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One of the first actions Slayer had taken once Faust had started staying the night was to order specially-sized blankets. He had plenty of normal ones, of course, and if needed, they could be used many at a time to do a patchwork job. But why would that be needed? That was just silly. There was plenty of money to spare, blankets were hardly a blip compared to some of the other amenities he’d outfitted his villa with.
It wasn’t quite a surprise, but he didn’t bring it up to Faust until after the order had been put in. The topic ended up dropping into the conversation on a whim.
“I’ve always wondered why open-air rooms can feel a touch brisk. But I suppose it doesn’t bother you, does it?”
Slayer immediately reached for the nearest blanket, hanging off the arm of a nearby chair. “Here, no need to stay chilly, take a quilt or two. I’m sorry that you have to use so many, but the new ones should arrive soon.”
“...New ones?”
“Oh, yes. Should only be a week or two. I’m having them made custom, so they’re large enough to cover you properly.”
Of course, he had the bag to hide his face, but Slayer could tell when Faust grew flustered. There was a hint of pink on his neck, and his hands crooked around one another in a particular way.
“Ah, I can assure you that- that wasn’t necessary.”
“Fall is coming soon, it would be good to have a nice blanket around, wouldn’t it?” Slayer replied, nonchalant.
Faust half-muffled a noise of frustration. “I don’t like to waste your money.”
“It’s not a matter of money,” he said, “I simply want you to be comfortable here. What sort of host would I be if I forced you to be uncomfortable?”
There wasn’t exactly an agreement, but the doctor could not come up with a refutation, and the conversation passed quickly after. Slayer hoped he would come around. He genuinely meant it, it felt cruel to have him struggle in the cold with tools not made for him. Potemkin must have had similar issues, Gabriel had mentioned it every so often in the letters they sent one another. The president had actually been the one to help him in this instance, Faust’s blankets were being ordered from the same specialty company in Zepp that manufactured most of Potemkin’s clothes and bedding.
Of course, most of the time, Faust had a far easier time with his things. He didn’t have the same overwhelming strength that could easily break things without massive amounts of caution. Faust tended to travel light, but over time, and with a bit of prodding, Slayer had noticed him with something new. He was fond of the smattering of Faust’s possessions that had found their way into his house. Each was kept dusted and ready to be used if the man needed, but it was undeniable that they clashed with the rest of the castle’s decor. An extra few bag hats, tucked next to obscenely expensive suits. A cluster of fake flowers kept in an antique crystal vase over the fire. A plastic novelty soap dispenser shaped like a bird, perched on the rim of the master bathroom’s black marble sink. Odd as it was, Slayer enjoyed the schism. Faust had such charming tastes.
The order arrived in a large box, carried by a postman in uniform. He was unable, or unwilling, to haul it up the path to the villa, so Slayer came down in person to accept it.
“Aha, so you’ve arrived! Quite wonderful, yes.” He took their clipboard to sign the delivery off, pointedly ignoring the person’s sudden unease at his appearance. “It’s a gift for someone close, you see, so I’ve been eager for your delivery.”
“W-well, I hope it’s- t-that you like it.” The man replied in a rickety little voice. “Goodbye.”
Slayer hauled the box over his shoulder and merrily made his way back up the hill as the deliveryman tore off in the opposite direction.
“Faust!”
A new door appeared in the foyer wall, and from it appeared a bagged head. “Yes?” As soon as he noticed the package in the other man’s arms, he visibly drooped. “Don’t tell me…”
“Your blankets are here!” For emphasis, Slayer dropped the box with a loud thump and tore away the top flaps. Fabric puffed up over the new, ragged edges. “Aha, and with the exact sort of quality I expect from Zepp! Come, come, give them a try!”
Reluctantly, Faust meandered over and bent down to get a better look. “Goodness, this looks as fancy as I had expected.”
“And yet, you don’t look especially happy?”
“I already said, I don’t want you spending such extravagant amounts on me, it’s a waste.” The doctor shook his head. “Why aren’t you more concerned about yourself, shouldn’t you worry about staying warm, as well?”
“Vampires have fewer concerns when it comes to staying warm. But, I suppose, if it would satisfy you…”
Slayer moved to grab a blanket. It came out easily, but with a second tug came more, a third even more, with fold after fold of fabric appearing like a clown’s handkerchief trail. It pooled at Slayer’s feet and still kept coming, and by the end, there was little more than a stubby crest of dark hair poking out of a giant pale cloud.
Seeing someone, especially a man known for his elegance, in a state like this, Faust put a hand to his mouth and tried not to chuckle. “Are you alright in there?”
“Quite- quite excellent, not to worry.” The cloudlike mass rippled with motion. Slayer’s face eventually poked out from the tangle, and Faust had to bite his lip to keep his laughter inside. “Perhaps…I may have underestimated just how large this would be. What sort of tools did they have to keep this restrained while they worked on it, I wonder.”
“Frankly, I’m amazed it even fit in that box.” The doctor looked inside. “And I think there’s still more. It looks perfectly warm, at least. Use it for your own bed, I’m sure you and Sharon could use it more than I could.”
“I bought a set of three, that seemed enough for a single order. Goodness, it may even be too large for my own bed. But please, wouldn’t you at least consider? I only worry for your health…”
“Nobody needs to worry about me, I will be fine. Your concern is appreciated, but everything is fine.”
From the blanket came a defeated sigh. “Alright, alright, if you’re so insistent. Just let me free myself, and I’ll…er…”
Faust cocked his head. “Something wrong?”
“Not wrong, per say, ah…” He fumbled about in the fluff. “Dear, do you think you would be willing to assist me? I believe the pin of my tie has gotten lost somewhere in the fold.”
“Did it snag on a loose stitch somewhere? Let me take a look.” One long arm pulled back a chunk of blanket, but there was far more underneath.
Slayer lifted up another section, tossing it up to move it out of the way. “Try somewhere over here, maybe closer to the ground?”
“Mmm, yes, that’s a good point, I can’t imagine it’s gotten too far.” He knelt down and felt over the lumps piled on the floor. All of them squished under his grip, without anything solid poking through. “It doesn’t seem to be here, maybe it would be easier to lay it flat-”
Before he could try to pull back out, Fault was suddenly struck by a heap of fluffy batting. It wasn’t too heavy, but it was unexpected enough to catch him off-guard and end with him tangled in the entire mess. For what it was worth, it was large enough a blanket to cover him and then some, but that meant he could now not find a way to get back out.
“I’m very sorry, I’ve made some sort of clumsy mistake-” When he looked back up, Slayer was grinning at him. “Ah. I knew you would try something like this.”
“And still you humored me? How touching.” The vampire happily sank into the cozy prison that they now shared, nuzzling up to the other man’s side. “For all your harrumphing, one could almost get the impression that you aren’t as bothered by my antics after all. If you were, I would have assumed you would have stopped coming around ages ago."
Despite his scowl, Faust couldn’t fully muffle another little laugh. “I suppose you have a point.”