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[ Finding someone to split an apartment with him had come as a surprise. Eddie had assumed he would be living alone for the rest of his supernaturally long undead life, considering his needs and the fact that he definitely can't live with a human. It really limited his options, but by some miracle, he isn't the only creature of the night in Hawkins.

One might think that a vampire and a werewolf make really shitty roommates. But also beggars can't really be choosers, and as it turns out they both have similar goals of do not draw attention to ourselves. Which means they both try very hard to curb their bloodlust and not kill innocent humans.

It's almost a full moon, the first one since they moved in together and Eddie really isn't sure what to expect. He's heard rumors of what werewolves are like -- vicious creatures, would kill a vampire without remorse -- but he's sure that similar rumors about vampires circulate the werewolf packs, so he tries not to make any assumptions. But he also considers making himself scarce for the night. Or locking himself in his room.

Or locking Steve up in his room. He probably could do it without Steve being any the wiser.

While he's in the process of making up his mind, enjoying the A- donation he snatched from the hospital, he hears a noise coming from the other room. ] Everything alright in there? I don't have to get you a collar and a leash, do I? [ It's mostly meant in jest, but he isn't above actually doing it if he has to. ]

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[ For Steve, finding another supernatural person to live with had felt imperative. He could have probably afforded to live alone, but that would mean being solely responsible for himself during full moons and that just wasn't going to cut it. He hasn't hurt anyone yet, never turned into such a bloodthirsty monster that he left his self-imposed prison and unleashed himself on society, and that's how he wants it to stay. He hadn't admitted it to Eddie, but a vampire was the perfect candidate because he knew that one would hardly have gripes about possibly injuring a werewolf. There's also a deeper and darker part of Steve that knows living with other wolves is dangerous because packs formed that way and he'd be more easily swayed away from the path of good if he got caught up in all of that. All in all, it was better for Hawkins if he stayed a lone wolf with a vampire roommate to keep him in check.

It's finally time to test the theory since Steve had moved in just after the last full moon to give them time to get to know each other. Eddie was a good guy, had loud taste in music and cheap taste in beer, but most importantly was a "vegetarian" vampire. Leaving empty blood bags around the apartment was annoying but something that Steve could forgive (for now) because it meant that Eddie was being honest when he said he didn't feed on humans. The question still remains of whether he might feed on other supernatural creatures, though, and if he might sink his teeth into Steve if things ever went south between them.

Hopefully that time isn't now as Steve starts to feel the first touches of the full moon begin to burn in his bones. He always runs at a high temperature, but he actually starts sweating now to the point that he's down to a crop top and jogging shorts and still rolling uncomfortably on top of his unmade bed. He must be moaning and groaning because Eddie's voice rings out from the other side of Steve's bedroom door, joking about things that would make Steve either snap his teeth at him or blush bright red if he weren't so distracted by the way his skin feels too tight. ]

M'alright. [ Though suddenly and inexplicably, he'd really like to see Eddie. ] Door's unlocked if you want to come in?

[ Eddie isn't actually sure if it's a good idea. But he also doesn't really know too much about the truth surrounding werewolves. Everyone knew there was a rivalry between both factions. Eddie didn't buy into most of the bullshit that he heard.

There's a reason he is clanless.

That and he has no intention of feeding off of humans anytime soon, even if there is the supposed chance that if he controlled the beast, he might be able to feed just a little bit. He doesn't trust himself or the beast enough to test that out, of course.

But if Steve needs help, then Eddie is going to need to take a chance. He quite likes having him as a roommate. And sure, he hasn't actually dealt with Steve at full moon just yet, but maybe things would fare better for them both if he actually witnessed what the transformation looked like for Steve.

With a sigh, he pushes himself up and tosses the empty bloodbag in the receptacle meant for biohazards before crossing the apartment towards Steve's door. He braces himself, unsure of what he's about to see, and starts by poking his head in. ]

Still decent are we? Good. [ He flashes a grin full of fangs as he stays by the door, keeping a bit of distance and definitely not letting his eyes move up and down Steve's body. It's probably a good thing he can't actually blush, because the sight of Steve in that damn crop top is driving him wild right now. ]

Jesus, Harrington. Is this normal for you? [ Is he talking about the clothes or the fact that Steve looks like he's about to sweat all the water out of body? ]

[ Trying his best to uncurl from the ball he'd rolled up into, Steve looks up at him from where he's lying sideways on his double bed as Eddie opens the door. The grin is reassuring even if he's already learned that Eddie is the kind of guy to smile in the face of anything, whether it be a fitting situation for the expression or not. Steve has always gotten the impression that he'd be easy to read if he still had a heartbeat, that it would hammer in his chest with anxiety or excitement, that he'd be the kind of guy to blush with pleasure as much as embarrassment. For a werewolf who's used to having his heart on his sleeve, he understands why a lot of his kind find vampires unnerving. Steve inhales deeply, both welcoming the fresh bit of air coming through the door and unconsciously scenting Eddie. He smells like a musty muted version of a human, something earthy and almost sweet like ancient decay, but it's welcome compared to the overwhelming scents that anyone else would be giving off and putting Steve on edge. ]

Full moons? [ He winces at a pang of something deep in his gut but ignores it. It's easier to try for playful, a wry smile pulling at the corner of his lips. ] Y'see, when a werewolf bites a human, this magical thing happens where you turn into a werewolf too. Didn't they teach you that at vampire school?

[ Not that Eddie has had many dealings with werewolves, but judging only by his experience with Steve so far, he seems relatively harmless. Of course, he hasn't experienced Steve during a full transformation yet, so it's entirely possible he's about to learn just why vampires and werewolves are sworn enemies or whatever bullshit they're feeding the young these days. ]

Hilarious. A real joker. [ He rolls his eyes as he closes the door securely, just in case. He's pretty sure if he had to, he could subdue Steve even during a transformation, but he doesn't want to risk having an open door for Steve to dart out of. He's not sure how lucid werewolves are during transformations, and have heard horror stories of these feral beasts. ]

This might come as a surprise, but we don't actually have vampire schools. Or maybe we do, but my sire didn't stick around long enough for me to find out, kinda had to figure everything out on my own. [ He's still not entirely sure his sire meant to turn him, given what he's heard of the bond between a master and their fledgling. That's a preferable scenario to the possibility that he was immediately rejected just like his birth parents had all those years ago. ]

I'll be here all week. [ And it's only half a joke given that he really will be sequestering himself to the apartment, and mainly his room, for a couple of days. He can't remember the last time a full moon had hit him so hard so early, animalistic instincts already scratching towards the surface; fortunately, it doesn't seem to be a hunger this time, at least not one for human hearts.

Eyes trained on Eddie's hand as it closes the door, he flinches a bit at the loud click of the door latching shut. It's not a lock, but it's a barrier and speaks to Eddie's distrust of Steve. Good. He shouldn't trust a werewolf's word that it won't run off during the full moon, even if Steve's never really had that problem. ]

Oh. Sorry? [ Steve doesn't know a lot about vampire siring besides what he's managed to read, and it's not like any of that is guaranteed to be true even if he'd steered clear of fantasy and romance. He's always thought that the bond between a sire and new vampires was like werewolves who chose to run in packs, though, an instant family or at least someone trying to influence newbies into sharing their very long lives together. ] Me either. I mean I think it's more common for werewolves to get made by accident.

[ Although Eddie is fairly certain he could take Steve down before he left the apartment, the more obstacles keeping him from just barging out into the world and killing someone, the better. He knows that when he lets himself get too hungry, he loses all sense of reason and cannot hunt deliberately, going instead into a frenzy where he will drain dry the next creature he comes across, human or animal.

If such is the same for werewolves, then he doesn't want to be partially responsible for letting Steve kill. He doubts Steve would be able to live with himself if he did, if he had been telling him the truth thus far.

He doesn't expect Steve to care at all about vampire lore, or separating the facts from myths, but he senses something from Steve. Even if it's a sense of understanding from both their lack of bonds. ]

Yeah, I guess it's easier to make werewolves, right? All you guys gotta do is bite? [ Eddie doesn't know the logistics, never cared to learn because he has no interest in making more vampires, but he knows one of the steps involves getting the victim to drink their sire's blood. ]

Bite from an alpha. [ Sitting up, Steve finds that he feels a little calmer with Eddie in the room. Perhaps it's differing instincts warring within him, half seeking to go wild and the other exuding caution in the face of a historic enemy. It could just be that Eddie is a nice guy yet, at the same time, Steve can trust him to take down a feral werewolf if the moment comes so he can relax just the littlest bit. Maybe it's something else entirely that he doesn't know enough about to acknowledge as a possibility.

He pulls his knees up against his chest and hugs them there, leaning back against the wall at the head of his bed since he hadn't seen the point on springing for a headboard. What's the point of a headboard anyways? ] That's what I'm told, at least. Only an alpha can turn you, anyone else just tears you apart I guess.

An alpha, [ Eddie repeats with an amused look on his face. He's heard tales of these alphas. Pains in the ass, they sounded like. But Steve doesn't come across like that at all, thankfully. It would definitely complicate their tentative living arrangement, and thus far Eddie hasn't been able to find anyone willing to put up with his everything that comes with being a vampire. ]

So an alpha bit you, and, poof, werewolf? [ He walks a little closer to the bed, which might not be the best of ideas in case he needs to bolt once Steve's transformation hits, but he's finding himself relaxed enough that he doesn't really care. Besides, he can be pretty damn fast when the situation warrants it. ] What's it like when you transform? Are you still in control at all? Word on the street is your kind gets all feral and shit, but as we've established, exaggerations tend to happen.

Yep, pretty much. [ Steve's eyes follow Eddie as he comes closer, mild surprise on his face because he hadn't expected that. It shows some trust, true, but also it shows that Eddie believes he can handle himself if Steve happens to lunge at him for some reason.

Gesturing at the end of the bed like Eddie's welcome to sit there if he'd like, Steve winces and hugs at his stomach. He'd almost forgotten the fact that the full moon is approaching and he's supposed to be feeling like shit as he fights against a full transformation. ]

Huh? [ Another surprise, but it stands to reason that Eddie would need to know these things now that they're living together. Talking with him is helping distract Steve, too, even though he's pretty sure his ears and tail are going to burst out of him at any second. ] Transforming sucks. It's not like it all just magically appears, everything comes from somewhere, so my body just changes really fast.

For control, it depends on why we transform. Full moon, duh. Feral if you don't fight it, and it's worse if you're around other feral wolves. If you choose to transform, there's almost no difference between your human brain and wolf brain. There're other reason I'm not gonna get into. [ He says it with a blush that hopefully just blends in with the red of his cheeks brought on by the fever coursing through him. ]

I've heard that if you're in a pack, how much control you have depends on the alpha. If you're a beta of someone with a lot of control, it's like it helps you or some shit like that. Could just be one of those things alphas say to try and recruit people, though.

[ It's probably foolish of Eddie to ignore all the warnings he's heard over the years, to not treat Steve like a potential threat. But taking a seat on the bed next to him, Steve seems in control still. Maybe what he needs right now is someone to keep him grounded, to make the transformation easier. It's something Eddie can relate to, when the hunger starts driving him towards wanting to feed without caution.

Maybe werewolves and vampires have a lot more in common than they'd like to believe. ]

Well, I might not be a werewolf, but maybe being in a pack with one wouldn't be so bad. [ He says it teasingly, leaning a little bit against Steve. He always did like to flirt with danger, and now it would seem he is doing so quite literally. ]

I probably should be more scared, or whatever, but it's not like I have a clan to answer to, so if you want some company during your transformation, well. I'm not going anywhere unless you want me to.

Yeah, if you're in a good pack. If your alpha is a homicidal dick, then so are you. [ That was the main reason Steve had decided to go it alone, knowing that he could handle his own transformations and was responsible for his own actions. If he had ended up as part of a pack that hunted humans for food, or worse, for sport? Then he'd never forgive himself, and maybe wouldn't even have the autonomy to do anything about it. For someone who had been such a team player during high school sports, the idea of being part of a group now terrifies him.

Eddie leaning against him is a shock, one that makes him shudder out from the point of contact like a ripple in still water. The vampire's skin is so cold, smooth and pale like marble, but Steve finds it calming more than unnatural like he'd sort of expected. Maybe that earthy scent helps, too, because Steve takes in a deep breath and feels some of his fever subside. Weird. ]

Really? [ Though Eddie is here right now, literally sitting against Steve, the offer still comes as a surprise. Steve has always had to be alone during his transformations, and though he'd definitely wanted to live with Eddie as a safety precaution, he hadn't dared to hope that maybe they could get along on top of that. ] I mean, if you don't mind me sweating out of my skin on the couch, we could watch a movie or something?

( There is something equally as compelling about Steve, which Eddie knows should probably not be true considering how on the verge of something dangerous he is. Perhaps it's just the feeling like he's able to calm Steve down mid-transformation that adds to it. Eddie, who has felt like he hasn't had much of a purpose despite his immortality, feeling as if this right here might be some kind of purpose. )

What, you don't want me to fix you an ice bath? ( He's teasing, of course, and the smirk on his face quickly softens into something more genuine. ) A movie, though, sounds nice. Unless --

( He glances over his shoulder, at the door, towards here his own room is located. ) How do you feel about music? I have a guitar, maybe something like that will be a nice distraction from all of the, you know. ( He gestures at Steve, a flick of his wrist meant to draw attention to Steve's current state. )

Don't joke, I do that sometimes! [ Mostly that's a really last-ditch resort, though, like when he's already feeling sick and then transforms on top of that. There are some other occasions, too, but nothing that he's ready to admit to Eddie and certainly nothing he's going to ask for help with.

Already thinking of what movies might be a good option for both of them, Steve follows his eyes to where Eddie is looking and then feels his brows shoot up his forehead. He'd known that Eddie was into music based on the revolving wardrobe of band shirts, but he's never guessed at whether the guitar he's caught glimpses of in Eddie's room was for decoration or use. ] You play? I mean, yeah, that'd be cool too.

Oh really? ( Eddie smirks, and tilts his head to the side. ) Don't mind if I just...file that information away for later. ( Purely so he can help Steve in the future. As much as he enjoys teasing Steve, riling him up, he does genuinely want to see him at his best. For one, it's in Eddie's best interest that they get along and Steve has a good transformation.

But maybe it also goes a little deeper than that, for reasons Eddie isn't ready to admit just yet. Right now, he's just focused on getting Steve through this full moon. ) Yeah I play. If you have any requests -- rock music, mind you, bonus points for metal -- I'm pretty good at figuring covers out even if I don't know them already.

[ Thank god Steve's already flushed with heat, otherwise he's pretty sure that his blush would be obvious. Eddie has this flirty nature to him that's hard to read, certainly shouldn't be pointed at Steve, and is very confusing. Steve had been very sexually free before getting bitten, but ever since then it had been hard to trust himself in situations that might rile him up and get him to the point of losing control; even if he never hurt someone, suddenly sprouting ears or a tail in the middle of having sex would be a huge problem. So maybe he's a little pent up, and maybe Eddie is really handsome, and maybe something deep inside of Steve that he's not even aware of yet is stirring. ]

Rock, like the Beatles? [ He smirks because even Steve knows that probably isn't what Eddie is talking about. ] I don't know much, just listen to the radio, so whatever you like to play is fine with me.

( It's also probably a good thing that Eddie isn't nearly as well attuned to sniffing out changes in emotion or he likely would have seen right through Steve. It he did notice, he certainly doesn't pay it any attention, focusing instead on scoffing at Steve for his downright offensive comment. ) You take that back!

( Then there's that damn smirk of Steve's, and it's probably a good thing Eddie lacks the blood supply to even blush anymore. Goddamn him being able to disarm him immediately with that look. ) Alright, well, do you at least know Queen? ( He's more than willing to come to a compromise when it comes to music. He doesn't expect the guy to know the likes of Black Sabbath, but he might be able to get by on some of the softer side of rock. Just -- anything but pop. )

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