Leo had found himself aimless that night, quietly turning around in that shabby beige kitchen and trying to figure how to approach his new living situation, until his eye spotted yesterday’s pack of smokes that promisingly rattled in his hand with a few, as of yet unsmoked cigarettes. He’d gone outside, sought refuge underneath what barely passed for a porch - a wooden, weather-beaten structure that stuck out like a sore thumb in this particular neighborhood, and flicked his flimsy dime-store lighter, briefly illuminating tonight’s chosen outfit; a black t-shirt, tight jeans, and sturdy leather boots - ideal for an aimless night in, although his plans could still change.
He contentedly inhaled, then exhaled as he lazily looked out ahead at the traffic bustling past his haven, blissfully none the wiser that this was now home to two Kindred. For a brief few seconds, all was well within his little world. Until things weren’t.
It was like a spiderweb, suddenly disturbed - something was wrong, and Leo was already looking back at the house, brows knitted with vague concern. After centuries of living with another Malkavian, that much had just become ingrained.
“Julian?” His voice was soft, almost kind. When his call went unanswered, the creaky floorboards betrayed Leo’s determined path towards the back door - the cigarette was discarded in the dented, paint-stained metal kitchen sink without much care - metal didn’t burn - but he was already headed towards the living room. “Julian.” There was undeniable kindness in his voice now, muddled with a hint of concern that Leo shouldn’t have had, not for a stranger this new in his immediate stratosphere.
“Hey-” Another false start as he tried to shake what familiarity would have done to his Malkavian, and he hurriedly licked his lips as he kneeled down in front of him. “Julian. Tell me what you need.”