When the hour of the party arrived, the living room was finely decorated to Mrs. Brief's taste. The furniture was moved out to accommodate room for dancing. A band was set up near the back entrance, playing upbeat, melodic classical music to create the atmosphere of a fun, grand occasion. The sconces around the room lit the living room-turned-dance hall well, but not too brightly. The murmur of pleasant conversations carried through the hall, but not enough to compete with the pleasant music. As the hosts made their way across the room to greet new arrivals showing at the door, the finely dressed crowd willingly formed a path for their hosts.
"Welcome!" Dr. Brief shouted when he and his wife reached the doorway.
"Prince Vegeta, thank you for coming." Mrs. Brief added with a polite, refined curtsy. "I'm sure Bulma will be glad to know of your arrival."
Dr. Brief raised a brow curiously at his wife's implication, as Bulma was at that very moment gliding across the dance floor in the arms of another man, the one she had been asked to accompany to the party.
"Thank you for the invitation, Doctor. Brief, Mrs. Brief." Vegeta replied with two polite nods to each of his hosts. "It was very kind of you to think of me when we've only just met."
Vegeta smiled politely at their smiling faces before turning to walk away, having other interests which had nothing to do with the hosts, which had drawn him to that party. Vegeta headed towards the bar, picking an obscure spot in the shadows to quietly observe the partygoers from afar as he pretended to sip at a filled glass of wine left amongst a collection of others for guests such as himself to imbibe.
He recognized some familiar faces, as well as noting many unfamiliar ones. Mr. King was chatting with Dr. Brief, Mrs. Brief was laughing with a group of women-most older like herself and less to Vegeta's taste, Mr. Son was on the dance floor with Miss King, and Miss Brief was dancing with a strange man.
Vegeta smiled at the sight of her. She was a beauty. As her dark-haired, muscular date twirled her around and spoke to her, her eyes shimmered excitedly, as if everything he had to say was fascinating, though Vegeta highly doubted that, by the looks of him.
Vegeta calmly placed his full glass of wine back on the bar, before approaching the dancing couple with a confident gait.
He tapped the gentleman on the shoulder as the song neared its end. "May I cut in?" His eyes drifted to meet Bulma's as a cunning smile graced his features. "Miss Brief, you look stunning this evening." Vegeta's smile widened as he looked her up and down and meaningfully added, "delectable."
"I don't mind at all." The other man said before Vegeta had the chance to hear the words from Bulma that would have accompanied the flustered reaction on her face.
"Yamcha," Bulma said with a smile, "this is Prince Vegeta. Prince Vegeta, Yamcha Puar."
"Please." Yamcha said with a wave of his hand in an inviting gesture.
Vegeta reluctantly turned to offer a polite smile to the other man. "Thank you, Sir."
With a curt bow of his head, Vegeta took Bulma's palm into his and guided her elsewhere on the dance floor. As Bulma's fingers tightened around his and her gaze traveled up and down his body, Vegeta pulled Bulma close and placed his free hand against the silky material at the small of her back.
"Now, Miss Brief," Vegeta said, "we finally have a moment alone together."
When Vegeta gripped the beautiful woman's hand tighter and twirled her around the room, he sighted Mr. Son doing the same with his fiancé. Vegeta stared at the other man intently as Goku's eyes intriguingly met his for a brief moment, before Bulma's sultry voice prompted him to smile at her.
"I was worried you didn't share that desire with me, Prince Vegeta." Bulma sighed breathily into Vegeta's ear as her fingers resting on his shoulder twitched and the fingers of her other hand interweaved with his.
Vegeta pulled back to lock his eyes on Bulma's. "I can't imagine that any man would not desire a moment alone with you, Miss Brief."
"Please," Bulma smiled as she pressed her chest against Vegeta's, "call me Bulma."
"Bulma," Vegeta smiled to himself before the song reached its end and he spied Mr. Son leaving his fiancé to abscond from the party alone, "I hope to find you again later this evening."
Bulma fluttered her lashes as Vegeta kissed the back of her hand. Without pause, Yamcha readily approached to take Bulma's recently freed hand from Vegeta's grasp. Bulma smiled at Vegeta as Yamcha pressed a hand around her delicate shoulder and pulled her into his side.
"Certainly, Prince Vegeta." Bulma answered with intentional vagueness.
Her warm smile became seductive and conspiratorial while she slightly turned her head from Yamcha's view. Vegeta smiled victoriously before bowing slightly to Yamcha's obliviously smiling visage, and then returning a seductive smile of his own to Bulma. Vegeta then fled the dance, in pursuit of Goku's trail out the double doors, which lead him through the Briefs' gardens.
After following the heavily landscaped, floral and fragrant paths, Vegeta arrived upon a clearing, where he found Goku with a wooden staff in hand, practicing some well-practiced movements.
Vegeta clung to the rough bark of a tree trunk as he stood behind it, watching, enthralled by what he saw. Goku's movements were fluid, graceful and powerful. The form was one Vegeta knew well. Vegeta narrowed his eyes keenly as he observed every sinewy movement of muscle, every lithe step of the other man through his keen eyes. When he hazarded a step forward, Goku's movements abruptly halted.
"Who's there?" Goku asked, not in alarm, but challengingly as he turned in Vegeta's direction to brandish his weapon towards his invisible intruder.
Vegeta smirked as he slowly stepped out from behind the tree to show himself in the light, raising his hands slowly in mock surrender as he lifted his gaze to meet Goku's eyes.
Goku lowered his weapon when he sighted Vegeta, frowning at the unexpected presence. "Prince Vegeta."
"Mr. Son," Vegeta said with a sly smile as he walked to meet Goku in the clearing, "aren't you dressed a little formally for this type of practice?"
Goku smirked at the remark before twirling his staff skillfully in his hands. "Perhaps. But this is my idea of dancing."
Goku planted the end of the staff harshly into the ground and assumed a tall, proud stance. Vegeta couldn't contain the smile that crossed his face. He remembered a certain person from his past who used to say that same line. He wouldn't jump to conclusions without further proof, but now he was almost certain this man was not like him...he was him.
"Please, continue, Mr. Son." Vegeta permitted with an adept wave as Goku stood politely, refraining from doing what he truly wanted.
Goku hesitated, before meeting Vegeta's insistent gaze and smiling in acquiescence. "Alright, but please," Goku nonchalantly turned his back to Vegeta and held the staff with both hands, poised to strike an invisible target, "call me Goku."
Vegeta tilted his head slowly as he observed Goku resuming his kata. He was amused by Goku's suggestion, not because he disagreed with the familiarity of the address, but because he would use a different name to address that man, one 'Goku' probably wouldn't even recognize.
As Vegeta walked into the path of Goku's strike, spinning gracefully before he grasped Goku's staff and pulled on it to throw the other man off balance, Vegeta let out a curt hum of amusement, "If this is dancing, mind if I cut in?" With a sparkle of amusement in his eyes, Vegeta tossed the staff aside as Goku blinked rapidly at him, surprised by Vegeta's aggressive self-invitation.
When Vegeta assumed a fighting stance, Goku's brow perked with intrigue. "You know the martial arts, Sir?"
"Yes," Vegeta met Goku's gaze challengingly, "I do."
Goku smiled widely in realization, flashing his teeth at Vegeta as he crouched into a fighting stance of his own. They carefully inspected one another, neither making a move as they measured their opponents. Vegeta could tell that Goku was gauging the penetrability of his stance, just as he was doing.
Finally, Vegeta decided to taunt Goku into making the first move. "Well?"
Goku narrowed his eyes with determination as he lunged at Vegeta and growled. Vegeta sidestepped the fist aimed for his chest, grabbing and locking Goku's arm as he made his way behind his opponent. Vegeta shoved against Goku, attempting to throw him, but Goku quickly anticipated the move, diving out of the way as he escaped Vegeta's arm lock at just the right moment. Vegeta's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected move, before Goku's leg came sweeping upward in what would have been a devastating kick, if Vegeta hadn't struck Goku's inner thigh harshly with his fist. As Goku yelled in pain and fell to the ground, Vegeta attempted to lunge at him to hold him down, but Goku scrambled to his feet too quickly, just avoiding the second attack.
Goku chuckled as he swept some dirt off his pants and crouched into a stance again, preparing for more. "You're pretty good."
"So are you." Vegeta replied, his eyes subtly conveying the deeper meaning he intended with that compliment.
Either Vegeta's insinuation had gone over Goku's head completely, or he dismissed it very quickly, because before Vegeta knew it, he was being attacked again. He grunted in surprise at the collision of Goku's fist against his exposed ribcage, before turning to counter the attack with another.
They carried on attacking and countering with one another for an immeasurable amount of time, until a distant voice disrupted their privacy. "Goku!" Goku stopped moving abruptly as he stood upright with his eyes widened in alarm and another call sounded for him, "Goku, are you out here?"
"Damn!" Goku hissed under his breath, before casting Vegeta a pleading look. "Prince Vegeta, do me a favor?"
Vegeta raised his brows expectantly.
"If anyone asks, I was never out here."
Vegeta chuckled deeply at the request. "Your secret's safe with me, but that dirt on your suit might say otherwise."
Vegeta smiled as he nodded towards the dark smudges on Goku's suit, which were visible even in the dim lighting of the night. Goku inspected himself with a deep frown.
"Goku!"
"Oh." Goku groaned in frustration with a fleeting glance over his shoulder towards the feminine voice calling for him. He met Vegeta's gaze with a brief smile. "Thanks, Vegeta. It was fun."
One side of Vegeta's mouth turned up in a haphazard smile, before Goku collected his staff and darted away through the cover of the garden's lush vegetation. Fun, it certainly was. But now, Vegeta had other desires to attend to.
Vegeta wove his way through the gardens to return to the party. When he reached the doors and spotted Goku meeting Miss King, who was waiting for her fiance with a sweet smile, Vegeta eyed the couple calculatedly. She would certainly not be a challenging obstacle for Vegeta, but her presence by Goku's side could complicate his plans.
"There you are!" Chi-Chi cried happily as Goku's hands fell willingly into hers.
Vegeta passed the couple without another glance, keeping his eyes set on the crowd indoors. He searched for that recognizable blue coloration of hair in the sea of perfectly coiffed hairdos, finally settling his eyes upon her towards the far corner of the room. Rather than pursuing the woman any further, Vegeta settled himself by the door, willing her to meet his gaze. A moment later, the beautiful young woman who had been chatting with other women turned a cheek to expose her dazzling smile in Vegeta's direction. When her deep irises of blue met his, Vegeta smiled inwardly. He knew the woman was enamored with him. They always were. All it took from him was a subtle nod and the return of her smile, and he knew she'd follow.
Vegeta headed back out to the gardens, seeking a place he had seen on his way back from sparring with Goku. It was well-hidden, out of the way, and scenic. It was the perfect place to feast on her blood much like he had done the previous night. Once he'd found the place, Vegeta stood, still as a statue, waiting in the shadows. The moonlight just touched the surface of every leaf, every branch, every concrete construction in the small alcove he favored. Still he waited, knowing she would be able to find him, because he willed her to.
When her lovely face appeared from behind a dense cluster of leaves near the path, Vegeta felt a slow smile ease across his face. Her beauty was exquisite. She wasn't meant for the ordinariness of humanity. He would satisfy his craving for the taste of her blood again, along with his baser desires. Those were meant for another, but seeing as he had to abstain from him for the time being, she would make a pleasing substitute. In return for the gift of her blood and virtue, Vegeta would alter her life force, freeing her from the shackles of her mortality.
"Bulma." Vegeta said.
His soft call elicited a startled gasp from the blue-haired woman as her delicate hand rose to touch her supple lips. "Vegeta, is that you?"
Bulma tiptoed closer with the wary whisper, willingly proceeding towards the vampire. Vegeta smiled to himself in amusement of how willing she was to put herself in possible danger to see him. She had no idea just how truly dangerous he was. Vegeta stepped forward, showing himself by stepping into the open and lifting his face towards the moonlight siphoned from the tree branches above.
When she recognized him, Bulma smiled and came closer. Vegeta didn't waste another breath to convince her of anything, because he knew he wouldn't need to. He wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her to his chest and hesitated there with only an inch of space between their lips, just short of kissing her.
Bulma's heart pounded rapidly in her chest. Vegeta could hear it; he could feel it pounding against his. Her eyes darted around nervously as her pupils dilated and her breathing staggered-every involuntary part of her body indicating her realization of danger, while the parts she could will over kept her there with him, cradled into Vegeta's deadly embrace.
Vegeta pressed a soft, stray lock of blue from Bulma's eyes, taking his time to absorb the moment. This was his favorite part of the seduction. The moment when they could run, when they realized they should, but they chose to stay. It was more satisfying than the devouring of the blood, the taking of the body, or the destruction of the soul. But he wanted all of it.
As Bulma's eyes searched his, looking so scared but so full of fire, Vegeta looked into hers, revealing his hunger, his true nature. She only flinched for a moment before he pressed his lips hungrily against hers, sucking her bottom lip and lightly running his teeth over that tender, swollen flesh, before he pulled away to glide his lips over her jawline, following the path to the marks he had left on her neck the previous night.
He lightly kissed her bite wound, then licked it as his fingers worked the buttons at her collar, trailing down the front of her dress to undo each and every one of them with practiced precision. When the top of her gown fell open to expose the creamy, soft skin of her bare chest, Vegeta curled his fingers around the delicate dress fabric, easing it off her shoulder. Bulma sighed heavily and stretched her neck with her chest opened, exposing herself towards the night sky.
Vegeta breathed in deeply at the sight of her, his open mouth widening as he leaned forward. Then, with a sudden, bestial growl, he moved hastily, planting his fangs into her neck. Bulma gasped loudly in alarm. But the shock quickly transformed into something else. As Vegeta drank of her blood, Bulma reached a hand to run it through his hair, pressing him against her as if she feared a possible separation. Vegeta kneaded one of her soft, exposed breasts beneath his palm as Bulma's trembling fingers worked the buttons at his pants, freeing him of his attire as well.
Vegeta released his blood-soaked lips from Bulma's neck to smile wickedly at her lust-filled gaze. Staring up at the moon, Bulma descended back onto the wooden bench beneath Vegeta, pulling her skirts up over her bare hips as she gracefully fell.
As he finally sheathed himself inside her, Vegeta bit Bulma's neck again, preparing to seal her fate that night with a coordinated effort of seduction and destruction. As bad as her condition would be in the morning, she would still love him for it. They always did.