I like Food! I like to Eat ((Skylar))

[CharlotteC]

A small smirk came to her face at Sky's question about what she did for Lex. What she had done for Lex, was pretty much what she was doing now for Elliot. "Well, the legal job description is a Clerical position..." She said in a quiet tone, though she had a feeling that Sky would notice the fact that she had said 'legal' meaning there was more to the position than she would normally let onto. With Sky she knew that she could pretty much trust the girl. Or at least, that was her first feeling when she had started to talk to her. Plus there was the fact that Elliot had sired her, that right there pretty much had her thinking that she would be safe telling the truth around the girl - though it wasn't like she had another option.

When the waitress brought over the drinks, Charlie took a quick sip of the beer. It was exactly how she remembered it, how it reminded her of home. She could taste that fruity current hidden in the hops and barley. Then she smirked at Sky when she ordered a pizza. Pizza sounded good, but she was really in the mood for something a little closer to home. So when it was her turn, she looked at the woman and held out the menu to her, "I'll take a Shrimp Alfredo. Though I might want some of what she has after." She added that last part with a smirk in Sky's direction. It wasn't that she wasn't sure that she wouldn't still be hungry - she could eat like a horse - but she wanted to see what kind of Pizza the girl got first.

Once the waitress nodded, taking their menus and orders towards the kitchen, Charlie went on with what she was going to finish saying. "In truth, what I really do is use my rather fine hacking skills to make sure no one else hacks them. I make sure they're security is tight." She said softly and then took another drink of her beer. With her eyes closed, she took a deep - though unneeded - breath before she went on "The bar code is something I got when my Ex asked my father for his permission to marry me. They were talking about things and I made a offhand comment about how it sounded like they were trying to buy and sell me." Again she took a sip of her beer before she added on "So the next day, I decided to actually give them a way to do such a thing. My ex thought it was a hoot, my father not so much." She said with a wry smile as she remembered her father having a cow when he saw the tattoo. Of course, he wasn't fond of her first tattoo either, but this one just really ticked him off - so of course, that made her like it all the more. She loved to get under her father's skin.

Almost as much as she loved him and her mother.

[Skylar]

Charlie orders pasta. I pretty much figured as much. Though in an Italian restaurant it was probably an easy call to make. I listen to her as she describes her line of work and then to the story she was reluctant to tell earlier. I take a swig from my bottled beer and then offer the thing towards her in a toast.
"Well then here's to dysfunctional families."
I wait to see if she raises her glass for me to tap with the base of my bottle.
"Sounds like quite the statement though. The tatt. I mean I have no issue with making statements but I don't think I'd brand myself like that. Not to make a point. That takes some balls girl."
I take another swig from my bottle and set it back on the table. Once it's settled I half hold it in place while I pick at the label. Again, another of things you really shouldn't do in a fancy place but I just can't help myself. What's the fun in knowing the rules if you aren't prepared to break them?
"I did notice the word ex in that statement though. So I'm guessing you turned him down or jilted him at the altar or something. At least I hope it was your doing. I'd imagine it's easier to be the dumpee, than the dumped. Though telling a guy it ain't never gonna happen's probably kinda tough if he's a sweetie. I can't really comment from self-experience there though as all my exes are complete arseholes. I swear I don't know what it is about guys like that? They're like frickin' catnip to me I tell ya. I've got my eye on a guy at the moment actually. Another arsehole. But at least I'm predictable."
I laugh and down a few more gulps of beer before I start picking at the label again.
"That's probably another reason the wi - Elliot's missus doesn't need to fear me. From what I can tell, Ellie's a complete sweetheart. So he doesn't fit two of my major relationship requirements."
I probably shouldn't have said any of that but it's too late now. Not that I'm embarrassed by my words. It just might be a little too much honesty. Though knowing me I've already hinted at my dark side. For a good girl I do make some pretty bad decisions.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie smirked a little as she raised her own drink, returning the toast before she gave a little bit of a shrug. Taking a sip of her beer once more she relaxed into her seat a bit more, Skylar was easy to talk to, but at the same time, they weren't talking about things that usually caused drama, like that bloody Masq that they had to follow or be killed because 90% of the vampires in the city though from what she could see were only a few years old had the antique thoughts. Humans - that they once used to be - were violent and evil and would kill and experiment on vampires. However, it would be hard to do that if they bound together. Just like the civil rights movement and other movements made to give people rights that they didn't have before.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she concentrated on what it was that Sky was talking about. Her brow lifted sharply at Sky's observation. She had to wonder though if the girl was seeing her own personality instead of Charlie's when she assumed that Charlie had been the one to end things. Though, as she stopped to think about it, she may have had the final say about the relationship she had with her ex, but she knew that she wasn't the real one had ended it. Though it had been well over a year since the incident, the pain of what happened, the hurt, and the anger resonated so strongly that she had to force herself to relax or shatter the glass in her hand.

She sat it down before her and looked down for a moment as Sky continued to talk, mentioning how Elliot was a sweetheart and such. He was, but at the moment, the crush the girl seemed to have on their sire was irking her just a little bit. Taking one or two deep - though unneeded from a physical aspect - breath, she looked up at Sky, the hurt from her path still clear in her eyes as she looked into the girl's eyes. "I caught him cheating on my days before our wedding... with my best friend and maid of honor. In our bed." Her voice was quiet but for the first time in a long while, hinted at the dangerousness of what she was now. "And before I left Maine..." Charlie started but then stopped to take a long swig of the beer before her "I beat the living **** out of both of them, packed up my things and left." Her voice was quiet but the tone, was as cool as ice, steel hard, vicious.

It was at this time that the waitress came back with their meals, setting them before each girl, and inquiring if they needed anything else, looking from one girl to the other as if she had been watching a tennis match between the two of them.

[Skylar]

"Nah. I'm good thanks."
The waitress leaves and I scoop up a steaming slice of pizza into my hand. The food smelt great. Charlie's food looks good too but I'm not really thinking about that. I'm thinking about the story she just told me. The girl has spunk. It's hard to imagine her beating the crap out of anyone but then it's always the quiet ones you have to watch. Not that Charlie is particularly quiet. But she looks it. I guess people would assume the same of me, but in my case they'd be right. I mean yeah. I'll mess around with the guys but I'm really not the violent type.
"Honestly, it's hard for me to imagine you beating on someone. And this was before you became... what we are. Right? I mean wow girl. I bet they didn't see that coming."
I laugh but I'm not laughing at her. I have this imagine in my head of her attacking two very surprised, naked people and actually kicking some arse.
"Was it cathartic? Kicking arse like that? I've never caught a guy doing the dirty on me but I've suspected a few of playing the field. But then to be honest my relationships all tend to have pretty short shelf lives. I guess I'm just not the settling down kind."
I shrug. It's probably true. I've never met a guy I wanted to marry. Never met one I could see myself marrying. I've never even considered marriage as being something in my future.
As I start thinking about this kind of thing I find myself taking another bite of my pizza. It's probably a little too hot to be eating but as a vampire I seem to have a better tolerance to hot and cold.
"Mmm... This is really good. You want some?"
I push my plate towards her. She could have a slice if she wanted; it wouldn't bother me. The fact that she'd hinted to the waitress that she might be ordering what I had, kind of showed she might be interesting in trying what I ordered.
I probably should have clarified the fact that I wasn't taking a dig at her and her fighting skills but my tone was light-hearted so she really shouldn't take it badly. The conversation had kind of moved on, so going back now and apologising seemed a little odd. I mean really it was a compliment. She didn't look like the fighter type and there ain't nothing wrong with that; at least not in my books.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie couldn't help but smile as Sky said that she hadn't come off as the type to be willing to kick someones ***. In a way, she was right but in others. Charlie gave a little shrug and dug into her food as Sky continued, questioning if it was before the change, that of course made her give a slight nod of her head between bites of shrimp and fettuccine covered in the thick and milky cream sauce. Everyone had their limits, at least, that is what Charlie told herself on the days when she felt bad about what she had done. That was hers. She wasn't the type to beat people up, not most of the time. But that day... that one damn day.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and paid attention to what Sky was talking about as well as watching her enjoy the slice of pizza. The question of if it was cathartic made her laugh a little, a soft sound though was still able to draw a look or two towards them before the men turned their attention back to their companions. "Oh it definitely was, I'll say that much about it." She said between another bite, waiting until the food wasn't in her mouth before continuing. "You're right though, they didn't see it coming. Then again, I didn't either... somethings... just happen you know. Someone or something reaches its limit... it's going to snap when it does. That was mine." She said, and then fell silent for a bit.

From the little she had already gleaned from their conversation today, she could see how the girl's relationships never lasted. Not that it was a bad thing, the girl liked her freedom and Charlie couldn't blame her for wanting that, for not wanting to be tied down to anyone in that way. Everyone was allowed their differences, and differences aside as of right now, Charlie could still see her getting along with the girl in front of her. Especially when she offered her a slice of pizza.

Charlie smiled and reached for a slice, but not before she pushed her own plate a little closer to Sky "Feel free to dig into mine as well if you want to give it a shot. Their food here is really quite good. It's a shame these don't work on me though..." she said tilting her head towards her beer that sat near her right hand. She took one of the smaller slices from Sky's plate and bit into it. "Really damn good... Thanks..." she said after she swallowed the bite she had taken, lifting the slice a little to show what she was thanking her for.

"So aside from music and forging swords and men... what else are you into?" She asked, wanting to get to know the girl a bit better.

[Skylar]

I can understand reaching breaking point but not the whole kicking the **** out of someone thing. I'm the kind to throw up my hands and walk out; violence never was my thing. I get myself as far away from the situation as possible. I guess some might see that as some sort of cowardice but it’s a survival instinct; fight or flight and all that. I'm a flight person. If someone wants to beat the **** out of me, they need to catch me first. If someone wants to scream at me for whatever reason, I'll just leave. I don't put up with **** like that. Thankfully my mouth gets me out of trouble just as well as it gets me into it... most of the time.
I let the subject of her ex drop and snatch up my fork to try a bite of her pasta. It does look good and I have no issue sharing food with people. I've never been overly germ conscious. I think sharing comes more naturally with women but most of my mates are guys. Guys have different rules. I tend to only share with guys I know well or guys I don't know well that are pretty fit. The general rule of thumb - with guys - being, would I kiss them? If I would then I have no trouble sharing drinks and stuff. Of course as with everything, that's a sober rule. Once I've had a drink all bets are off. I could put it down to my standards slipping. You know. Beer goggles. But that's a load of bull. I just don't care after I've had one too many.
"So you don't get buzzed?"
I nod in the direction of her beer bottle.
"That sucks. I think if I couldn't feel the effects I'd like cry and throw and tantrum or something. I mean what's the point of drinking if you don't feel it. But you know what. One aspect of all this that I do like. I can like drink as much as I like and wake up clear headed the next day. It's amazing. My memory might still be spotty but yeah. That's pretty ******* funky if you ask me. Funky in a good way. Not a bad way. Obviously."
I realise I'm babbling and probably being a bit rude. The girl just told me she can't feel the effects and the first thing I do is bang on about the fact that I don't get hangovers anymore. I'm an idiot.
"****. Sorry. I shouldn't have said that like that. It was probably a bit insensitive of me. Sometimes. Well… most of the time... my brain kicks in about a minute after the words have left my lips."
I shrug. It's the truth. My filter doesn't always work. In fact it's pretty much consistently on the blink. The food's good though so I go quiet for a moment and work on my seriously overloaded pizza. I ******* love food. What a tragedy it would have been to have ended up on any other path but the one I was on. I'd probably hate Ellie then and think he was a wanker. It's hard to hate someone though for killing you when you're life has pretty much only improved from the moment you woke up and found out you died.
"You know I think that's about it. I'm kinda loyal to my crafts. So music, jewellery, swords and men. In that order."
I laugh.
"If I ever meet a guy that manages to outdo my love of music, I may just have to marry him. There's a good chance he'd last longer than a couple of months then. I don't see it happening but you never know. What about you? Besides kicking arse and taking names and doing some seriously illegal ****... what you into?"
I grin at her as best I can with a mouthful of pizza and wait to see how the girl will surprise me next.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie gave a slow shake of her head at Sky's question. She, sadly, did not get buzzed, she hadn't since she had been turned and that was a sad, sad day for her when she realized that Coffee, though it tasted delicious all the same would never 'wake' her up, and that Pot, no matter how many joints she smoked, no matter how many bongs she hit, would never leave her in that calm state that made her more like a hippie than anything else, beer and other spirits, no matter how much she drank, she would never feel that trippiness she got that would make her giggle like a school girl or prance around in a water fountain.

That thought made her smile for a bit as she took another bite of her pasta, savoring the taste of the creamy and cheesy sauce. The shrimp was fresh, as was the pasta from what she could tell. She could always tell fresh made pasta from the tried then recooked pasta. As Sky mentioned that she would have a tantrum if she couldn't feel the effects of things, Charlie smirked and nodded "I did..." She said with a soft but quick laugh. But remained silent, just enjoying her food while Sky continued on, that is until she started to apologize for being rude. Charlie began to shake her head but waited until Sky was done talking to say her piece.

"Nah, Don't worry about it, you weren't rude, it does suck," She said and then smirked "Pun intended," She winked and then continued once more. "It sucks that no matter what the one thing I used to calm me down or cheer me up when I was down no longer has that effect on me. Though, I do have to admit, there is one good thing about not feeling the effects outright. I can drink anyone under the table." She said with a laugh, that right there made her being a pool shark a bit of a trip. She didn't even need to be better than the next person. If they seemed better than her, she would just get them drunk... once they were... they were easy to take for just about everything.

Then she smiled a little more "As for what I am into. I'm into computers, I love to hack, to gain information that people hide. They think they are safe in the system, but they really aren't." She said with a small laugh then continued "I also love making the guns I make, I'm not one of the better ones I have noticed, but I try to do my best. I love listening to music, not much for playing it though. I love video games, I love reading... even if everything I read is converted to memory and I never have to read it again." She said with a smirk "Photographic memory... a blessing and a curse." She said and then took a sip of her beer. "Really though, I just like hanging out with people sometimes. Like you so far, I can tell are a Trip to hang with so you might need to beat me away from you with a stick." She teased, winking to the girl before taking a bite of her food. Once she was able to again she continued "I like being around people though, even though I act like a hermit... that is more because i'm scared of someone attacking me again." She said, rubbing her wrist with one hand where one of her many scars was thanks to the gang bang she had been in when she was still relatively new to the city.

[Skylar]

It's difficult for me to imagine not being able to feel the effects of the alcohol I drink. I think that would be odd and while Charlie seems to have found an upside to it - and let’s face it that probably was just about the best upside there was - I'd still rather feel it than not feel it. Especially now I can wake up the next day with a clear head. It was like being able to sin and getting absolved of everything while you slept. Not that I'm a religious person.
The conversation moves on and I nod at her interests. They're all pretty much what you could expect someone to be into, aside from the hacking and gun making hobbies that is. Those aren't exactly normal, though for all I know they're standard vampire hobbies, I mean look at me. I used to only twist metal into jewellery, now I was working metal into swords.
When the sombre note kicks in, I swallow down the last mouthful of yet another slice of pizza and take a swig of beer from the bottle. The thing is almost empty and I look around to see if I can spot our waitress. When I find her, I keep my eyes on her and the moment she looks our way I signal to her. I needed another beer and so that's what I order when she come over. She waits for Charlotte to decide if she wants something and then promptly disappears.
"I'm not sure what I'd do if I was scared to go out for that reason. I mean hell, I'm on the streets on my own rather a lot. Busking isn't exactly a team sport. Or at least, it's not when I do it."
I laugh as I recall my first busking session and how Dillon just happened to show up as I finished my set. He had great timing in those first few weeks that i took to the street, always showing up just as I was packing up. I knew he had to be nearby, keeping an eye on me, but he never let me spot him till I was through playing. Kinda sweet, but also kinda stalkerish. Not that I’d ever look at him that way.
"Though I'm pretty sure my best friend followed me around for the first few weeks to make sure I was safe and stuff. I guess he didn't trust me not to get mugged or something. Ironic really. Busking is probably the most dangerous pastime I had and I didn't end up dying on the street, I died on stage."
I laugh at the phrase since it has a couple of meanings.
"Not that my playing was bad, I didn't even have time to strum the strings. I like, literally died on stage. Electrocution. Elliot's fault."
I'm not sure if she's really all that interested in the story - not that it's ever stopped me from talking before - but I leave it there for now. I figure if she wants to go down this road, she'll ask how it was his fault exactly. I mean I'm sure most vampires don't turn their progeny by electrocuting them first. Seems a bit like overkill to me. I roll my eyes at my own thoughts and chug down what's left of my beer as I wait to see if she wants to know more or not?

[CharlotteC]

Charlie notes how Skylar's eyes shift about, clearly searching for something or someone, most likely the waitress, that causes Charlie to look around a bit as well before she noticed the waitress heading their way. Charlie simply shook her head when the woman's eyes turned to her. A simple way of saying she was fine and that she could go. Once she left and Skylar began talk again, Charlie nodded at first. She knew it was a rather odd thing to be weary of, especially since she had grown a lot since the genocide **** storm, but there it was.

Skylar talked of busking and she was tempted to question it, however instead of asking, she tapped into a thing she used from time to time - her ability to be on the net just by thinking about it. A power she had learned from the telepath wraith guide. A very useful power that she shared with Elliot. This little talent looked up the word as she thought of it and almost instantly she had the definition in her mind. It only made more sense as Sky spoke of a guy called Dillon and how he showed at one of her sets.

As Charlie continued to work on her food, slowly beginning to finish it off, she listened to Skylar, sipping her beer every now and then. That is when Skylar brought up how she was turned, that she had been electrocuted and that it had been Elliot's fault. Her brows rose a bit then relaxed again as she thought about that. It reminded her so much of what had gone down with her and Cordelia, minus the part where it had been her fault. Like her, Elliot had saved her life, given her a way to live again, just as she had done with her Cordy. Then she sighed, shaking her head, she missed the girl but her searches had come up for naught. Shaking away the sad thought, Charlie leaned in again and nodded.

"How did that happen?" She asked, curious as to just how she got electrocuted. Had there been water on the stage? A short in the wiring of one of the speakers? Her mind began to work with all the possibilities while she waited for the answer to come from the girl that was, for all intents and purposes, her sister now.

[Skylar]

I'm happy to continue the story. Elliot really isn't the villain. While it technically was his fault, I'm kinda over that already. This life kinda rocks, all things considered. I mean who'd of thunk superpowers existed? Before I did, I certainly wouldn't have. probably never would have noticed Ric either. Well, that's not true. I'd of picked him out of crowd regardless but I probably wouldn't have followed him the way I did. okay maybe I might have done, but my excuse for doing so would have been a hell of a lot lamer.
"Well I popped in to ask about the open mic night. I was gonna sign up for the next one if he had space, so I hadn't actually brought my guitar with me. I know. A musician without her instrument. Stupid I know. I should have known better. What kind of serious artist inquires about an opportunity and doesn't take their instrument with them? I just didn't fancy trudging around the city with my prized possession if I didn't have to. I mean that area... Not the safest in the city. So anyways. it turned out they Elliot had a few slots free and so he offered to lend me a guitar and like an idiot, I trusted I could use the thing without killing myself. I plugged the chord into the guitar and just my luck, the connection was fucked and the thing fried me. How Elliot got away with that little show I'll never know, cos I woke up in the attic thinking the whole thing was some kind of prank. And that was kinda that. I freaked out. Elliot worked some kind of love mojo and I then he took me to his place over in the mausoleum to talk."
I finish up my story just as the waitress comes back with my beer. I smile at her and she takes away the empty. I thank her politely and wait for her to leave before speaking again.
"So yeah. The universe wanted me this way I guess."
I shrug.
"Can't really complain. I mean I played the sympathy card to get Ellie to buy Ric for me at the auction, so it was kinda good for that I guess, but I'm not gonna hold it against him. I mean yes. Technically it's his fault, but saved me. That was probably a mistake on his part, the saving of me that is. Something I'm sure he'll come to realise in time."
I'm not even joking about that last part, as similar as Elliot and I seem to be and as well as we get on I'm sure to piss him off at some point. It was pretty much just a matter of time. I don't seem to fair too well with parental units and that kinda is what Ellie is to me; even if he won't admit it. I have a habit of disappointing my biological parental units, so I can't even begin to hope the same won't be said of Elliot in the future. Though, if he keeps his expectations low, maybe I'll pass inspection.