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Ari patrols most nights. He frequently whistles as he does so. He's on friendly terms with many of the people of the town, though some of them think he's a dangerous weirdo. (They're not wrong, but it's not very polite to say it outright like that.)
Vampires still come to Sunnydale. Because it's Sunnydale, and because vampires are idiots. The ones who live here already, though, have picked up a habit of either visiting the kosher butcher's or the bite shop, or moving to LA. Or having their heads ripped off by an excessively cheerful blonde half-Kal'shekk witch.
Speaking of the kosher butcher's, he pops his head into that alleyway. Maybe he'll see Mr. Ray, that nice vampire chap who comes by for some fresh cow's blood every Thursday. (Ari acts cheerfully oblivious to the fact that every vampire he knows is blind terrified of him. Some of them are alright when he keeps them from eating people; being unrepentantly amoral doesn't have to mean you're not a nice person.)
Mark has no objections. He is downright enthusiastic, in fact. Positive feedback will definitely ensue.
"You are an absolute delight," says Mark, hugging him. "A complete fucking treasure. I adore you. And I'm not even crying about it this time, look."
Mark gives up on words and instead moves straight to weepy clinging. He's been pretty good so far about toning down the vampire strength to human-tolerable levels, not having gotten a clear read on Ari's durability, but he's rather beyond that kind of self-control now. A baseline human would be in serious trouble if subjected to this much hug.
Ari couldn't exactly be said to be comfortable, but fragile he is not. Terrified vampire hugs are a pressure he can bear. He pets Mark's back as soothingly as he can.
"It's good that you love me," he manages, after a minute or so, because this is important information which should be communicated as soon as possible. "It's amazing. You're amazing. I love you too."
"I'm- I'm so glad. You're incredible, I'm glad I found you so I can tell you how amazing you are. And tell you you're pretty and I love you and- everything else."
"It's just - if kissing is a bottomless pit then love is a black hole. But I don't care, I wouldn't miss it for the world."
After a while of cuddling, Ari remembers that time exists.
"Shit, I should really get back to the apartment so I can get to work on enchanting that sword thing for Rak'noth. Do you have a cell phone or something like that for communication?"
"Nah. I'll see you again, though. And you can always drop by and leave a note if I happen to be out."
Mark goes to sleep in his glorious new basement. Perhaps he should get more blankets now that he has a room worth trying to sleep comfortably in. A mattress, even. It'll be interesting trying to get it over the fence, but he's resourceful.