Asael was no hero, but the Vampire was so terrible at protecting and defending himself, that he found himself acting out of character. He gathered up the candy that had gotten on him, as well as the ones on the padded seat, and offered it to the thankful Vampire who looked up at him with stars in his eyes.
Kath'tan, on the other hand, had been waiting for the Vampire to retrieve the candy that he had spilled on him until he caught sight of the Shadow Demon doing charity. He scoffed silently, how chivalrous for a disloyal murderer.
"Pardon my forwardness," The Vampire's quiet voice caught his attention. He was still on his knees on the wooden floor, silver blue eyes fixed on the wax paper-wrapped candy on his leg.
Before he could reach for it, Kath'tan reached out to take it, as well as the other three and the one that slipped into the leather belt around his waist.
"Thank you," Dulce appreciated, settling back into his seat while clutching his book and box. He caught his breath for a moment, deciding not to stand up again for whatever reason.
That had fortunately been resolved peacefully, but the next situation wasn't guaranteed. He took out a piece of hard candy and unwrapped it, placing it in his mouth. Caramel and spun sugar melted in his mouth, it brought a tear to his eyes. It had been too long since he had been able to indulge - being saddled with so much trouble was almost worth it.
"Would you like some candy?" He offered the box to Asael first.
Before the Shadow Demon could respond, Kath'tan reached over to take a handful of the candy, his large clawed hand barely fitting in the wooden box.
Asael watched the Fiend scatter wrapped sweets on him, gray eyes placid.
"My apologies," Dulce spoke up hastily, reaching out to pick the candy off him.
If the Fiend was trying to get under his skin, Asael would simply ignore him, and when the time came, he would relish in completing his mission. "I don't care for sweets. You can have the rest." He said calmly, with intentions of going back to window-watching.
Truly, most of the candy in the box had been taken, but Dulce felt bad, so he took one out and held it up to the Shadow Demon. "Do try one, it is very nice." He urged.
After their first encounter, Asael hadn't mortally wounded him again, so it was bounds and leaps easier to converse with the Demon.
Asael looked down at the wax-wrapped candy sitting in the Vampire's small palm, glancing at the Fiend to find his burning purple eyes glaring in their direction. "Unwrap it for me," He requested.
"Of course," Dulce beamed, happy to be asked. He left the candy in the open wrapper and gave it to the Demon, about to sit back and enjoy his book and sweets, when a red, clawed hand appeared in his vision.
"Unwrap them." Kath'tan demanded.
Asael ground down on the candy in his mouth, he had made the request because he didn't know his way around sweets, but the Fiend was no doubt doing it out of spite.
The next several minutes were filled with the quiet rustling of wax paper, the Vampire meticulously unwrapping each one without so much as a hint of protest. The candy had left an acrid aftertaste on his tongue, and it was getting harder and harder to keep looking out the window.
Kath'tan watched the Vampire's bent head, his docility caused a myriad of emotions. Disgust, disapproval, and the barest hint of concern. The Vampire didn't have to do this, and even if he wouldn't defend himself, he could clearly have the Shadow Demon do it.
But underneath all that, it wasn't all bad to have someone pay attention to him, it was a little nice even.
Dulce rubbed his neck absently when he was done unwrapping the candy, picking up his book to get some reading in. The sun was starting to set, and they were already approaching the next town.
He tried not to think about what would happen when they reached their destination. Asael and Kath'tan's meeting was inevitable, and neither would appreciate his interference. He rubbed a hand over his chest - knowing that he wouldn't die was reassuring, but he really disliked pain and would prefer to avoid more of it where he could.
The carriage rode on through the night, riding through the next town. Well into the town, it slowed to a stop in front of an inn, the coachman coming around to speak with them.
"Sirs, I have arranged rooms for the night. The horses must needs rest, and we shall resume our journey first thing in the morning."
Kath'tan was the first out of the carriage, he hadn't eaten any of the hard candy, and instead, they were in a leather pouch hanging from his waist.
Dulce made his way to the coachman to make inquiries about the payment of the inn rooms, only to be reassured that their initial payment already covered the costs. With a sigh, he made his way to the inn, both Demons had already gone in through the double doors.
Despite how late it was, the ground floor of the inn was lively, music playing, people drinking and cheering from the tables.
A barmaid approached him as soon as he stepped in, napkins tucked in her apron. "'You're the third gentleman for our upper-class rooms, yes?"
"Yes. You have seen my other two acquaintances?" He asked politely.
The barmaid paused and then gave him a smile, "They have already been lodged in their rooms. I could take you to them if you like, sir." She offered generously.
"No, no, there's no need. Thank you." Dulce hastily turned down the offer, he should perhaps check in on them to make sure they weren't at each other's throats, but he was running out of decent clothes, so he thought the better of it.
"May I take your bag, sir?" The barmaid offered, although she didn't have to.
Dulce didn't think much of it, he had spent the better part of his life being attended to, so it didn't seem out of the ordinary to him.