The Devil's Nest, December 2, 2021

[texted3times]

There were polar bears drinking in his bar.

Eric wished he was more surprised by that.

"Set them up with rums and Cokes," he told Tiny, "and don't take 'but I don't have pockets' as a reason not to charge them for it."

The Devil's Nest was open! Eric was in his leather pants, but it seemed a little chilly for shirtlessness today.

Comments

[sword_chocobro]

Too chilly for shirtlessness? Not on Gladio's watch. No such thing!

Just ignore the occasional sneeze that might have squeezed out of the guy as he made his usual Thursday appearance in leather. He just had allergies.

[texted3times]

"I respect your dedication to an aesthetic," Eric said.

[sword_chocobro]

"Well," said Gladio, opening his arms so that Eric could respect it just that little bit more, "when the aesthetic is the good..."

And even did a small turn, because, let's face it, it was an aesthetic best taken in as a whole 360 degree experience.

"Plus," he added, once he was done fluffing his metaphorical (and tattooed) feathers, "if I'm going to be stuffed into a sweater tomorrow for that party, I better get the most out of my freedom while I can."

[texted3times]

Eric let out an appreciative whistle because it's just polite when someone was clearly making an effort.

"Do you think they'd buy me being allergic to polyblend as an excuse?"

[sword_chocobro]

"I would have pegged you for more of a wool knit kind of guy, anyway," Gladio noted with a grin. "I'm sure you can certainly try, though. Maybe show up a bit later, when the hostesses are already too drunk to care."

[texted3times]

"As long as it's in the same apartment as last year, I don't even need an invitation to get inside," Eric overshared, smirking. "I like this plan."

[sword_chocobro]

Sorry, Eric, it wasn't even in the same building, whoops.

Meanwhile, Gladio was left wondering exactly what Eric meant by that, and if it was worth asking, because he thought everyone got invited because a mass text was sent and someone was from a world where vampires weren't really a thing but were probably referenced a few times as if they were.

Therefor, it was probably just easier to simply say, "Can't tell you, I wasn't even here last year, but I'll look forward to seeing you there."

In his sweater.

That Prompto was picking out for him.

If he was honest, he was mildly concerned.

[texted3times]

That was anti-vampire discrimination! Somehow!

"I was only there for a little while," Eric said with a grin. "I didn't want it to seem like I didn't have better places to be."

[sword_chocobro]

"Did you have better places to be?" asked Gladio, snorting faintly, because how could he not?

[texted3times]

"Of course I did," Eric said, laughing. "I'm a thousand years old."