Tam was unresisting as Robert tugged at their hand, leading them into the cool night air, content to be fed on and follow the vampire's lead. It wasn't like they had anything better to do, and they were curious why Robert wanted to find a swingset, something the demon was only vaguely familiar with and had never been on.
As things went, having their emotions eaten, and so gently, was more pleasant than most things that could be done to them, and Tam was as happy as they were capable of being. This was rapidly becoming another addiction for them. A fact Tam wasn't quite sure the man was aware of, seeing as he still insisted on asking for permission, as if the demon would resist even if they could. They weren't content, still a void of emptiness and a creature of desire, but this took the edge off at least.
Of course they wanted more, always craving, but they took what affection they could get. It was a rare thing. They were so used to being used, trading themselves for anything. Not for the first time they wondered why Robert was different.
And that was the problem they were having. Things were fine, things were just what they were used to. But in spite of the entertainment they'd gotten from the VR, the alternate universe hadn't been much of a change. They'd never had words for what troubled them - the emptiness they tried to fill. They wanted everything, so what difference did addiction make? And even a game kept them that way, though as Tweak it had been a physical pain the drugs kept away. People had looked down on that, and Tam still wasn't sure why. But mostly they were disappointed.
They turned to look at Robert when he spoke, clinging to his hand like a life line, their voice in response somewhat hesitant as they considered their words. For some reason they really wanted to be understood. "I... yes ... a lot of things happened in the VR. But they are not so important. I had fun there..." They trailed off for a moment, their mind trying to order their own disorganized thoughts. "There I wanted to be heard, but no one listened to the rat. I was just... pretty until the end. Here... I am still what people want and it doesn't..." Again they paused. Conversation was so new, they were much more used to just acting. "What I wanted never really mattered before, except how much I would trade to acquire it." They were frowning slightly now - this was a fact that had never much bothered them - why not be used if it felt good? But this time on Earth was different than it had been - they weren't distracted enough and kept having the opportunity to think about things.
