Hunger For Something More (((Open)))

[Eric Northman]

His non-life sucked. Pretty much the only way to explain how Eric Northman was feeling at the moment was to see a human heart being ripped from a breathing human being.

Losing Godric was almost too much to deal with. He had been Eric's most important vampire, a father, a maker and a friend. He just felt so overcome with everything. If he had had feelings, they would have definately been hurt right now. Devasted would probably be the acurate word.

Dammit, he cursed when the dark thoughts were surrounding him once more. He needed to feed and destroy to feel better. This was a time of extreme measures and he was a man of extreme action so it fit like a glove.

The hunt was on. He could have taken someone from Fangtasia but the thrill of the chase was what Eric needed now. He needed to hurt someone to heal his own hurt and despair.

[Alcide Herveaux]

(OOC Note: Hope you don't mind me popping in, thought it'd be a good spot to come to, if you want to ravage Alcide, don't hurt him too much please, or maybe they could find common ground, your choice @_@)

It had quickly turned into a lousy day. All because of the same woman, whom time and time again, made his brain crumble into misery: Debbie Pelt. He had just stopped at his place to drop off his present to her, a beautiful dress, but she had still growled and yelled at him like he was a redheaded step child. It seemed his apologies went in one ear and out the other. Other people would tell him that it shouldn't have mattered, because they kinda, sorta weren't technically a couple still.

But Alcide couldn't let go of her, the pull on his heart was too strong, no matter how many times Debbie hurt him, he always crawled back. He never thought of it as an unmanly thing to do at all.

After the fight had escalated, Alcide left in a flurry, with a slam of the door. He did not hop into his Dodge and squeal off into the night, no. Instead, he ran and ran and ran until he was in the woods. He then removed his clothing and shifted into his other, bestial nature. Alcide came out of the stir of grinding bones and blood as a giant black timber wolf, much larger than the average wolf, and bigger than his fellow pack members as well.

He was a sight to behold in the wilderness. Alcide raced through the darkened woods, chasing small critters and ravaging them until they were only a meek pulp of red and veins. Alcide ate a little of his catches, but not much, he was too angry and saddened and flustered to eat much tonight.

In his beast mind, a phantasmaghoria of images was how his brain worked. He pictured the beautiful southern belle, Kimberly, and her slight demeanor, pretty, kind, and lovely. He then pictured Debbie. He then pictured Debbie holding a knife to Kimberly's throat. If the huge black wolf could cry, that's certainly what he'd be doing. He knew he should've stayed and listened to Debbie's rant, now, he didn't even know if Kimberly would be safe...

Kimberly...

Alcide sat on his haunches and howled loudly with his snout to the sky, expressing his lonesome sadness. He heard another wolf reply, but did not recognize the howl... He wish he had... He could really use another werewolf to talk to right about now.

The wolf sat for a moment before getting up again and padding towards the clearing in the woods. He didn't know how far he ran but it seemed it brought him to a very familiar stench: vampire. And not only that, it was a vampire he knew, an image of Eric Northman appeared in his head. What was he doing here? Why wasn't he at Fangtasia at such a night as this?

Alcide didn't growl but instead stood perfectly still once he had padded forward enough to see Eric.

[Eric Northman]

"What do you want Wolf," Eric growled as he sensed the presence of a werewolf. He had zero patience with anyone tonight; not with Godric's death and still not hearing anything about Scarlett.

Alcide Herveux was a big man, taller than Eric, even in the form of the wolf, he was bigger than Eric. Their relationship was interesting, Eric wouldn't have gone as far as to say they liked each other but at least they tolerated each other.

"This is a very bad night for me. As you must understand, I am in no mood to play games Alcide," Eric said looking the taller man straight in the eyes, well his wolf eyes anyway.

"I sense you are not having such a good night either. That little shifter girl, what was her name, Danni or Donnie or whatever, behind that," Eric said, trying to gain the upper hand in this confrontasion. Besides being mean to someone made him feel better about himself.

[Alcide Herveaux]

Eric was one of the reasons that Alcide's mind was heavy with sorrow and stress. However, it wasn't Eric's fault, really, it was his father's for accumulating a lot of debt. But still, there was a certain anger he couldn't erase aimed strictly at Eric. He wasn't going to attack, because for one, he had to maintain appearances and the packmaster wouldn't appreciate him picking fights with a vampire and for two, he thought his chances of winning would be low.

Alcide's wolfen mouth couldn't respond to Eric's words. He could clearly hear them and when Eric mentioned 'no games' he figured that meant no fighting. Good. That meant that he could shift back to normal human without needing to worry about a vampire slaughtering him. However, if he shifted, he would be completely naked in front of Eric.

He didn't want to be naked in front of a vampire.

Alcide scratched at the ground with his front paws showing that he was going to come back. Whether or not Eric understood, he didn't really care. In fact, he didn't care if Eric would be there or not once he was in human form and dressed. Alcide's wolf form darted off into the woods, not stopping this time, he grabbed his human clothes with his wolf teeth and ran back towards the direction of Eric.

Before reaching Eric, he transformed into his human form and quickly dressed. Alcide walked back out, carefully, and stared at the vampire. What was he doing near a vampire anyhow? Why was he about to talk to a vampire? Because there was no one else, besides it seemed Eric was pissed about something too.

"Debbie. Her name is Debbie," he glanced in the direction of which he came, remembering the fight they had, "I'll never understand women... Especially some women."

He was trying to pretend to be manly, even though he wanted to cry. He was holding a lot back... A LOT. Then again, Alcide guessed Eric was too. But why the hell should he ask about a vampire's problem? He wasn't about to make a vampire friend...

"Why, what's your story?" Alcide asked, crossing his arms over his chest and looking Eric over. He was sure an effeminate man, but an effeminate man that got a lot of women somehow. And no crazy ones either like Alcide attracted.

Alcide could hardly believe he just asked about a vampire's problems, he'd rather spit on the ground and walk away, but who the hell could he talk to at this time of night anyway besides a fricking vampire?

[Eric Northman]

Eric had been right, the werewolf had indeed been Alcide Herveux. Someone who was in considerable debt to him. Eric wasn't all the bothered about the money to be honest. It was unknown to many how unaffected by money Eric truly was. He liked the things that it bought him but true, honest happiness came to him in a different way.

He watched the were make a signal to return and then with half-interest let his eyes follow the wolf form of Alcide when he went off to shift to his human form.

Althought Eric certainly could have taken Alcide in a fight, no chose not to, not tonight. Beating up a werewolf wasn't on his of wants for tonight. He wanted a blonde, beautiful human to ravage, someone who resembled him of his Scarlett. Full ruby lips, long golden blonde hair and tiny, petite frame.

Alcide returned rather quickly and corrected him about the name of the shifter girl he was shackled with."Whatever, I do not have any interest in that thing you can't rid yourself with."

"I'll never understand women... Especially some women."

"Well women are complicated creatures. They inspire such longing, need and despair that it's unparalled. They are never satisfied; you give them the greatest gift one can give to a mortal and they will not be happy," Eric said in agreement and his thoughts were shifted to Scarlett once more. To a memory where she had told him she would rather die than to be his any longer. That memory, it was a painful one.

"Why, what's your story?"

"My story. My friend you would not understand. You do not have makers and you don't form such an everlasting bond with anyone like we do with our makers. My maker is now gone," Eric said, suprising himself that he actually gave an honest answer for once, without reflecting it into sarcasm.

"So what brings you here this evening. A woman or women?" Eric backtracked, not liking the vulnerability in his voice when he had spoken of Godric. He sensed something was off with Alcide and better his problems being aired than Eric's.

[Alcide Herveaux]

Just listening and looking at Eric, Alcide realized his words spilled ancient, useful advice. He was like a living (could you call it that?) book on how to live life gracefully, or so it seemed. Alcide was just slightly amazed at how eloquent he put together his words, he had never really noticed before. The way he described women was ace in the cajun wolf's book. He definitely couldn't put it like that.

"My story. My friend you would not understand. You do not have makers and you don't form such an everlasting bond with anyone like we do with our makers. My maker is now gone,"

Typical vampire though, seeping through his words. Nothing was above a vampire to a vampire, not even intelligence, apparently. And people wondered why the supernatural community hated each other. Alcide had lived a regular thirty years as a sub human and wolf with a beating heart, and thought he knew about life good enough, better than some. To Eric, thirty years would be like a blink of one of his feminine lashed eyes. Could he really be blamed for his thoughts about humans and werewolves?

"You could shoot, and I could try to care," Alcide's words trickled out, without much thought, what he really wanted to say was 'you are right, I probably don't know, but you can tell me anyway' but he wasn't going to be too nice to a vamp that wasn't being too nice to him.

When Eric asked about his own qualms, Alcide uneasily shifted to his right foot, tightening his arms over his chest. He hit a sore spot now.

"Women, man, women. One is beautiful and crazy and the other is beautiful and perfect," Alcide couldn't believe he'd just half described Debbie to a vampire, usually he didn't much talk about Debbie to anyone. In some place in Alcide's huge wolf heart, he was hoping for a smidgeon of that eloquent advice. In fact, the businessman lifted his gaze from the ground back to Eric, with a stare that said 'help' in a manly way.

Vampires and werewolves might've despised each other, but every once in awhile they had to come together on a common ground, whether it was against humans or supe haters, it didn't matter, but it seemed this common ground that the men shared was women.

[Eric Northman]

"You could shoot, and I could try to care,"

"I am not in the habit of pouring my heart out to a werewolf, I'm afraid. Especially of things you know nothing about. You are what, thirty years old? I have lived over a thousand, seen everything a man can see and if I still not have answers to everything, I doubt I'll find them with you," Eric said with a mix of anger and sorrow. He was being mean again but he couldn't help it. How could this werewolf even begin to understand the bonds built over centuries of love and loyalty.

He observed the man after he had quizzed about his troubles. His hulking frame seemed to collapse a little as he spoke of his woman troubles. If Eric had been able to feel, he would have probably felt a little sorry for Alcide. Probably.

"Women, man, women. One is beautiful and crazy and the other is beautiful and perfect,"

"Ah, an impossible choice. To be with one that keeps you on your toes or the one who would care for you without asking for anything in return. I imagine the little shifter Dottie is the crazy one. Shifters usually are wrong in the head," Eric said with amusement. He remembered Debbie's name but it amused him more of use a different one for her. For one, Alcide's reaction to it would reveal a lot to him.

"Well, whoever you choose, keep one thing in mind. You can always send the discarted one to me and I'll make sure she has the night of her life. Especially is she's human with perfect, pulsing arteries," Eric said again, pushing Alcide's buttons. He would naturally not touch anyone's left-overs but Alcide didn't need to know that.

Eric mood was improving, slowly. Maybe it was indeed companionship that he had needed this evening. Even if it had come in the form of a werewolf.

[Alcide Herveaux]

Eric hit the nail on the head again, Debbie kept him more than on his toes, he was practically balancing on his big toe and hopping on it before her. The wrong step would turn her sour in a half a second. But he was right, it was probably the fact that she was a ticking time bomb that kept him going, besides the fact that she had his heart strings wrapped around her finger.

So many people hated Debbie, and he could count on one hand people that liked her, and couldn't even remember the amount that didn't. He wondered, no he hoped, for a brief second that Debbie would come charging out, anger Eric, and he'd kill her with one quick swipe. Alcide wouldn't say anything, not anything at all. The thought left his mind as quickly as it had come, it wasn't right.

Eric mentioned how he'd take over the one he didn't want. It made his anger rise a bit, and he shot Eric a bad look. He cared for both of the women, and imagining a vampire delving into something he cared for rubbed him the wrong way.

"I know you've been here awhile on this Earth, Eric," Alcide said, with only a fraction of the articulation that Eric possessed, "just out of curiosity... what do you think about marriage?"

It was something he had to say, to get it off his chest, to see if he could actually say the 'm' word without flinching, but Alcide still flinched anyway. He had thought about marriage to Debbie, many times, thinking maybe it would calm down her personality if he put on the old ball and chain. Perhaps it would unlock something kinder within her to know that Alcide went the extra distance to show he cared.

[Eric Northman]

"I know you've been here awhile on this Earth, Eric...just out of curiosity... what do you think about marriage?"

"Marriage? I don't think it's for me. Not with a human nor with another vampire. I'm not the kind to be tied down," Eric pondered and for once replied seriously to the man's question.

"I'm not a one woman man Alcide. The key in life is knowing yourself and I know I could never remain faithful to another woman again. I was married before I became a vampire," Eric said remembering his brother's widow his humanself had married at sixteen. But as soon as the memories popped into his head, he abandoned them.

"So you wanna marry Dottie then? I could see that being interesting; purely financially of course. I could see winning myself a hefty sum of money after popping a few dollars on who would kill the other first. My money's on Dottie," Eric laughed, wanting to change topic and fast. Again, being mean to Alcide seemed to wipe the worries from his mind.

"Now you have intriqued me. Marriage with a shifter and then the other woman you mentioned. Your life seems to be developing into a more interesting soap opera than the one Ginger watches on a daily basis," Eric said again snidely. He was getting too good at this being mean thing, it seemed.

[Alcide Herveaux]

The selfishness of Eric Northman crept out of him like a smoldering bacteria, infecting all. He immediately related marriage to himself and mentioned that he couldn't be a one woman man. Alcide understood, how could you when your lover would only become old and frail but you'd be youthful forever? Odd cirumstances.

Alcide, on the other hand, enjoyed being a one woman kind of man when he could be, in fact, his equilibrium was completely jilted because of the battle for his heart between two women that didn't even know each other. It probably wasn't even their battle; it was his own, one that had to be won very quickly before more hearts could be broken.

Eric misnamed Debbie yet again, he was through trying to correct the pale faced monster.

"Shut your mouth, vampire, and remember how lucky you are when it comes to marriage, you d**n vamps can't even be recognized for marriage in America," he said, like it was a very positive thing, "real women, shifters and humans, eventually think you have to marry 'em, then you are stuck. And a divorce just makes you look bad."

An image of him having to live with the Extreme Debbie Roller Coaster Ride was enough to make him puke. His heart skipped a beat. Would he really marry a woman just so that others would be safe from a psychopathic lynx? It was for the better.

"You can say that again," Alcide rolled his eyes when Eric mentioned his life being a roller coaster, "I didn't think somethin' like this could happen to me. I thought I was living a pretty normal life, but one day... fate makes me meet a woman I normally wouldn't meet and here I am, scared to get rid of the old one because she'll attack the new."

He blurted out the last sentence and regretted it, Debbie meant well, she just had a terrible streak of being needy and jealous.

[Eric Northman]

"Shut your mouth, vampire, and remember how lucky you are when it comes to marriage, you d**n vamps can't even be recognized for marriage in America,"

"Touchy this evening, aren't we Alcide." Eric sblack personed, getting a kick out of being able to rattle the other man.

"I don't see why I should limit myself to only one. I walk into a bar and I have my pick of the most beautiful woman. They'll do anything I want, whenever I want. That kind of freedom is just too good to pass up. Most woman offer themselves to me fairly easily," Eric said, speaking in a tone that would suggest they were conversing about house cleaning tips or something equally dull. It wasn't about bragging, as it was true.

"I didn't think somethin' like this could happen to me. I thought I was living a pretty normal life, but one day... fate makes me meet a woman I normally wouldn't meet and here I am, scared to get rid of the old one because she'll attack the new."

"You should have said earlier, if there is a catfight, please do invite me to watch. I can provide my special kind of healing to the loser." Eric said his voice full of gleeful malice. He could have offered a wise word or advice, but that wouldn't have been half as much fun.

"Look, I'm in a generous mood so listen up. Women like a man who takes charge. Be the alpha male or you'll get girl thingywhipped by them. No self-respecting woman wants a purse holder, and if they do, there is something terrible wrong with them," Eric said, his tone semi-serious but a wicked smile was playing on his lips.

[Alcide Herveaux]

Eric got what he wanted, didn't he? Even from the women folk. It might not have charmed a lot of women, but he was sure it charmed more than he'd like to think about. Alcide wondered for a second if he, himself, was more "effeminate" than Eric the vampire. Such a thought made him shiver on the inside...

Eric confirmed that it was important to be an alpha male after Herveaux had thought about it. Was he really getting pu**ywhipped by these two beautiful women? No way... The epiphany hit him like a bag of bricks upside the head. Is that what they wanted? Would that help him choose more... if he just did it and told the other to hell with her?

He gingerly nibbled on his bottom lip, mulling over the continued possibility. Alcide didn't have to marry Debbie just to calm her nerves down, he just had to be more of a man around her. But it was like Debbie was the witch, with such a terrible spell over his big heart...

Alcide figured that this was a big stepping stone for him, but what to do, would he thank the vampire, against what was normal for him, or would he just turn the other cheek...?

"Eric, don't care what they say about you, you might be a vampire, but you are pretty smart," that was his version of a thank you, and he shrugged with it in a manly way, "see ya."

It was quick and it was quiet. Little did Eric know but he'd given Alcide a piece of advice that he would not soon forget, and in fact, his advice would probably help him pick who was best as well as make him stand up for his rights. Oh, what a little bit of life skill coaching could do.

Alcide turned on his heel and headed back into the forest from whence he came, moving speedily back towards his condo.