Blood & Ink

[Psyche]

Stepping down the stairs, he watched the lights lightly flicker faintly around the edge of the door below. Ever so slightly, they would fade and return with the movement of the many individuals behind the door that frequented the club. He'd been entertaining himself lately; milling about and meandering the grounds of the work establishment that ultimately had led him to this lifestyle.

Opening the door to the primary floor of the club, he gazed out to the various bar counters, gambling devices and the variety of patrons that sought out the pleasures of the establishment. Cards. One could find some entertainment in that for sure. He had already fixed the glitchy slot machines that'd been costing them over the planned alotted expense for gambling. Those machines surely weren't meant to cost them more than they brought in. That's just bad business.

Approaching a table nearest one of the bar counters, he looked over to Missy and gave a nod and pointed to the table. His voiced popped into her head, ""A Wild West Whiskey for each of these meatbags will you, please? And one for yourself, doll."" Giving a wink, he sat down in an empty seat and slapped down a silver money clip in front of him.

"What are we playing, ladies and gents?"

The seemingly half-inebriated, half-wary crowd stared at him. Even the dealer had paused mid deal and looked him over.

"You think this is Circus Circus or something? Good god, man, you look like a poster-child for over-indulgence."

He gave a wide grin and folded his hands over his money, looking at the man who stared on with shock and awe. He picked up on the excessive gape in the man's jawline as he spoke, clearly a signal the man spoke with a low tone as he read over the man's words. He imagined the man sounding perhaps like some Keanu Reeves wanna-be. His thoughts surely gave more clarification that he wasn't off the mark.

"Awww come on. You could've atleast gave me Cirque De Solei, or something of the sort. And don't hate on the ink, man. If you want some body art, just let me know and we can dispense of the hostility."

Looking at the three cards dealt to the patrons and of course, perhaps, peeking into the dealer's head he laughed to himself tapped the table space in front of him, signaling the dealer to include him.

"So. Callabra it is."

[Missy Donivan (DELETED 2192)]

Missy had just handed a young woman two beers when her eyes landed on Scorpia’s childe. She smiled brightly at him. She did so like how colorful he was. She remembered how her foster parents had told her the people who had gotten tattoos were agents of the devil. That had been only a couple weeks before the tried to drive the demons out of her. How would they react seeing this one. The thought made her smile even more.

His voice touched her thoughts and she closed her eyes. When one of her kind spoke to her that way, it drowned out all the voices she would hear normally. Opening them back up she gave him a nod, turned and prepared the requested drinks, skipping over her own. Her brow creased as she walked the drinks over the table. Psyche was clearly a telepath, how was he going to drink his drink? Maybe he didn’t know he couldn’t drink. It would be bad if he didn’t and covered the table and the cards with his insides. No that would not be good at all.

Placing the drinks in front of everyone. She smiled at the table. “He got this round for everybody.” Nodding her head to the Psyche. Walking around the table she placed his drink in front of him. Letting her thoughts seep into his. “Oh.. you gotta be careful with this. I don’t want your insides coming out.” A look of concern narrowing her brow. Scorpia would not like it if that happened. Plus she remembered all too well how unpleasant the feeling was.

Speaking aloud she whispered. “Thank you for the offer, but I am working and wouldn’t want to upset the pretty arachnid.” She glanced at the bar and seeing no one there, turned her attention to the game. Since being here she was intrigued with all the games people played. Going as far as having a couple teach her how to play pool.

[Scorpia]

Another night another dollar, Scorpia spoke to her wraith. As always Evil had been by her side as she looked at the cameras and then finished up some work on the computer. All in all the club was doing well, the vampires she staffed were her Sangue so she knew she could trust them and the place would run itself. But she enjoyed being there and having her misfits near her.

A knocked was heard on her office door and a human walked in. She couldn’t recall their name but that really didn’t matter. Her human employees knew not to bother her unless it was important. Turns out the young human was a bus boy and was sent to give her a message. Boss the bartender told me to deliver a message to you. He said that one of your Sangue….umm Psyche has bought a round for the bar. When the boy finished the message he looked down at his shoes. Scorpia looked young but they all knew the boss was not one to piss off. Stories of her temper were whispered in the employee break room.

I will be down in a minute to take care of it. Thank you for the message. That said the boy knew he was dismissed and left the office. Oh Psyche, her tattooed menace. He was going to be a handful. This was one of the reasons he liked him. He had a **** you attitude like she has. The two were becoming close friends. She was glad she sired him and was happy to see he was fitting in with the other misfits. Getting up from her desk she looked down at her clothes. A black lace corset that showed off her figured matched her black satin pants and her black thigh high boots. She hated dressing like this but the club had to maintain a certain image. Logging off the computer she left her office with Evil close behind.

It wasn’t hard to find him. Psyche stood out in a crowd. This actually made her laugh. On her way to speak to her misfit one of her other misfits caught her eye. Her shy Missy, giving her smile and a thumbs up to let her know she was doing a great job, Scorpia continued to move to Psyche. As she moved closer she heard whispers about him. The females didn’t know how to take him. Some were drawn to him while others were a bit repulsed. The males were envious of him and yet still some felt that the man was cool as hell.

Finally she made it to him; his back was turned to her so she gently placed her hand on his shoulder and moved in front of him. She spoke carefully so he could read her lips. I hope you plan to pay for those drinks you bought. Otherwise your tattooed *** is going to be in the back doing dishes. She winked at him playfully. By the way Tattoo Menace try not to start too much trouble. The humans in here aren’t as strong as you are. And don’t do any mind fucks to them either.

[Psyche]

As the dealer slipped the hand of cards to him, one by one, he watched as one of the brood, Missy, came along with the tray of drinks. He'd secretly been needing this for a time now. God, how he loved a stiff drink and a glass of whiskey would do him well right about now. He gave a smile to her as she set them down and hoped she wasn't about to rain on his parade with some remarks about getting back to work. He'd already fixed some of the auto-sensors in the toilet stalls earlier and could really just use a little bit of fun.

"Thank you, doll.", he said to her as she laid the drink down in front of him. As he stared into the amber liquid of the clear glass, he hoped he wasn't drooling on himself just a little bit. But then the strangest thing followed, which distracted him from the drink for a moment. A thought allowed itself to creep into his head and Missy's words of warning seeped into his consciousness. Of course the comment on insides coming out perhaps reeled in his attention more than anything. What the hell did that even mean!?

"What do you mean... insides coming out?" he thought back to her, all the while keeping his eyes on the cards and trying not to go and gather any attention to his mental conversation with the other misfit.

He'd watched as she'd allowed herself to sit down and shortly after, he'd felt the small familiar hands of his maker on his shoulders. A gathering! This night may be eventful after all.

He offered a smirk as she encroached his space before him and allowed him to watch her lips. While it wasn't particularly necessary, it was more personal and the thought was appreciated. Her warnings to him were of course humorous, as he wasn't down here looking for any fights. Hell, he'd never been much of a fist-a-cuffs type individual, he preferred the prank or out-witting others, particularly. But the need-to-know was indeed present and quite true of a factor. He was indeed stronger and there was no telling what sort of new characteristics may lie dormant in him now with this new blood. Last thing he needed was to go and rip someone's head off over a game of cards and have swarms of police all over the establishment.

He returned a quiet response to Scorpia, "Of course not. I'm just enjoying some cards and drinks, Boss Lady."

[Missy Donivan (DELETED 2192)]

Missy bit her bottom lip and became increasingly more concerned for the man with the colorful skin. Before she could comment her eyes were drawn to Scorpia. A large smile taking over her lips. This woman had accepted her, never called her names and took care of her when Gem disappeared. Even trusted her to work here.

She watched as the two spoke to each other then moved to Scorpia’s side, whispering so low she knew only Scorpia would hear. “Oh my… Psyche doesn't know he can’t drink the drink. That when he tries he is gonna get sick and color the table with his insides.”

Her eyes moving back and forth between Scorpia and Psyche.Would she get mad at her for giving him the drink? She didn't think so, she never got mad at her. Bouncing lightly on her toes, she began to chew on her nails. Hoping she didn't do anything wrong. Answering Psyche with her mind. “We get so horribly sick when we eat or drink… well not if you are an allurist. I have seen them drinking here.”

Taking another glance back at the bar to see no one waiting, she let her attention fall back to her fellow Sangue. She really did not want him to have that experience. The burn or the terrible headache that she got when she tried to eat a piece of chocolate. It was the one thing about this new life that made her sad. She really liked chocolate.

[Psyche]

He watched their lips as his sire and Missy spoke, but his attention was pulled away at the unfolding of a hand at the table. One by one the five cards at the center of the table were being picked up. The son of a ***** was going to sweep the floor! He watched as the other players began to get edgy as they often did when spending too long of a time around him. The frequent spiteful glare was thrown across the table from one to another. The sly snide remark was exchanged. He, of course, loved it. Finally, the player tossed down two cards, a 5 and a 6 and picked up the last remaining Queen at the center of the table. The ******** had just won the game! His partner next to him slammed down his cards on the table.

"You snake son-of-a-*****!" he hissed, before throwing a right cross to the winner's jaw.

Ah the fun begins. Psyche laughed and leaned back as the rumble began to unfold, grabbing his whiskey glass and tossing the warm liquid down his throat in a fit of laughter at the humor of this mess. While the fists flew one man was tossed onto the table in front of them, breaking the table top in half as he traveled through it to the floor. Psyche looked to Scorpia, giving a shrug and continued laughter as he suddenly felt a pang in his stomach. It began lurching and twisting his stomach into knots with unbearable pain. The hostile patrons didn't seem to pay any attention to him as he hunched forward and fell out of his seat onto his knees.

It didn't take long before he felt the geyser-like rush of an earlier meal crawl up his throat and a torrent of blood painted the fighting mass like a bucket of paint on a canvas. The feel of daggers repeatedly piercing his insides attacked him as another spray came forth and finally sent the brawlers running away from the game tables and out the doors of the club. Hunching over, he laid his head on the floor as he held his stomach with his forearms.

"Ugggghhhhh, what the **** is that?"

Twisting his head in the blood pool of vomit he'd just left on the table and floor, he looked up to Missy.

"Is the Wild West Whiskey always this kick ***? Or did I get lucky with a bad batch?"

He laughed a bit, but was cut short by another pang that sent him falling over onto his side.

"Ughhh, this sucks...."

[Scorpia]

The fight broke out and Scorp moved quickly to the right to avoid getting hit with a glass. She didn't like fights in her club. Too messy and caused too much attention. The anger started to boil inside the small vampire. Her hands clinched into fists as she felt a pounding in her ears. The room started to shake and pulse by some invisble force. Glasses rattled on the shelves. People started to scream and run for the door tripping over each other as if there was an earthquake. Scorpia lifted her hand to release the shadows to attack the idoits fighting when something caught her attention. Psyche was getting sick.

Everything stopped. The room was silent except for the sound of her misfit getting sick. The humans that were fighting left and Scorpia looked around quickly to see who was left in the club. Spying Missy she spoke quickly. Do what you can to clean up the place. I need to get this fool out of here. Next time maybe he will listen. But since he is Sangue thats doubtful. Winking at Missy she gave her a smile to let her know it will be ok. She didn't need Missy getting upset. She has made great moves to break out of her shell, for her to fall back into it would break Scorpia's heart.

She places an arm around Psyche and pulled him close to her. You throw up on my boots and I am going to stab the hell out of you. Pulling him close to her she whispered in his ear. Lets go to my office. I need to get you out of here.

[Missy Donivan (DELETED 2192)]

Missy watched in near horror as Psyche began groan and twist, the beginning of his body purging the foreign substance. “Oh no.. oh no. I shouldn’t of brought you that drink.” She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Even with the fighting going on around her, her focus was to the family member who was in pain. Part of her wished she didn’t bring it. She reached out a hand, not sure how to comfort him. Before she could touch his shoulder, she felt the change in the air. Could smell that ozone smell just before lightning struck. It making her back go stiff. Her mind raced wondering if she would get yelled at for this. It was her fault, she shouldn’t of given him anything. Would she lose the only job someone trusted her doing. Scorpia’s voice broke her out of her thoughts.

Looking up into the woman’s eyes as she told Missy to try to clean the mess. Missy nodded her head quickly. Her voice soft “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Seeing Scorpia wink at her, Missy let her shoulders relax some. Turning to get rags and the mop and bucket. She wasn’t in trouble, but she still mentally kicked herself in the backside.