Cold Comfort

[Lillian White (DELETED 6877)]

The night seemed to only grow colder as Lillian's pockets gave a weak rattle. Her fingers continued to grasp and run over the worn coins and bills that made up the scant remains of her starting funds. The costs of being in a beautiful new city were more than she had anticipated and now she felt the grip of this new reality. She had left so many people behind and had never been on her own like this before.

The streets ahead of her seemed to be draped in dim light. Her eyes scanned across the many store fronts that were either still open from the daylight hours or were opening up for the night life. The search for more work could continue even in the dark, though there was no way of assuring herself she would find anything.

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

There were plenty of things to keep Cosimo occupied, these days. He had childer. Actual vampires that he had created with his own blood, and he was somewhat fascinated by it. Still looked at the turn of events with some mild surprise. He had to try to do right by them. But nor did he spend every waking hour with them. They were independent women. And he would see them later.

Fresh air was what he required. Not that he didn't get fresh air in the gardens at the top of the Ivory Tower. Fresh air and a brisk walk was what he needed, so he meandered out of the park at the back of which the Tower was constructed, with his hands shoved into his pockets and a whistle blowing past his lips. A hearty, happy kind of tune that wasn't anything popular, it was what just rolled from his tongue. His hair was still a mess and the beard could probably do with a bit of a clean up, but when had he not looked a little scruffy? A little rough around the edges?

He found himself stopped at the front of a real estate office. The Tower was all well and good but what if he continued to sire? Could they all stay there, with him squatting in the penthouse? Probably not. Somewhere new, maybe. So he perused the offerings, the dim light bathing him in its warm glow, his eyes narrowed upon the pictures lit up behind the glass window.

[Lillian White (DELETED 6877)]

Though the night was young Lillian felt like there was too much to do. Her job search was a slow and desperate one. A local strip club had offered her a job but she was still wary of falling into old habits, easy money was usually at a cost one couldn't pay in gold. She let out a frustrated sigh and continued on her way, trekking along the streets to continue looking.

As she caught her own reflection in a shop window she frowned, coming to admit the stress of the move had taken it's toll on her. Her once golden hair had dulled and hung limply in a braid over her shoulder, tied with a tattered ribbon that had seen better days as well. She had bundled herself up, even the outer sweatshirt hung a bit large on her small frame and did little to keep the constant chill away. She has felt cold all of her life and dressed to block out the shivers that would wrack her otherwise.

Her distraction persisted as she walked, her eyes casting over to the reflections as she moved. Thinking of how to hide the faint circles that were forming under her eyes or maybe that she needed to eat a little better to feel better. The thoughts reeled around before screeching to a halt as she collided with someone on the sidewalk. Not being a heavy weight herself she hit the poor man and fumbled backwards. Her eyes squeezed right as she fell, landing gracelessly on her behind.

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo wasn’t tall but nor was he exactly short. His body was of a solid build, all grit and leanness. Like that of a football player—or Soccer, as some countries liked to call it. He might have liked, once, to be a professional football player. There was a time during his schoolyears that he’d had a coach who’d pushed for longer hours practicing. He wanted to keep Cosimo behind and train him to become one of the best. But then Cosimo’s mother had died, and his life had different ideas for him. Football just was not in the cards.

Add stoic vampirism to an already stolid body, and it became something of an immovable force, especially if challenged only by a small blonde whippet of a girl. For a moment or two, Cosimo was perplexed. One second he was looking at the specs of a cabin out on the very edge of the city (would he really want somewhere so far out in the wilderness?) and the next he was blinking down at a girl who was sitting on her ***. It took him those two moments to realise she was on her *** because she had run into him. Of course, it didn’t cross his mind that he had no reflection in the glass that he stood in front of.

It took him one more moment to remember his manners. He turned and held out a hand for the girl.

”I am sorry! I should not have been standing so still!” he said. Obviously playing around. It wasn’t often that Cosimo was serious.

[Lillian White (DELETED 6877)]

Lillian had little of her own weight to throw around and had a very short way to fall. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, pulling the loose strands from her face to look up at the man. Once she realized the full force of what was going on her face paled and she took the offered hand shakily.

The moment she returned to her feet the words began to spill out, “O-oh god I’m so sorry I wasn’t paying attention where I was going. I hope I didn’t do any harm, though I guess I didn’t tip you over, oh what am I even saying. I’m sorry.” She finally stopped herself, basking in her own discomfort for a short moment.

Once she realized the man had said something as well she bit her lip, mind backtracking for the words. The corners of her lips slid into a soft smile as she understood the man was not speaking in a cutting way but was being fun. Her shoulders relaxed as she caught her breath. She was used to much harsher treatment when she made mistakes.

She released the man’s hand and dusted herself off, readjusting her clothes as she muttered on about “needing a better fit.”

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo arched a brow. He wasn’t the one who’d ended up on his backside. He wondered what this woman’s life must be like, that she would be so apologetic about something so small. In the end, however, she seemed to understand that he was not angry; when she took her hand back, he shoved his own hands back into his pockets and cleared his throat. As soon as he’d touched her hand he’d known she was human. The skin felt hot compared to his, and he could feel the light pulse of her blood kicking through the small capillaries in her fingers. Strange, these things that he could notice now. Strange, how all physical attraction seemed only to be connected to hunger. He cleared his throat again as he pushed the thought from his mind. Later.

”I was recommended a clothing store, recently,” he said, catching the woman’s mutterings and replying on instinct. It was how he functioned, at a basic level. On a whim. He never really thought about what he was going to say and the words never seemed to have any trouble flying past his lips. Just like this time. Where had he been recommended? When? By who? And what was the name of the place?

”Things… made to fit, you know? I think… the owner, her name is Alexandrea. But I cannot… I do not think they gave me a name,” he laughed, then. The smile was easy on his lips. ”I am no help. You may ignore me,” he said, bowing in a way as if admitting to his own foolishness, and wearing it like a brand new hat.

[Lillian White (DELETED 6877)]

It slowly dawned on Lillian that she may have overreacted a bit, and embarrassed flush slowly blossoming on her cheeks. She did her best to laugh it off though her nerves still stayed with her. She hadn’t been very social since her arrival and it would take time to get used to a more friendly approach. She noted he felt cold to the touch but it was not a strange thing in her eyes, everything felt cold, and she would not jump to conclusions.

At the mention of the recommendation she perked, politely raising her gaze to look the man in the eye. She knew it wasn’t common to lower your gaze when someone was speaking but it was a habit she had to work to break. As his words slowed and became less assured she smiled and broke into a small fit of giggles, covering her mouth with her right hand. The man was delightfully silly.

“Not many men I’ve met can admit when they are being a little silly. It’s quite alright and honestly I have not been in this city for long. I doubt I would know where to go anyway.” Her smile continued to grow. The company of Sweetie, her bulldog, was delightful but the creature couldn’t carry a conversation both ways. Talking with another person did wonders to cheer her up out of her fretting and the man’s relaxed demeanor helped her relax as well.

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

The Italian didn’t quite know what to do, now. He himself hadn’t been in the city too long and could not claim to be an expert. He could, of course, warn the woman—obviously human—about the dangers of walking around by herself at night time. But the, he would appear to be a lunatic. And, if not, he would appear to know more than he should. After which, she would likely know more than she should. And, given the recent rules that Elizabeth had posted for the family to read, Cosimo knew that was not a path that he could go down.

So he stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. This was where, in the past, his wit might have taken over. It would have taken the conversation by the reigns and it would devolve into silliness—which normally led to some kind of flirting. Not wanting to fall into that trap again, Cosimo relegated himself only to normal topics of conversation that normal people would engage in. Normal people who were not interested in …

Of course, he was thinking too much into it. He coughed to clear his throat and gestured toward the window that he was standing in front of. The squares were spread out upon it, each one showing a different house in a different suburb at a different price. Some were apartments. Some were cabins. Some were far too large. None of them were really too small.

”I have not been here long, either. I am… perusing my prospects,” he said with a small smile and a glance sideways. ”You are here to stay, then? Perhaps you too… or are your prospects already settled?” he asked. There. Normal conversation. He could handle normal conversation. Easy.

Of course, he did not remember that he had no reflection, and if the woman were observant enough, he’d just pointed it out to her without realising.

[Lillian White (DELETED 6877)]

Lillian could tell the man was struggling to keep conversation. She had the same problems normally. Tonight though she was feeling chipper and enjoyed the company while she could. She knew the dangers of a woman walking alone in any city, but her experience had numbed her to any fear of the living or dead.

Of course she knew the signs of a vampire, she had spent time with them in her time along the outside of the city. She could tell the man showed some of the signs but was not certain about it until her eyes raised to look into the window. The lack of a reflection was a dead giveaway but she gave no immediate response. “I was lucky. A friend has allowed me to stay in an apartment they own in town. I’m working to make money and find a place of my own.”

Her eyes slid to the side and watched the man a bit, he was polite enough and really kept things civil. She knew some liked to toy with their food but this was different, he was being kind and she did not want to get him in trouble. This city had its struggles keeping vampires in the shadows where they were more comfortable. “It is dangerous after all, a woman alone in a city.”

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo smiled.

”It is dangerous in any city for a woman alone,” he said. He was stating a fact. It was not a threat. It was not a good thing, either, that women should be more afraid for their safety than men. But, it was a fact that women were beautiful. They were precious. There was something so fragile about them, even if they were strong. They were flowers and men were the beasts that trampled them, even without meaning to. All of this, Cosimo could not put into words. It was something he felt, as an instinct.

”And yet you have just said that you want to go and live alone, rather than with your friend?” he asked, still smiling. Cosimo was rarely a serious person. Seriousness was reserved for those who would, sooner or later, sink into the depths of despair. Cosimo was a fan of keeping his head above the water, of smiling whenever a smile could be used. Not for good, so much as… just to keep breathing. He didn’t really understand it himself. But he believed that the silver linings were there for a reason, and they should not be ignored.

”What do you do? To make money. What job are you looking for?” he asked. There. This conversation thing wasn’t so hard.