Rill

“My dear, you’ve barely touched your Sea Hearts. Is there something wrong? Are they not to your taste?”

The Veilspun seated at the end of the long, opulent dining table shrank down further into her seat, staring nervously down at her plate. “Um. No? No, everything is fine.” She reached out and took a tiny bite of her urchin, swallowing thickly. “It’s delicious.”

At the other end of the table, Rill sat back in his chair and gave her a charming smile. “There, I’m glad to hear it. I had it prepared just for you, as a little treat. Only the best for my special guest.” He held up a crystalline goblet in toast, the ruby red liquid inside sloshing against the sides. The other Veilspun watched the drink with wary eyes.

“I was so delighted to run into you, you know,” Rill continued, ignoring his own plate of food completely. He took a delicate sip from his goblet. “I’ve been so lonely recently, and I had just decided I was well overdue to have someone over for a…bite.”

The Veilspun went a bit pale.

Rill stared at her over the rim of his goblet, taking another delicate sip, and then smirked. A tiny flash of pointed teeth poked out from his lips, catching the light.

Immediately the Veilspun shoved her chair backward, creating a loud screech as the chair legs scraped against the floor. “You know what, on second thought, I’m not that hungry. Maybe I should just go.”

“Ah, but I’m absolutely starving,” Rill chuckled, standing up as well.

The Veilspun let out a little whine, and tried to back away, her tail curled around her stomach defensively. “Please don’t eat me!” she squeaked out.

Rill instantly drew up short, his smirk replaced with a look of bafflement. “Eat you?” he repeated. “Where in Sornieth did you get that idea?”

Equally caught off guard, the Veilspun just stared at him. “Aren’t you a vampire?”

“Well, yes. But I don’t eat people!”

“You’re going to try to drink my blood, same difference!”

“What? No! I mean, yes, I drink blood, but I’ve got a hook up with a donation center. I’m not going to drink your blood, I’ve got plenty right here!” He held up his goblet for display, gesturing to the contents.

“...so,” the Veilspun stuttered out. “So you were actually inviting me over for a meal?”

Rill nodded, trying (and failing) to hide his pouting. “I got a really good deal on those Sea Hearts, but it was a bulk package and I couldn’t eat it all myself, so I thought I’d have someone over so they didn’t go to waste.”

“Oh wow,” the Veilspun. “But then why did you keep making all those vampire puns? Like, the biting and stuff.”

“...the aesthetic.”

She paused to consider this, and then nodded her head. “Fair.”

“Can we please finish our dinner?” Rill finally sighed. “The mood is pretty much ruined, but I don’t want the food to go to waste.”

“Yeah, alright,” the Veilspun agreed, heading back to her chair. “Uh. Sorry about messing with your atmosphere?”

“It’s fine. I’ll get some more black candelabras and red lace in here and we’ll have it back in no time.”