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Post by Eric Northman on Jan 24, 2011 10:44:51 GMT -5
( TAG: Sookie, Pam, Bill and Jessica!) It had been one hellishly slow night. They'd had maybe thirty people through the bar all night, and most of those who had ventured in were out-of-towners looking for a fanged thrill. Eric had been bored and restless, a lethal combination. As he sat on his psuedo-throne on the raised dais in the middle of his tiny kingdom of Fangtasia his thoughts flew quickly through all that he should be accomplishing as he sat there idly. He needed to find the Queen and neutralise the threat she posed. And he understood that by doing such a thing, he would be subjected to the final death himself. There were only two things that were pleasant about the whole scenario. One, that the Magister wouldn't be the one to smirk over his ashes. Two, that Sookie would be safe as the four vampires who knew of her fae ancestry would be no more.
Even the new dancer, Josie, wasn't enough to tempt him with her exotic, almost-mocha skin and her devilish eyes. He was tired of her before she even started to manipulate the pole off to his right and the only thing he did notice about her was the way she sulked when she thought (quite rightly) that his attention was elsewhere. It wasn't until almost closing time that he felt something deep within himself. It was a rush in his blood, like adrenaline. It zipped through him like organic lightning and he closed his eyes to it for a moment. Like always when he felt what Sookie felt, he smelled the cool freshness of a magnolia flower; the bloom he associated with her. Then the rush died as soon as it had begun and the vampire began to feel tired... so tired. He began to nod in his chair, but dawn was a way off yet.
Almost as if he realised that sleeping now would be very dangerous, Eric jerked himself awake. His mind flashed immediately on Sookie's patient face and he was out of his chair in an instant, leaving no word for anyone as to where he was going, or why. Pam would know; Pam, who felt as he did always. Once outside in the parking lot, amongst the few parked rentals and the steaming black top, Eric launched himself into the sky. He ghosted through the night air because he was a part of it, flying low amongst the clouds to avoid being seen and keeping his eyes to the horizon, milky in the waning moonlight, so as to know his way. But he needn't have bothered to navigate in the conventional way. He was going to Sookie, and he knew exactly where she was.
And he knew that something wasn't right.
He landed with a barely perceptible thud on the soft floor of the woods surrounding the old Stackhouse place. He sniffed the air, hardly pausing to take it in before he began to move through the soldier-like trees, his long legs carrying him gracefully to precisely the place he needed to be. His eyes fell automatically to her, as if her body was a magnet and his gaze were made of steel. She was lying amongst last fall's discarded leaves beside a large tree, dirt streaking the creamy skin of her body that her ripped and torn summer dress neglected to protect. His mouth ran dry, bot with thirst but with fear. Until that moment, Eric Northman had hardly felt fear in his life. Once, when his parents were killed and he felt his father's life slipping away, holding the man in his own arms. Another time, when Godric had waited on that infernal rooftop to meet the sun. And now, as Sookie Stackhouse lay unconscious and almost un-living in the forest.
In the space of her languid heartbeat Eric had her in his arms. Her flesh was chilled, almost not human and her eyes fluttered weakly beneath their dusky lids, her eyelashes resting against her cheeks. He was in the air again before time could waste, for even though he had plenty of it to spare Sookie, it was clear, did not. If she had been awake for the journey she would have marvelled at the stars dusting the heavens; the lights of Shreveport winking in that flirty way they have, Eric spared no time for their charms. He landed in the alley at the back of Fangtasia. Another split second and he was in his office, calling for Pam in a voice that would be barely raising his voice to a human. (Dunno what posting order you guys wanted to use for this? I'm happy with whatever, but would suggest that we keep it in order so it doesn't get confusing and so peeps don't get left behind?
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Post by sookiestackhouse on Jan 24, 2011 16:43:06 GMT -5
Bill had said that Claudine was a fairy and that Sookie was at least part. Eric had said she was a fairy-human hybrid. Or course this last person had said this at a time when Sookie wouldn’t have trusted him for the world - a time when he and Russell were about to feed on her for a rare chance for a vampire to walk in the sun. But as Claudine stood in front of her in the Bon Temps Cemetery, it felt like going with the supposed fairy was a good idea. Claudine had come to her in her moment of weakness, and not only that but from talking to her Gran’s grave. She should have known something was wrong; Claudine had come to her while she was in the hospital and the few times she’d seen this world that Claudine was supposed to be taking her to, Sookie had been almost dead - once in the hospital and once when she’d been almost completely drained. That should have been enough to tell Sookie to stay away. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Claudine, it was just that the woman only appeared when Sookie was at least half dead. What did that mean for this time, when Sookie was almost positive that she was still awake?
This time, everything was mostly a blur in her mind. Sookie stretched out her hand to meet Claudine’s and in the next minute, they were no longer in Bon Temps. Like before, everything was bright, almost blindingly so until she had time to focus. People were everywhere, some dancing and others just walking around, but this time things were very different. For one, Sookie hadn’t changed clothes, another thing that led her to believe she wasn’t dead, otherwise she might have thought this was what Heaven looked like. But questions nagged the back of her mind. If Claudine had trusted that Bill was only trying to protect Sookie, then why was Claudine so intent on getting Sookie to this place? By light, did she mean that weird thing that shot out from her hands? And most importantly, why were some people staring at her like she had a bad case of the flu? Like she was sick and disgusting to look at but they couldn’t take their eyes from her while trying to stay as far away as possible. Or some of them, like she was a bug and should be squashed as soon as possible.
Those looks terrified the blond and she got the feeling she wasn’t completely welcome. She tried to ask Claudine some questions, but the fairy woman was about as evasive as Eric Northman, only not as sarcastic. She should have found that wonderful, and she probably would have, had she not had feelings for Eric, and Bill… and truthfully anyone whose brain was difficult to read, but vampires especially. Maybe it was because Sookie was used to the night shift at Merlotte’s. Oh God! Her job! What was she going to do about that? She could get back from here, right? And Jason! What of her brother? She couldn’t leave him! Jason was many things, including annoying and irresponsible, but he was the family she had left aside from Hadley, who Sookie hadn’t heard from since she brought the telepath to see Hunter. Oh no, what about Hunter? Sookie needed to be there to protect the kid.
The thoughts raced through her mind and startled her enough that she thought they were what knocked her over. But when she looked up, she was staring into the eyes of a fairy. She looked around frantically for Claudine, but the woman was being held back. Sookie closed her eyes and wished she was back in her home, in her bed. She didn’t care if she had to put up with Bill and Eric’s shit, she just wanted what felt normal to her. She could feel feet jabbing into her stomach and she was sure she was going to have at least a few bruises… if she made it out of here alive.
And then suddenly, everything stopped. When she opened up her eyes she found that she was in the woods, she assumed around her house since she’d been sort of ‘picked up’ in the cemetery between her house and Bill’s. But she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. They closed again, though she knew she should be getting up and heading back to her house. She was just too weak. It felt like hours that she lay there with her eyes closed, but she knew that was probably only because of the pain she was in. She was sure she would die out here until she felt someone lift her up, but then she was out again.
It felt like she’d been out for a while, but when her eyes finally fluttered open again she felt like she could barely move. She let her eyes move back and forth, taking in her surroundings, Eric was there but she couldn’t see who else. She would have screamed but fear had her mouth shut tight for the moment. She could tell she was in his office, lying on what she assumed was his desk. She wondered if all the things that had been there previously were on the floor or if he’d moved them away carefully before putting her here. What had happened felt like a dream to her now, aside from the pain in her abdomen. The pain was intense enough that her arms went to her stomach in an attempt to hold herself together. She knew she couldn’t sit up right now, that would be too painful.
“How… did I… get, here?” Her voice was a horse whisper, partially from the fear and partially because it felt like she wasn’t getting enough air to produce a louder sound. “Who’all’s here?” Her eyes closed and opened a few times, every time they shut she thought they’d never open again, but after a moment each time, the lids fluttered open and she concentrated on the ceiling of the room.
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Post by bill compton on Feb 4, 2011 0:25:55 GMT -5
He sat quietly on the sofa of his living room, trying to sort through the thoughts that were running through his mind. He was trying to figure out what he was going to do now. There seemed to be nothing to do, and that frustrated him more than anything else. His heart was breaking, and that was something that he had done to himself. He would never blame anyone for that because he had placed it upon his own shoulders. He just wished that he hadn't hurt her so deeply in the process. He would never forgive himself for what he had done to her. And that was why he was keeping his distance now. he was trying not to feel her unless she was in complete and utter danger. He was trying not to sense her in everything and anything that he did, and he honestly was trying to push her from his mind. It would be easier for her, even if it wouldn't be easy for him at all. However, he had to accept that this was it. She didn't want him any longer, and he needed to be alright with that.
But Bill knew that he never would be. He loved her and there was nothing that could change that now. Even though he knew she would never love him or trust him again, he couldn't stop loving her. She was his everything. She was what kept him fighting against Lorena and the others. She was what kept him fighting when he thought that there was no hope left. When he saw her after he had been tortured, he had wanted to survive for her. He hadn't thought he had anything left at that point. But she was there. And how had he repaid her? He had almost killed her by draining her. He had lied to her, but it was only to protect her. And through his lies, he had fallen in love with the real Sookie Stackhouse. He had fallen in love with the young woman that everyone else believed to be weird and strange. Bill accepted her like she accepted him. And he couldn't change his feelings now, even if he wanted to. He didn't want to.
Biting his lower lip, he remained where he was, glad that he had started to regain his energy. He was healing, slowly but surely, but he was glad for that. He was feeling better, and that was all that mattered. He wanted to talk to Sookie again without her worrying over his physical state. He felt like that was the only reason that she had even spoken to him that night. Or rather, had been nice to him that night. He didn't want anyone's pity, especially hers. That was not what he had been going for that night. Taking a deep breath even though he didn't need it, he exhaled softly. Bill had never taught himself how not to breathe. It felt unnatural to him because he had been doing it all of his human life. But that wasn't what mattered now. He was trying to figure out how he could get through this now. He needed to get through it because he couldn't keep going on the way that the was.
Suddenly however, he was ripped from his thoughts. He felt as if he had been sent into dizzying circles, and he tried to ground himself. Pushing his feet harder onto the floor, he clenched his teeth and closed his eyes tightly. And then the fear gripped him. And slowly, pain started coursing over his body, followed by flashes of vision. And as soon as that blonde hair and soft face was seen, Bill was off of the couch and using his super human speed. He knew where she was, and the fear for her was coursing quickly through him. Sookie was hurt, and he felt as if he was to blame. He hadn't been watching her closely enough. But that was what she had wanted. That was what they had all wanted. He had stopped following her, and he had stopped staying outside of her sight outside of her property. It was easier that way. However, now it could have cost her her life. Bill picked up the pace, wishing he had more strength than this. For his speed was no match for Eric's. The vampire's flight had carried him long before Bill could have gotten there. Bill stood on the spot where Sookie had lain just before, his heart shattering once more.
Eric had her. She had to be safe. But Bill felt as if he was needed. Looking over his shoulder, he studied the darkness for a possible attacker. Whoever it was was long gone, and Bill didn't even know where to start. Tightening his fists into balls, he felt his teeth clench involuntarily in anger. He would get whoever had done this. He would make them pay for hurting Sookie, and there would be no doubting that. Sighing once more, he stepped forward, knowing where Eric had taken her. His travel to Fangtasia was short and easy, but he was winded and slightly weak afterwards. He stayed outside for a moment, regaining his strength. It didn't take very long, which he was glad to note, and he was soon walking through the doors of Eric's place of entertainment. He ignored the bouncers, and if they tried to stop him, Bill was older and strong enough to get them out of his way. He followed Sookie's sent and hurried into the office, knowing Eric was calling for Pam, but not caring. He stepped forward and next to where Eric had laid Sookie. She looked awful, and he felt even worse for what had happened. However, he didn't touch her. He didn't run to her like he wanted to. He stayed in the back, in the shadows, wanting nothing more than to comfort her but not knowing if he was wanted. His desperate, worried eyes found Eric's in another moment.
"What happened? I don't know who could have done this."
He said softly, not caring about the feud he was having with Eric. That didn't matter now. What mattered was Sookie and getting her better. Suddenly, there was a stirring from where she lay, and Bill looked forward hopefully. As she seemed to come to, he stepped forward, and close enough for her to touch him or for him to touch her. However, he didn't reach out and clasp her hand, even though he wanted nothing more than that. Instead, he rested his hands on the desk beside her body, speaking softly and quietly. If she wanted him to leave, then he would leave. It was as simple as that. He would stay close to know that she was alright, but that was it.
"I'm here Sookie."
It was a simple answer to her simple question, but he didn't know how she would take that. He waited with bated breath now, not knowing what was going to happen. But he wanted to go on the warpath. He wanted to punish whoever had done this to her. And he would. There was no doubt about that.
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Post by Eric Northman on Feb 6, 2011 10:46:58 GMT -5
Eric didn't know whether to be pissed off that Bill had burst up in here like he still had a claim to Sookie or be pleased that – if nothing else – the relatively useless vampire was making good on the order to look after the blonde. He settled for the latter in the immediate moment, knowing that Sookie's well-being was the most important thing to him right now. He glared at Bill when he moved closer to her but left it alone for the moment for Sookie's sake, reasoning that the last thing she needed was him getting protective and ordering Bill out.
And then a really disconcerting thought occurred to the Nordic vampire. What if Sookie wanted Bill there? His eye narrowed again, but he remained quiet for the time being. He had already sent Pam to get Dr. Ludwig and no doubt the small, slightly abrupt creature would be along soon. When Bill's hands managed to worm their way onto the table next to her, however, Eric's lip curled back even as a snarl rumbled in his throat. The question that Bill posed – while a good one – was further evidence to Eric that Bill didn't use his brain. Surely Compton didn't think he was going to discuss such matters with him, or right in front of Sookie while she was suffering so?
As Sookie spoke and tried to open her eyes and see around, Eric's attention snapped back to her. For a few moments they were the only ones in the room and he moved forward, pressing his cool hand to her forehead for a moment to soothe the dizziness he could feel emanating from her. Then he began to stroke her hair back from her brow, crouching down beside her. It was, perhaps, lucky that Sookie couldn't see the concern and pain in his face and even luckier that Eric forgot that she would feel it anyhow. He wanted to make her better; he wanted to understand how this had happened and make whoever had done it pay in the worst possible way.
“Shh,” he said softly, still stroking back her hair with tenderness that many would have doubted Eric could possess. “It's okay. You're safe, sweetheart.” Sweetheart? Where had that come from? Eric had never been the kind to use pet-names (or at least none that weren't R-rated) and he filed that Freudian slip away for contemplation at a time when he had more liberty. “You need to rest, okay? Pam is fetching the Dr who is just going to check you over.” he looked up then, throwing a meaningful look at Bill, a look that said he had absolutely no idea what had happened, but that he most definitely intended to find out.
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Post by sookiestackhouse on Feb 7, 2011 2:32:36 GMT -5
One of her questions went unanswered but Sookie was way too out of it to care exactly how she had gotten here as long as she was here now. She couldn’t remember staying here, she doubted she’d stay at Fangtasia even if she’d been seeing Eric. Fangtasia wasn’t exactly the best place for sleeping, or the most human accommodating. Common sense told her that someone had to have brought her here and what she should be worried about was what happened to her in between seeing Claudine and now. She had left in the graveyard between her house and Bill’s, and had gone to a weird, bright place before she found herself lying here in Eric’s office, probably taking up most the space on his desk.
The blond woman smiled slightly at Bill’s voice and then again at Eric’s. Now was no time to try and pretend that she wasn’t confused about where she stood with both men. It seemed unfair to them that she cared deeply for them both, though if she was being honest she still had her fears about what Bill was capable of. She knew what Eric could do - he’d never hidden that from her. He’d openly admitted when he had manipulated her and so far, anything that he’d done hadn’t been surprising or, even though Sookie hadn’t wanted to admit it at the time, for her own good. But she couldn’t help that she still loved Bill too, and that wasn’t fair to either of them. At all. She wished her heart could make up its mind, not that she thought Eric would stay with her if given the option.
Until he took her by surprise and started brushing the hair lightly away from her face. Maybe she was still dreaming, both Eric and Bill starred in her dreams most nights due to the blood she’d had from both of them. She could have sworn he’d called her sweetheart, but she was just too tired to think on that for any length of time right now. Her face turned into a slight grimace as Eric said that Pam had went to get Dr. Ludwig. The woman scared Sookie and she didn’t have pleasant memories of the last time the doctor had been required to visit her. Then the maenad had scratched poison into her back and Sookie had been lucky to get out of it alive. If it hadn’t been for Bill and Eric, she’d probably be dead.
“Is it really that bad? How bad do I look?” Somehow, though she couldn’t deny that she’d been in pain, she hadn’t thought that she would need a doctor, and definitely not doctor Ludwig, though it had become apparent that a human doctor was not going to help Sookie… ever. That knowledge that she didn’t even have a blood type still scared her. If she got too beat up and lost too much blood, her life would be over. Her head turned back and forth slowly from Bill to Eric, back and forth several times, trying to read their faces before she gave up and closed her eyes again.
This was just too much for one person to take. “Will I be able to work tomorrow?” Suddenly, she remembered that Sam would need to know what had happened if she wouldn’t be going to work. Very carefully she stretched her arms out by her side, testing to see how badly she was hurt. She was sore, there was no doubt about that, but she didn’t want to risk sitting up to see the extent of the damage.
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Post by Eric Northman on Feb 7, 2011 8:46:18 GMT -5
“Just a precaution,” Eric lied, his eyes focusing on Sookie's face the way a compass points true north. And wasn't it the strangest thing? He couldn't actually see any physical wounds on her body, but he most definitely could feel the wracking pain that shot through her abdomen. If Bill chose this moment to contradict her, then he would deal with the idiot later. For now, Eric's main concern was keeping Sookie's mind off of her pain as much as possible until the doctor arrived.
He continued to stroke her hair, watching his fingers slipping through the honey-blonde strands that were silken, just like his own, but a few shades darker. In that moment it was like it was just the two of them were there and Bill didn't exist; it was really very almost the most emotionally intimate moment Eric had experienced with another being since he had been turned. A soft smile turned up the corners of his lips and he shook his head in disbelief. “Ridiculous,” he told her then. “You look just as beautiful as you always do.”
Ahh, Sookie and her impossible questions. Eric had learned, almost from the first moment of meeting the human, that if you answered one of her questions a dozen more were likely to pour out of her mouth. He resisted the urge to chuckle at her idiosyncracies. He also resisted the strong urge he had to press a kiss to her lips, and not only because it would keep her from asking any more questions. “We'll see about work,” he half-promised her. He knew Sookie well enough by now to know that if he flat out denied her going to her precious work, she'd drag herself there to spite him.
“Now shh,” he told her again, shushing the way a mother might shush her child to sleep. He didn't stop the rhythmic way he ran his fingers through her hair, looking up and across at Bill. Whatever had happened to her, it had been serious. Thankfully, he was saved from too much conjecture by the arrival of the gruff, dwarven doctor.
“It's a fucking Saturday evening,” she was complaining as she entered the room. Setting his jaw in a line harder than granite, Eric's eyes bore holes into the small woman as she moved forward to look at Sookie. Her eyes made a once-over the human and she shrugged. “What the hell was the rush? She looks fine to me.”
Eric snarled, grabbing hold of the front of Dr. Ludwig's blouse and hoisting her up to his eye level at lightning speed. To her credit the doctor didn't make a squeak, which is more than a lot of other people would have done given the look on Eric's face and the way he was baring his fangs.
“She is most definitely not fine,” he growled.
In retaliation, Ludwig curled her fingers into claws and slashed at Eric's face, just once. He immediately let her go as deep gashes appeared across his cheek. He grimaced against the pain, and dropped the doctor who oddly landed on her feet. Her claws retracted back into her fingertips and she took a step back, straightening her clothes. “Wise decision, fucker,” she snapped, turning to look at Sookie.
“I don't suppose either of these bloodless morons thought to ask you where you're hurting?” she asked.
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Post by bill compton on Feb 7, 2011 12:38:57 GMT -5
His eyes studied the slim form lying upon the desk. His worry for her was overpowering, and he felt as if it was flowing to every fiber of his very being. He loved Sookie. He loved her more than he could ever care to admit, but that was alright with him. He wanted to feel something other than the pain that had been following him from his day to day life. He was selfish he knew, for holding on to that tiny spark. And it was then that realization hit him. It was a tiny spark. It was all that he could do to let it slip through his fingers every day. He could no longer love her. He wanted to keep loving her, and a part of him always would. But he would never let that emotion show again. The things that he had done to Sookie were awful, and she should never forgive him. He would always be here to protect her, but he could feel the connection between her and Eric. And he needed to accept that. Bill just wanted Sookie happy and if being with Eric solved that for her, then he would not stand in the way.
Stepping back from the desk in an instant, it was like someone had hit him and forced him back. Bill couldn't believe the realization that had just come over him. However, at the moment, his worry for Sookie's life was covering that small idea that had formed within his mind. Shaking his head slightly, he ignored Eric for the time being, his eyes focusing in on Sookie and staring. What had happened to her? What had brought her this pain and this weakness? Bill wanted to find whoever had done it and make them pay. And that was what his plan was now. He would not give up his search until he discovered who had done this. When that decision was made, his eyes found Eric's after the blonde vampire had called Sookie sweetheart. Bill thought a rush of jealousy would wash over him, but nothing came. It frightened him. But Bill was in shock. He was in shock over what he was seeing now, and he was in shock that he was willing to give her up just so she could be happy.
No emotions came to him now but worry and anger, and he was going to solve one of them. That anger wasn't even directed at Eric, which surprised Bill to no end. Bill was changing right in front of his superior's eyes, and he didn't care. Stepping back once more, he heard Sookie's tired question, and he just shook his head. He wasn't going to tell her that it was because she looked awful. That wasn't something that she needed to hear, and he knew her well enough that those words wouldn't pacify her. He wasn't an idiot.
"Just to check you over."
He said calmly. It was a strange calm however. Bill had a strange look to him now, and it was something that no one would be able to put their finger on. He needed to get out of here. Seeing Sookie like this had broken him. And that was why he was thinking the way he was now. He couldn't love her because bad things happened to her time and time again. And Eric seemed to be filling his old role quite nicely. He was concerned and he was dominant at the moment. Bill wasn't going to push on his authority, which would be surprising. However, Bill was not going to be selfish now. He was not going to make a scene. He remained a silent observer in the back ground, knowing Sookie wouldn't want him to touch her. It was obvious to see who she wanted, and Bill was going to have to accept that. He stayed quiet, seeing that Eric was answering all of her questions. Bill used to do that. Sighing softly, his eyes turned to the door as the doctor hustled in.
Bill did all that he could to keep his fangs in check. The snarl rose in his throat however when the small woman didn't seem bothered by Sookie's appearance at all. There was pain there. Bill felt it and he knew that Eric felt it as well. And so what if she looked fine. They just wanted her checked out. Sue them. Bill watched as Eric lost his temper and went straight to the tiny doctor. Bill knew from experience not to cross that little woman, and he watched with a small grimace as Eric was slashed across the face. That would sting. Shaking his head, he heard the dwarf's sarcastic remark, and he sneered slightly from where he stood with his arms crossed.
"Why don't you just do your job?"
He finished and then waited to see what she would do. He was not afraid of her, although he didn't know what she would do to that.
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Post by sookiestackhouse on Feb 7, 2011 22:02:37 GMT -5
Sookie probably would have laughed if she hadn’t known the action would cause pain. As it was all she could do was manage a weak smile, which was probably not very convincing. But they were obviously doing everything they could for her, so there was no use in complaining that she was in pain. “Somehow, that’s not very reassuring.” Though her voice was mostly a whisper and she was obviously working to make it stronger, her tone was also as teasing as she could manage to make it. But it was still true, a lot of the time when she was around Eric and Bill she ended up wearing some kind of injury, usually in the form of bruises that one of them would offer healing with their blood. She was glad neither of them offered now - Bill, though healing, had just gotten into a fight over her with the Queen and Eric would need his strength, she was sure, if he was planning on figuring out what exactly had happened. Not to mention the fact that there was that little issue about him saying something about vampires meeting the true death because of knowing what Sookie was, and that terrified her, mostly for Eric’s and Bill’s sake because Bill had already acted on it and Eric seemed determined enough to. It was also slightly uncomfortable because the words had come from Eric, not Bill. While Eric had seemed to be making some sort of effort to be more human around Sookie, whether that was intentional or not, it was still something that took her by surprise. Not to mention the fact that Eric ran a place where people danced half naked on poles - Sookie wasn’t stupid, she knew guys found her attractive but human men were usually put off by the fact that she had a reputation for being sort of crazy and now that girl who dates those vampires; but she most certainly didn’t see herself as being able to compare to some of the dancers in the bar.
It looked as though conversation was the close proximity of Eric was mostly to keep Sookie’s mind off of whatever it was that had hurt her. Well, that was just fine with her; Sookie didn’t want to think about it. What had happened anyway? It felt like something, her ribs maybe?, was broken or fractured, and her wrist felt sprained at the very least. Something with a lot of force had knocked her down - hard enough to push her back into the human world, obviously, because she couldn’t think that the place Claudine had taken her was somewhere in this world - the place had just been too beautiful, while at the same time really familiar. It had been strange.
Another sharp pain as she tried to take a deep breath and she tried to hide it by talking about work. “I just want to know because if I can’t then someone needs to call Sam and explain why I’m missing yet another day of work.” Day because Sookie had the lunch shift as far as she could remember. Her eye lids squeezed together tightly to push away any pain and then opened to focus on Bill, who kept taking steps back. It surprised her how much that hurt, to see him do that, but she couldn’t deny that it was probably best for him to get some space. Sookie loved him, despite the fact that he’d met her initially with the intention of giving her to the Queen; she would have to be a rock to deny that he cared about her since he’d faced the Queen recently and had the injuries to show for it.
“You’re looking better, Bill. Healthier.” She smiled despite the fact that the pain she felt really didn’t make her feel like smiling. Last time she’d seen Bill was at Merlotte’s. He’d answered some of her questions then and as far as she could tell, he’d been completely honest with her. It wasn’t like Sookie to shrug something like that off - the woman couldn’t afford to lose friends when she had so many enemies anyway. She was glad that he’d apparently been getting blood, at least enough to start healing again.
Then she heard Eric say that she wasn’t okay, telling that woman in major need of an etiquette class that something was wrong. “What do you mean I’m not fi- ow.” She’d meant to say fine, but she’d been cut off by the pain of trying to sit up. Hadn’t Eric and Bill just told her that this was just a precaution? She focused on the doctor’s words and touched her rib cage lightly with her good hand. “Here, and my other wrist. Real bad.” She let herself lean back, thinking about how stupid the question had been. Of course neither of the vampires would ask where it hurt, they weren’t human and they weren’t doctors so knowing where she hurt wasn’t going to help anyone. Her eyes closed and she shook her head, trying to hold back tears. “I don’t know exactly what happened… Claudine said they’d help me…” She opened her eyes and noticed Eric’s face.
“What the hell, are you okay?” She must have completely missed the part where Dr. Ludwig sliced his face.
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Post by Eric Northman on Feb 8, 2011 9:01:39 GMT -5
Eric was so completely, utterly absorbed by watching Sookie that he didn't notice Bill's retreat. He barely gave credence to the pain that seared his face, let alone the presence of someone he wished had never shown his face. For the time being he allowed the doctor to look her over but one yelp from the girl on his desk and he would have very quickly digressed to something almost wild. His own thirst burned his throat but he ignored it too.
The implication of Sookie telling Bill he was looking better was not lost on the Nordic vampire, even if Sookie hadn't meant to drop the hint. She had seen him, recently. Eric's blue eyes flicked accusingly to Bill, burning into him. No doubt the manipulative bastard had pleaded with her to visit him while he was home alone and ailing. Eric couldn't understand her interest in the darker vampire. Bill had done nothing but lie to and trick Sookie since the moment of their meeting. He himself might not have always treated her with the respect she deserved, but at least he believed that her best interests were his priority.
The mention of 'Claudine' worried him, but at the same time he felt a familiar thrill; the thrill of the chase. Whoever she was, Claudine was someone who knew about what had happened to Sookie. Dr. Ludwig was busy checking vital signs and whatever else, and Eric's face was very slowly beginning to heal. Having had it mentioned drew his attention to the wound and it began to sting quite badly. He closed his eyes and shook his head softly, wordlessly saying that neither did it hurt nor was he going to discuss it at the moment.
“Sookie,” he said softly. “Who is Claudine? What do you last remember?”
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Post by bill compton on Feb 10, 2011 10:00:52 GMT -5
His steady eyes watched the situation before him unfold. It bothered him that it had to be Eric that took his place in Sookie's love life, but he wasn't going to fight it. She deserved to be happy, and if Eric Northman was the individual who brought that emotion to her, then he wasn't going to complain. He had put Sookie through enough heart ache and it wasn't his place to tell her who she could and could not love. He would love nothing more than to be with her again, but her actions and her words made it quite clear that it was most likely over between them. If given the chance, he would be with her again in an instant. But he wasn't going to get that chance. And he had to accept that. Why she chose Eric he had no idea. He had never met a more sarcastic, rude, and downright mean individual. His words usually held a lot of sting, and there didn't seem to be much of a heart in that blackened chest.
Bill's feelings for Eric would never change. He disliked the vampire so much that it bordered the line of hatred. However, he couldn't feel that emotion yet. He was emotionless at the moment, and the realization that he was no longer allowing himself to love Sookie was hitting him rather harder. He took a deep breath and exhaled, watching Eric and Sookie together. He had never seen Eric show such tenderness, and it surprised him. But at least it seemed he was going to love Sookie. As the young blonde turned her attention to Bill, he froze a bit, tensing as he wondered what she was going to say to him. He just gazed quietly at her, nodding slightly when he heard her words. He didn't miss Eric's scathing stare, and that just made Bill bristle. He knew what was going on in the vampire's mind. No, Bill hadn't initiated that meeting, so he could relax. Sookie had called him, and had wanted to meet with him. His glare was sent straight at Eric so the vampire would know Bill disliked what he was thinking and insinuating. But he turned his attention back to Sookie, feeling as if she deserved some response.
"Thank you Sookie. I'm fine, and now we need to focus on you."
Not that she wasn't fine. She seemed alright, just beat up and bruised. That wasn't fine in Bill's eyes, and he obviously was uncomfortable sitting there and watching her hurt. As she said that someone was going to need to call Sam and let him know she wouldn't be in for work, Bill wondered if he should do it. Not that Sam would really appreciate talking to him, but Bill had saved his life. He felt as if he could be allowed to talk to the bar owner. Decision made, he backed up another step as the doctor started looking over Sookie.
"I'll go give him a call."
It was very unlike Bill to want to leave Sookie's side. However, he couldn't seem to wait to part from her for the time being so that he could really support his decision. He would come back of course to make sure she was alright. He wasn't going to separate himself completely yet. He didn't want her mind on anything other than getting better. Bill slipped out the door, completely ignoring Eric for the time being. He didn't care for the blonde vampire, and that was quite obvious. Shutting the door behind him, he went behind the bar to the phone that was there, not drawing any attention to himself. He dialed the number to Merlotte's and made his wants known on the phone. When Sam picked up, Bill spoke quickly and quietly, knowing no one else could hear him, and no one was paying attention to him anyway. Sam was worried, but he understood, which was fine with Bill. He hung up after a moment, and Bill was told to tell Sookie to take all the time that she needed. Sighing to himself, he hung up the phone and stared at it. The worry he felt in his heart for Sookie's well being was overwhelming.
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Post by sookiestackhouse on Feb 10, 2011 11:04:24 GMT -5
As Dr. Ludwig started poking around her body and Sookie tried her best to stay relatively quiet, the blonde woman tried to take in the area around her. Everything seemed to be moved off of the desk she was lying on and she wondered where it all went or if Eric had suddenly had the urge to clean everything recently. The tension between the two vampires was strong enough that Sookie could feel it even though she couldn’t read their minds. She almost wished that she could read their thoughts, but then decided that the gaping black holes that their minds left were just too soothing to her on a nightly basis and if she could hear them now she’d probably hear things she didn’t really want to; it would probably make recovering harder. She murmured a thank you to Bill as he walked out, upset that even though he looked healthier, he didn't seem to enjoy seeing her. Maybe it was just because she was injured.
The doctor poked her rib and Sookie let out a sharp gasp. “Ow!” The touch wretched her almost half way into a sitting position before she lied back down. “Yeah, right there. Jeeze.” She let her head hit the table with a low thud that sent a small pain to her skull, but it was just a bump, nothing compared to the less than delicate touch the doctor was giving her ribs and wrist. She thought about telling Ludwig about how her bedside manner really needed to be improved and that a course in southern etiquette might do the trick, but she remembered her Gran and thought that maybe that wasn’t exactly the most polite thing to say to someone who was working on healing her on a Saturday night. She wished Eric had just taken her to the damn hospital where the doctors there probably could have fixed whatever was wrong with her, but would probably want to shoot an IV through her and take her blood, which she recently found out wasn’t the best thing. Sookie didn’t have a blood type apparently. That’s what Jason had told her anyway when she’d been in the hospital that one time.
The doctor was mumbling things about how an x-ray would be useful right about now. “I can’t tell for sure without a picture, but I’d say at least one rib is definitely broken, and the wrist is fractured. But it’s nothing life threatening.” Well that was a relief. Sookie watched as the doctor got the tape and brace out of a bag. Oh, this was not going to be fun. Sookie knew exactly how that tape was going to get around her rib cage, and the thought of having Eric there and now Bill just outside was the only thing Sookie could think about; the thought of having to remove her clothes had her blushing. Sure, Bill had seen her naked before, but they weren’t exactly together so him seeing again wasn’t something the blonde woman was excited about and if he walked in at the right moment, that’s exactly what would happen. Then there was Eric, who had probably seen thousands of women naked and while the rational side of Sookie said she had nothing that Eric hadn’t seen before, the side that had her blushing said that it was enough that he hadn’t seen her before.
“Claudine is like me… sort of,” she forced through her lips as Dr. Ludwig got her things together. “Only, she’s not in the least bit human.” She paused for a moment, glad that Dr. Ludwig seemed to be having trouble finding something in her bag. “Bill met her once. It’s how I found out what I am. She’s a fairy.” She paused again. “She didn’t do this to me, Eric. Someone else there did. It was really bright…”
Sookie trailed off when she noticed that the doctor seemed to have everything. Oh lovely. She started to sit up and then paused half way and looked sort of awkwardly at the vampire. “You mind… turning around? Please?” She couldn’t help the red that colored her cheeks at having to ask.
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Post by Eric Northman on Feb 11, 2011 9:44:20 GMT -5
When he was asked to turn around, Eric raised one sandy-coloured brow but politely moved to face the wall nevertheless. If he had been feeling devious he might have positioned himself in such a way that he could watch anyway through the reflection of one of the framed pictures on the wall. As it was, he chose instead to wait while Dr. Ludwig attended to Sookie in her usually brisk way. When he realised that the doctoring was complete and the horrible tiny medic was preparing to take her leave, he turned back around.
If he'd only realised himself that Sookie's problems had been relatively superficial, then he would have just given her his blood in the first instant. She would have healed by morning. In fact, he still might suggest it to her in order to alleviate her pain. Silently pondering the knowledge that Sookie had just imparted on him about this 'Claudine', Eric's anger at Bill was renewed afresh when he thought that Bill had already met this person and he hadn't.
For all intents and purposes, Bill should have reported it to him. As the Sheriff of the Area, it was the duty of his subordinates to inform him about any supernatural beings in the vicinity that might have been of interest. Bill would have known that this Claudine, as both a fae and someone who was connected to Sookie, would have been on Eric's list of personal interest. And yet, he had kept the meeting and anything gleaned from it to himself. And he was absolutely going to regret it.
He pivoted gracefully back to look at Sookie, watching as Ludwig retreated from the room without anything except an utterance about sending her bill. Pointedly ignoring her, Eric moved forward to perch on the edge of the desk next to Sookie. Without even bothering to ask her if she would accept it, Eric's fangs extracted themselves and he nicked the skin at his wrist before holding it out to her, a thin trickle of blood starting to dribble across his pale skin.
“Drink,” he encouraged her softly. “It won't make you feel better as quickly as it should – I'm worried it might be slowed due to the... travelling,” he added, having struggled to find an appropriate word, “-that you'd have done if you did more between this world and that of the fae.” Eric had no clue what was going on, but he most certainly intended to find out.
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Post by sookiestackhouse on Feb 11, 2011 16:43:17 GMT -5
A small smile formed on Sookie’s face, the corner of her lips pulling up just slightly, when Eric actually turned around to give her a little privacy. Surprise lit her eyes up; she hadn’t actually expected that of the Viking, or at least, she hadn’t expected to get her privacy that easy, without even a single remark on why it was necessary. Dr. Ludwig seemed to take in the blonde woman’s expression and rolled her eyes, mumbling something under her breath that Sookie doubted even a vampire would have been able to make out, mostly because it sounded like a mixture between languages combined with an awkward sound that sounded almost like a car stalling. Whatever, Sookie wasn’t about to try and make sense of this strange little woman. As long as the doctor could get her taped up and ready to go, the little hobbit woman could say whatever she wanted in whatever language she wanted. The girl could start barking for all the fae cared.
The doctor had undressed Sookie once before when she’d been scratched by the maenad, so it wasn’t exactly unexpected when she practically yanked Sookie’s dress off over her head. Again Sookie thought about bedside manner as little gasps escaped her lips when spasms of pain seemed to stab her body whenever she was moved a certain way or too quickly. But it didn’t take long for her to be taped up and she was dressed again and getting the brace put on her wrist in no time, even if it had felt like hours because of the pain. It was during this time that Sookie had been thinking again about everything that she’d gone through since meeting the vampires, and again she thought of her Gran and how she used to say that a woman could do whatever she had to do. It certainly fit Sookie’s situation nicely.
One good thing Sookie could say for Dr. Ludwig, the little woman didn’t stick around for anything unnecessary. Sookie was relieved when the woman left and Eric turned back around and headed over to sit by her. With the cast-like tape securing her ribs into place, it didn’t hurt nearly as much to sit up as before, but she still had to endure some pain. When she looked to her side there was a little bottle of pills, apparently the doctor had left them for her - no name was on them, though that wasn’t surprising in the least, of course Sookie’s name wouldn’t be on a bottle when the doctor hadn’t even known she was going to need them. Or maybe Sookie wouldn’t need them. Before she could think much about it, Eric had bitten his wrist and told her to drink.
There wasn’t much of a debate on this, she doubted Eric would really give her an option, even if it didn’t really sound like a demand as much as an offer. But even if he had given her an option, a sharp pain coasted through her body and there was no getting around the necessity of this. Besides, it wasn’t like she hadn’t had vampire blood before, she told herself, and she’d even had Eric’s, once, though that had been one of those tricks he’d played. She didn’t give herself a chance to think about that though; her lips were on his wrist and she drank the blood, eager for anything that could relieve the pain she felt. Her mind told her to stop not long after she started. There wasn’t any way she had taken too much and she knew that, but one of them would need their strength at least. She thought she knew Eric well enough that he would want to figure out what happened as soon as possible.
So when she stopped drinking she turned to the little bottle of pills and popped one in her mouth, swallowing without thinking much about it. Maybe they’d be the good kind and they’d knock her out for a few hours at least and she could sleep through the pain, though pain was the last thing on her mind now; it seemed like the blood was at least helping with that if it wasn’t already repairing things.
“I don’t think I’d call it travelin',” she said, trying to make her voice light. “Claudine said I’d be safe with her, but I don’t think they all really liked me there. I felt like I was bein' pushed by someone strong… only, Claudine was the only one near me.” She hadn’t tried to make sense of it before, but now that there was less pain, her mind began to wonder about what had really happened. “It was like… when I pushed Russell in the sun… only, I wasn’t doin' the pushing. It hurt like hell.”
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Post by Eric Northman on Feb 13, 2011 0:36:47 GMT -5
Registering Sookie's surprise at his compliance with her wishes would have amused Eric under normal circumstances. In most situations he prided himself on not being predictable; on making informed decisions that confused those around him. Being unpredictable made it harder for his enemies to keep tabs on him, and that was exactly the way he liked it. Being unpredictable around the human girl presently on his desk was becoming an increasingly difficult task and the strain was absolutely beginning to show on the vampire.
He didn't wrinkle or look stooped, defeated or lagging in the way that a human male might have. But his confidence was ebbing – that impossibly wide streak of arrogance that painted him exclusively 'Eric' – was slowly and painfully receding into something very closely resembling concession. He cared for her, worried about her and was just beginning to get a grip on the reality that he would more than likely meet the true death for her. Words were just words, really. Saying he would die for someone and actually dying for them were two very relative terms. It was no small thing that Eric was starting to very heavily lean towards the latter.
But she confused him. Her reluctance to let go of Bill was something that Eric could not fathom from his cut-and-dried perspective. Bill had lied to and manipulated her ever since the first moment of their meeting, and yet here she was with this indecisiveness tugging her every which way. It was more than enough to give a mortal whiplash; for Eric it was deservedly frustrating. It was against his character to be so compliant to another, even Pam had noted it with a smirk and a nod. Eric didn't know what hold Bill could possibly have over someone he had purposefully set out to hurt so many times. And he didn't know why Sookie found it apparently so easy to trust in Bill – who was deliberately deceitful – and to trust in him.
For now, he pushed all of those internal musings to one side and focused his mind on what Sookie had just told him. He didn't know much about the fae world, but if Bill was better versed then you could bet your ass Eric was going to confront him so that they were at least on level playing ground. From his tentative perch next to her on the edge of his desk Eric could see Sookie struggle within her mind to make sense of what had happened to her. He didn't know what to offer, but she saved him the trouble when she drank from him. No sooner had her lips left the wound than it began to heal.
“Who is Claudine?” he asked, repeating his earlier question and ignoring the detail that Bill knew but he did not.
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Post by sookiestackhouse on Feb 13, 2011 2:25:01 GMT -5
What had happened to her? How long had she been unconscious? Where exactly had she been found? She remembered leaving with Claudine in the cemetery, though they hadn’t actually left the place, near Gran’s grave even. She wished Gran were here now, really here instead of just the distant memories and echoes of her words that ran through Sookie’s head when she was trying to figure out what to do. The blonde woman wanted her grandmother with her, the only human person who had completely accepted her for what she was, to give her guidance, tell her what she should do about Bill and Eric. Gran had been so pleased when Sookie had started seeing Bill. If the old woman had known what Mr. Compton was capable of, would she have still approved so readily? What would she think about Eric, or Alcide even? Sookie didn’t have too much contact with Alcide and the fact that she could hear his thoughts were a big drawback, not to mention the guy was still hung up on his bitch of an ex (literally, the woman was practically a dog… female wolf was close enough). Hmm, similarities there. But Eric had neither of those traits, that Sookie could tell anyway; he wasn’t involved with a wolf and she certainly couldn’t read those thoughts.
Claudine? Eric’s words brought her back and she had to shake her head slightly to force herself to stop thinking of things she couldn’t help, like the fact that Gran was six feet under. “I told you, she’s a fairy. Not human at all.” It was all she could get out at first, despite the fact that she knew Eric was looking for more information than what Claudine was. “She… looks after me, I guess, though it hasn’t really helped I don’t think. I mean, she couldn’t keep me outta the hospital and I don’t know where the hell she was when René attacked me. You’d think if she could just pop in and out just like that she’d be there when the real important stuff happens.”
Sookie sighed and leaned her weight on her good hand. “I honestly don’t know that much about her, or any of them really. They dance a lot. This time was the only time I’ve even seen her without bein’ half dead or worse. The first time was in the hospital after Bill lost control in the back of that truck. I was kinda stupid I guess so it’s not really all his fault, but he was passed out and Lorena had caused him to lose a lotta blood. So I cut my wrist so he could drink. When he came to the hospital, I was… in another world I guess. Claudine didn’t seem to like ‘im much…”
She hated that thought, because if they didn’t like Bill, then they probably wouldn’t like Eric, or anyone else in this human world for that matter. Before Sookie had met the vampires, that wouldn’t have been a problem. As it was now, the blonde woman found herself thinking maybe Claudine came a little too late to help any of that. “I guess the other time, I didn’t really see her, but I saw the place…” She didn’t like to think about this time even more than the other one. “Um, that one was when you burned Russell…” And that was all she was going to say about that time. She didn’t need to go into any detail there, besides, nothing had really happened that time and she worked to forget it.
Another sigh. “Bill saw her after drinking so much of my blood after I’d been in the hospital. He said fairies taste better than other people, so vampires thought they were all gone. And that Claudine was trying to protect me.” She shrugged, as best she could while not hurting herself further. “That’s all I really know. But I don’t think some of them want me there. Suits me just fine, I have things to worry about here.” She frowned, wondering if she should tell Jason what had happened. But Jason was awfully simple, he probably wouldn’t understand really how it would impact them, except that maybe his attraction skills were more based on fairy blood than actual talent. "Eric, why does it matter anyway? It's not like she makes a regular appearance here."
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