7. Fisherman's Rest

The inn Wooyoung picked for them was called the 'Fisherman's Rest'. It was close to the port, but dipped in the shadows where Wooyoung's vampirism wouldn't suffer too much sun, and neither would Hongjoong's. The stench of alcohol and fish that wafted from it would have churned Hongjoong's stomach in the past, but his stomach barely reacted to anything now. He only smelled that sweetness surrounding the passersby like a puff of perfume.

It was for the best to take a rest and map out their route for now. These streets bustled with life and Hongjoong dashed past shyly when the prostitutes out in the alleys batted their lashes at him. Wooyoung kept him close, snickering about his reaction, but Hongjoong was transfixed on his throat, the warmth it emanated. 

Once they arrived at the inn, loud voices and fast-paced music greeted them. A drunkard had been kicked outside already and swayed in a spot against the wall, blinking his eyes at the two men as he tried to focus on them, but to no avail. 

Hongjoong slowed near the door when he realised they had a problem.

The entrance was open and welcoming, but there was no sign at the door aside from some information about the pricing of the menu. No invitation. Hongjoong first noticed that he couldn't enter buildings anymore when he tried to step into a pub to get himself a drink before he met Emma. Thought he could soothe the scratch of his throat that way. However, when he tried to enter, he found an invisible wall in place of the door. Couldn't set his foot past the threshold as much as he tried to. Some force held him back and made it impossible to move.

When he realised people started staring, he left that pub. Only one kind of creature couldn't enter uninvited and he wouldn't risk getting chased away. At another pub, a welcome mat offered him entry. He could enter there, but he was so befuddled by the forces at work that he didn't get a drink and left. That was when Emma found him.

After being human for so long, there was something so disturbingly wrong about being unable to go wherever he wanted. His vampirism was no blessing; it was a curse most unholy. 

So Hongjoong wouldn't be able to enter this place. But Wooyoung also couldn't go inside. How could Hongjoong get them in without giving away his secret?

"Oh... If you're alone, how do you take care of the invitation problem?" Hongjoong babbled to save some time. Maybe they could blend with a group moving inside? No, that wasn't the issue here.

Wooyoung threw him an inquisitive look.

"What do you mean?"

"Since you're unable to enter places without an invitation."

Perhaps it had a spiritual reason. Hongjoong's grandparents left salt on their doorsteps and windowsills in the past to ward off evil spirits. Many houses in this country were blessed by priests, making any wicked creature unable to enter unless invited. Did that mean Hongjoong might turn to ashes if he set foot in a church?

He shuddered, clinging to Wooyoung's response in the hope that he could find some normalcy in life with a trick here and there.

But his companion was still befuddled.

"I am?"

Hongjoong paused. Had he never encountered this issue before? Right, maybe not. Hongjoong hadn't asked him yet how long he had been a vampire. He knew vampires didn't age once they got turned, so Wooyoung might seem like a seasoned professional, but he could only be a few years ahead of Hongjoong.

"Well," Hongjoong stuttered, trying to explain without sounding too knowledgeable about things a regular person wouldn't know. God, what if Wooyoung thought he was a vampire hunter in disguise? Trying to lure him into a trap? Hongjoong's secrecy made him more suspicious than need be, given they were one and the same.

"You know, I read about that. That vampires can't enter a place until they are invited. If you aren't with another person, how do you deal with that?"

Subtly, Hongjoong slowed his step on the porch of the tavern so he could think of a solution. Maybe another inn after all? He could claim the stench made him queasy.

"Ah, right," Wooyoung giggled as he remembered an anecdote. "Well, I am often in company when I visit inns, and they are all too eager to invite me inside if you catch my meaning." His wink was sly and charming, perfect on his face. Hongjoong couldn't really get red anymore, but he turned his head shyly as he found Wooyoung entirely too handsome. He was confused, innocent in matters of love, and had never been so taken with a man's looks. What made Wooyoung so different? Was it because vampires had so much natural charm? But did that seduction work on each other?

"Other times, I just do this." With that, Wooyoung marched up to the tavern and called in through the open door. His voice was loud over the murmur of conversation and he garnered some looks that made Hongjoong recoil, but Wooyoung was confident as he leaned against the door frame.

"Ahoy, barkeep! Do you have a room for two more?" He held up two fingers in his fingerless gloves that warded off the chill of the sea. 

From the bar, the owner waved back at him.

"Aye! Come on in!" The mood was merry, everyone was glad to spend time together. No one thought vampires so bold that they would just ask, but again, Wooyoung had some charm with people.

Awed, Hongjoong followed him inside. Neither of them got stuck.

"There you have it," Wooyoung beamed at him as they wove between the tables, and the mirth in his eyes had played every trick before.

"You know your way around," Hongjoong commented, glad to avoid any awkward situation, but he also would have to be smoother in the future. To subtly reject any inn he disliked, so they didn't realise neither of them could invite the other in. It would be all too easy to be found out or for people to realise what they were.

Wooyoung found them a free table and sunk down at it, snapping his gloves off scarred fingers that were weathered from manual labour. He didn't take off his hat, so Hongjoong also didn't as he sunk into the chair opposite him. The warmth of the tavern glowed in Wooyoung's cheeks as he smirked at the prior compliment. 

"I consider myself a survivalist. Making any situation I find myself in work. Not near as much as a gentleman as you are, however." He flagged down a waitress before Hongjoong could deny those allegations. He was never the most distinguished or educated among his folks. Lacked the social charm to sweet-talk his way into noble circles. His excuse was that he was still young. That he was still learning.

Now, he might never become someone of distinguished becoming with a good name. He was a monster, prowling through the night. 

"Are you sure you want to eat?" Hongjoong asked him, since the idea of human food churned his insides. As much as he would like to live as before, he felt ill the last time he tried some bread and not because it had gone bad.

"I should at least drink something, so no one gets suspicious," Wooyoung muttered back before he ordered some snacks. Hongjoong barely understood his dialect when he talked to the locals, so he took the moment to look around the room. 

Most patrons were in groups. Men hanging out together, families out for a drink. Few women since they were busy at home with children and housework, but Hongjoong saw a few androgynous figures who rejected the norm.

The few shadowed people in the corners caught his attention the most. He avoided trouble in the past, not wanting to mix with the wrong crowd. But despite all his caution, he got stabbed on the street and bitten by a vampire in a matter of a few minutes. Now that he was what he was, he had nothing to fear aside from hunters. He couldn't reverse time by himself.

Hongjoong spotted some man in a corner with a large-brimmed hat shadowing his features. He was nursing his drink alone. Was he human? What secrets might he be hiding under that majestic headdress?

Another person in the other corner. Ragged clothing, but an elegant rapier by their side. Some soldier, potentially.

Hongjoong also spotted a man by the bar, big and with grey streaking his dark mane. He was laughing with friends and his voice boomed through the room, but his bearded face exuded such joy that Hongjoong wasn't bothered. Their eyes met briefly, and the man nodded comradely. Hongjoong shyly smiled back.

He was used to the cold anonymity of the city. It was easier to blend in there than here, where every odd person stood out. But they were warmer out in the countryside. Less concerned and less uptight. Two vampires were right among them, but they made no trouble and were received like any person.

Could there be happiness for one like Hongjoong after all? Somewhere out here?

He realised Wooyoung was watching him when the waitress brought their drinks and some food. When he caught the vampire's gaze on him, Hongjoong smiled, embarrassed to be caught spacing out since they barely knew each other.

"Apologies. The people here are just so interesting to study."

"Indeed, Scotland's a beauty," Wooyoung agreed as he pushed a beer over to Hongjoong. He picked for him without asking, so Hongjoong was curious to try what he chose. After a first sip, he nodded at Wooyoung, but the taste was ashen, like anything else on his lips. He didn't taste anything, no alcohol nor the distinct taste of the beer, but he was grateful for the distraction from the sweet scent of blood on the people in the bar. 

Wooyoung toasted his cup to his. He was better at pretending he liked the drink. As he ate most of the meat platter they picked to share, he was a master at his craft. Hongjoong did his best to eat with him, gagging down every bite, but his sickly appearance might just excuse his lack of appetite.

No one bothered them as they discussed potential routes down to Oxford and during which hours to rest. Most taverns offered rooms for the night, not during the day, so they would need shelter from the sparse rays of sun. Wooyoung suggested a carriage if they could afford it. This town might even rent some out. 

After Wooyoung was done eating and leaned back like any human would to sigh with relief to have it over with, Hongjoong also emptied his beer.

"I'll get us a room," Wooyoung called as he got up to talk to the barkeep. Hongjoong sat by himself, nervous in his unfamiliar surroundings. He wasn't one to go out a lot back at home in Oxford, grew up rather sheltered. If he wasn't going to classes, he was learning to play the piano at home. 

So he startled when a person moved up to their table. Their shadow was massive, but when Hongjoong peered up, he spotted the broad man from the bar. He wore a friendly grin as he nodded down at Hongjoong. 

"Good evening. I smelled something interesting when you came in, so I wanted to greet you. No bad blood," the stranger said and Hongjoong tilted his head. He might just be overwhelmed by the scent of humans' blood in the air, but he couldn't smell himself much.

"Should there be?"

The man chuckled as he leaned down, lowering his voice so no one else would hear. 

"Can tell what you are. Are you down for a good time? Your little candy boy over there looks sweet, but he might not be able to give you what you need. I have some experience with vamplings. Always a good time."

Hongjoong reeled back. He glanced around the room, startled that everyone might be aware, but no one looked their way. Just the yellow eyes of this stranger rested heavily on him, knowingly. 

A hunter?

"I'm not. I'm no such beast," he whispered in a panic, praying Wooyoung didn't hear any of this. What did this mean? Did they have to run? How did this guy know?

But the stranger laughed a rich and booming laugh, unbothered by his haunted gaze.

"Fledgling, huh? Too bad. I can play with someone else," he said with a shrug and he marched away before Wooyoung would arrive. Terrified, Hongjoong kept glancing around, praying the stranger wouldn't tell anyone they were here because that might just mean the last night of their short journey.

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