[Open] The Bar (Thread to Mingle In)

[Lancaster]

It didn't take too long to retrieve Dhara's order, and he placed it down in front of the girl just before Pi handed her companion a glass of blood. Elliot would have done so himself, after he was done with the coffee. But that was why he and Pi functioned so smoothly, sometimes. It was as if each knew what the other was thinking before the other did. They could finish each other's thoughts like no man's business.

When she mentioned the guy's name, however, a familiar twitch clicked in Lancaster's brain. Forsyth. He lingered nearby, cleaning the glasses that had accumulated in the sink, though his eyes dart between Pi and the man she had just greeted. Although Pi was busy talking to one of the other customers--one who also kind of vaguely looked familiar to him--he proceeded to interrupt her, anyway - in her head, where no one else could hear it:

"Forsyth? Aliyah's Forsyth?" he asked. Such was the nature of their family that one of them had sired, and Elliot had not yet met the guy. Though, he recalled having a key made for him, so that he could have access to Aliyah's apartment.

[Forsyth (DELETED 6007)]

He sat there staring at the contents in the glass. The smell burned through his nose, down his throat, causing his mouth to water - as usual. But just the thought of even taking a sip would weigh heavily on his conscious. The thought that somehow this blood was taken from an innocent human. He shuddered softly and pushed the glass a bit farther from him, even if he could continue to smell it through the time being.

His attention went back to Dhara with an impassive expression. "No, it's not." He spoke lowly, hoping that she would hear him at least. "I've helped stock, and give what she needs, I do know what is in the fridge." He scrunched his nose slightly. His words sounded harsh, but they where by no means to sound like it. "I'll be fine for now, thank you, what we have is currently keeping us on feet." He gave the blonde a gentle smile in her direction.

Yet again he was hesitant, staring at the glass in front of him. He ran his finger along the rim of the glass, lifting his grey eyes to look along the bar if he would even spot anyone familiar to him. But his attention, or hearing, never left from Dhara.

[Dhara]

She blew a lock of blue out of her eyes, then raked her fingers through her white hair while watching him. Abrasive... perhaps a little. But then again, most people tended to be when confronted with something they didn't like. She glanced to Elliot and Pi, then sipped her coffee for a moment. She could have felt insecure by his presence and his words. After all, he was part of the reason she left her apartment and Ali. She didn't feel safe with a strange vampire coming and going. And he kept adding to the stock in the fridge, providing for Ali. However, she didn't let his words bother her. She just shrugged faintly and grinned. No one would ever replace Dhara in Ali's life. And the reverse was completely true for Dhara. No one would replace Ali.

"You could try animals." She said casually, sipping her coffee again. "A friend of mine has a farm just on the edge of town for exactly that reason. Certain people like certain things. Just an idea I suppose. I've had some other friends tell me that's what they do."

[Forsyth (DELETED 6007)]

It was more so of a course that followed him into the vampire life. He was a vegetarian when human, he never believed in killing animals, so harming human's was a similar fashion to him. "Feeding from animal's would be the same to me as in with humans, or," he looked at the glass filled with the dark liquid of blood, "packs to help sustain such hunger." He turned his gaze back on her, his eyes following along her. It was no means of what most teenagers call as 'checking her out', it was to see how he could control, and know that he could control himself with hunger wise. There was no reason to be so nervous for whenever she appeared at the apartment, at this moment he knew he wouldn't attack her out of hunger. He had that self control he was afraid he wouldn't have.

He cleared his throat and stared down at his fingers quietly. "Dhara," he started, his tone mild, "I hope you don't think that because I moved in to the apartment, that you needed to move out...you could of very much stayed. It's not my place secondly, either. Yes. Aliyah and I are together, but that does not mean that it is my right to call it my place. You two," he paused for a moment, his lower lip between his teeth in thought. The things Aliyah told him about this girl were things he knew he couldn't exactly be like, or there, for Aliyah that Dhara could be. "You two have a bond, stronger than her and me." He knew the truth. Him and Aliyah had a bond, sire and childe, which he didn't think much on with their relationship. But their bond was different, intimate, love, family.

"I was not planning on living there, because I knew you were there. I knew you two have been together longer. I had no right on barging in, causing you to think you needed to leave." He reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder, his fingers flexing in a squeeze, a quick smile rising to his lips.

[Dhara]

She kept sipping her coffee as they talked. Vegetarian. Well that explained a lot, and she began to wonder if there was any way to make things easier on him. "Well... I bet the packs are donated willingly. If that helps any." She smiled up at him and shrugged a little. He seemed like a pretty okay person. And he made Ali happy, which was even better.

She wasn't sure what surprised her more, his words or his hand on her shoulder. She wasn't the touchy feely type beyond Calen. Not even with Ali unless one or the other was in extreme emotional distress. So the friendly touch and the gentle squeeze surprised her. Her eyes widened slightly and she grinned, bringing her own dainty hand up to rest companionably on his, her flesh warmed from the coffee.

"I appreciate that, Forsyth. I do. It's good to know you aren't going to try and replace me in Ali's life. I mean, we both know the risks of a friendship like ours, but it's a chance we're willing to take. And, I'd be willing to take it with you, too." She gave his hand on her shoulder a friendly squeeze as she looked at him. His words were so sweet and filled with understanding and that endeared him to her. "If it helps any, you aren't the only reason, or even the main reason I moved out. Of course not knowing you made me nervous, but now that we've met I don't feel that way any more. But there were other reasons, one being my boyfriend, Calen. The other..." She trailed off and looked around, her eyes finding first Pi, then Elliot and her smile ghosted in to a frown before instantly being replaced by a smile again, "Well, the company is a little too familiar to discuss the other reason. But just know it wasn't your fault in any way." Her hand left his and curled around her mostly empty mug again. Looking around, she thought she'd caught Elliot's eye and she lifted her mug, silently asking for a refill if he had time. And if not? Well she had her glass of water and some good company.

[Forsyth (DELETED 6007)]

His hand instantly lifted once hers did as well. Her words made him relaxed, though his shoulders were still visibly tense. The vampiric senses tended to get the best of him, even if he tried to block them out and cling to his humanity. And the warmth of her hand, something he didn't want to have left his colder one, made him miss the similar senses that a human encounters. Cold, heat, the touch of sun, daylight. Daylight is what he missed the most...

He was a family business man back in New York, and his meetings were always in daylight, he struggled the most when he had to return home to complete his work. Dodging and avoiding the sunlight the best he could to not get wounded, and people always stared curiously at him, seeing as he was known back home by many due to his family company. A frown graced his lips suddenly but vanished like it didn't happen. His features became impassive, his eyes were set, but soft - all once she stopped talking.

"Well I do not want you to fear to ever stop over and keep Aliyah company. She would like that especially when I'm gone to New York. Or just in general. I can't fill that hole that you can fill, Dhara." He lifted a hand and ran his finger along his bottom lip quietly in thought. "Plus, I would like if you felt comfortable with me around too. I, by no means, intend to do any damage."

[Dhara]

She laughed, she couldn't help it. But it always made her happy to hear she wouldn't be a midnight snack. Only Ali had ever fed from her, and that wasn't just because she trusted the woman. She had truly thought she was going to die after those hunters had broken in to their apartment.

"Good to know. I like to think I don't have 'all you can eat buffett' tattooed on my forehead." She teased him. His vow made her relax all the more. She had no idea why she trusted the vampires like she did. Perhaps it was because, with the exception of one singular experience, all her encounters with vampire kind had been all positive. Elliot had been her first friend, had given her safe shelter, and a job. Then he'd introduced her to Ali. And happenstance had led her to meeting Pi. Now there was a mystery. She'd only talked to the woman once, but she hoped to do so again. Perhaps she would have to stalk Pi in a harmless, show up at the bar every night, type of way and talk to her more.

"I'd like that. Hanging out with you, I mean. And of course, wild horses couldn't stop me from popping in to see Ali." Her amber eyes twinkled merrily at him and she flashed a wicked, teasing smile. "I'll just try to remember to knock before I barge in." She laughed and sipped her water, pushing her white hair from her eyes again. "So tell me about the great and mysterious Forsyth. What is it you do in New York?"

[Forsyth (DELETED 6007)]

A grin approached on his lips from her laugh, clearly he had some type of humor to him he didn't know about, Aliyah did the same unexpectedly at most things he says. "Even if that was there, I wouldn't even take the invite. As you can see and already tell, it is not my thing to do. Struggled with it since I was placed in this life." He didn't mean to make it sound like he was forced, he was quite grateful that Aliyah had saved him that night. But this life isn't what he expected to live, or still found it hard to believe it was true. Maybe that was a second reason he found it hard to feed off blood.

He looked back at the woman, his eyes showing that smile that never appeared on his lips. A smile was rare, he was always so stern and serious, but at times if one would look close they would see the faint lift of his lips. "Ah, on that part there's no need to worry." His lips pressed together, forming a thin line. He would keep his mouth glued before going any farther with the knocking due to privacy. Though a small, quiet chuckle, left his lips as he shook his head at the subject.

"My family owns a wide fair trading company. I'm currently the CEO, I help set up the trades world wide, organic, natural - to help the poor in other countries...I came here for a business meeting, trying to promote the good and benefits of fair trading, not for the trader, but the consumer, to hope to expand the business. Which I am currently attempting to do so now. Hopefully start my own business here." He paused. Now he was just babbling away about his life, to a woman he knew little of. That was unlike him to do. At the realization he fell silent and continued to play with the drink he has yet to take a sip of.

[Dhara]

She listened to him talk, picking out the smile in his eyes and his voice, followed by the hint of passion over what he did for work. And it was honest work, trying to help people. Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought as she sipped her water. "So you travel a lot then?" She asked curiously. Elliot was the first person like herself that she had met in this city. A wanderer, backpacker, world traveler. What ever you want to call it. And he was, for lack of a better word, trapped here now. Stolen from the arms of the day to the arms of eternal night. So was Forsyth. And Ali, and all the other vampires she knew. It was sad really, when you thought about it.

And yet each one had found a way to make a life for themselves in this city. This place where night ruled the day, and creatures from myths and legends roamed the streets. She realized she was staring a little to intently at her companion and looked away to sip her water before asking him another question. "What's your favorite city or country that you've been to?"

[Forsyth (DELETED 6007)]

His shoulder lifted in a brief shrug. "Not much of traveling anymore like I use to. Now it's just to go back to New York for important meetings, or to get away to do some work." He turned his head to look at her with a faint frown, his head cocked to the side. "That's why I say Aliyah needs someone. I'm not always quite there for her as much as I want to be. Yes, this business is important to me, but she's just as important, and I do wish to give her more of my attention, but..." He trailed off and lifted a hand to run in through his hair. It was always difficult to leave, to be away from Aliyah even for three days. The first time it happened was the most difficult part to get through, but as of lately with his trips it was getting a little better.

Better? That was probably too big of a word. It wasn't better, it was okay. He left because he felt the need to, to give Aliyah the space that he felt she needed - though it was the paranoia that she didn't want him that caused the thoughts. He kept his gaze on Dhara for a moment after her question. "North Dakota. Different scenery, it is quite a beautiful state." He let out a deep breath and turned his gaze to the door quietly, watching as people left and entered.