed the door open (the knob's lock was broken, anyway, the hinges creaking as he peered in.

He spotted Chase at once, and it seemed she too hadn't been able to sleep. A pang of embarrassment struck him, but it was too late now. Without a word he tiptoed over to her bedside, and, already shivering, crawled onto the mattress beside her.

Without a word he leaned down to nuzzle warmly at the side of her neck, peppering the lightest kisses over the skin as he snuggled close, sliding an arm over her side.