All you need is...what? (Athena)

[Andrew McGee]

"How many times is he going to try and think?" The older man muttered to himself around the cigar in his mouth. "And fail?"

Andrew McGee ('Fireball' to his few close friends) pulled into the lot of the shopping complex, turned off the car, and leaned back in the seat for a few moments. Anyone else and the man would have found a sizeable baseball bat and would have been working the other's man's head into a soft, mushy lump by now. He told him too many times, 'Elvis? You want to take that boat of your out for a spin? Call me or muscle head to go along on the ride, okay?'

Of course, 'Elvis' did not listen, figuring how hard could it be and managed to snag the boat on something during his joy ride. Working any kind of water craft loose was a finesse job. You didn't just shift into reverse and gun the gas, but he must have assumed if it worked for a car, it would work for the boat and now his boat sat in the harbor with blown gaskets and a engine compartment covered in burnt oil.

"Maybe I should have told 'Priscilla' to call me when he gets these brain storms." he finally decided as he got out of his car. Oil was not an issue, but the local marine supply was backordered on gaskets for the engine. Andy was not the kind to wait to see how much (if any) damage was done in the process so he stopped at the first auto supply he knew of. Homemade gaskets would not be good enough for any extended periods of use like a cruise, but they would hold well enough to test the motor. The people at the marine supply told him 'No, you can't do that!' and McGee basically relied that they should try doing a physical impossibility on themselves. He had spent too much of his life on ships to know what could or could not be done. The gaskets would be fine for testing.

He made a mental note to hide the keys to the boat from Elvis till he was finished. Just in case.

He walked into the center and made his way to Malevolent Machinery ('Gotta love the name.') and quickly found what he needed. He grabbed several rolls of the gasket material and then browsed for a couple things his own ride needed. He ignored the buzzing feeling within himself as he shopped. Vampires were everywhere now. Hell, he even worked for a few of them. He had bills to pay, the money was good, and the ones he usually found himself close to never treated him badly or acted like jerks about themselves so why should he bust their chops over what they were? It did not stop his paladin senses from going into overdrive, however. "Keep calm, and finish your business" he told himself.

Andy began to hum along to the music coming over the speakers. "Never too old to rock and roll," he smiled at another shopper as he made his way to the counter. He sat the items down and waited till the woman finished ringing them up and handed her his card. He looked around and swore he saw someone he knew out in the hallways of the center.

"Thank you. Have a nice night." he told the girl as he took his card and receipt and grabbed his bags. He walked quickly out of the store and failed to realize he left one of his bags behind. Once outside, he saw he had been mistaken about the person he had seen, and started to head to the exit when the most unusual tune he had ever heard came on the sound system and gave him pause.

"Sounds like a fairy having its wings ripped off," he frowned.

[Athena (DELETED 6736)]

Athena was a workaholic of sorts. Or maybe it was just easier to say that the vampiress enjoyed being busy. She really did, infact. It was something that she enjoyed and while her mind was busy daydreaming these nights of Cosimo she prefered to have her hands busy. She prefered to separate herself from him when they were apart to be herself. To work. To go here and there. It wasn’t working that way though, not at all. She often found herself thinking about him or texting him. This didn’t make her silly, did it? She didn’t really care either way, though. He made her happy. He also made her mad, too. It really just depends and maybe that was part of their thrill. That he seemed to be the trigger to her emotions. These nights though? He warmed her up more than he cooled her down.

It was getting harder and harder to find time to play on her drums. The same drums that she had always made time for before. Now she was at work, thinking about him or with him. Or with Rion and Osi. The thought that she hadn’t seen or touched her set in days made her a little irritated but it wasn’t with anyone but herself. She didn’t text him or call him on her break as she often tried to do. Instead, she kept her phone in her pants pocket and made her way back to her drums again. It felt good to hold her sticks in her hand again. To see the sparkling metal, to feel the sound vibrate in her body and in her soul again.

But then it was back to work. The time went by too fast and she left the set there alone early to make sure she got back to work on time. It had been too long for sure. Maybe she would try to do that again but she felt guilty. She felt like maybe she had neglected Cosimo and that didn’t make her feel much better either. As she took her phone out of her pocket she was making her way back inside work. There was something playing on the radio, it was something she never heard before. It made her pause right out front and with her phone in her hand. What was that noise? She wasn’t sure if she liked it or not. Regardless, it twisted up her features and she stood there as if in a trance. What had she been doing? What had she been thinking? With several blinks of her long lashes she looked up from her phone. Shaking her head, she continued her walk inside of the building and stopped short.

There was a man walking towards her. In her attempts not to bump him, she lowered her phone in her hand and watched where she was walking. It wasn’t good for business if she’d just go about bumping into random people because she was texting a man. That wouldn’t do. While in her attempts to be polite she looked the man in the face while they passed. Her blue eyes locked with his and something took over her brain. Why was that peculiar song playing again? Did anyone else notice how weird it was? Her eyes closed a few steps passed the man and she stopped. Her entire being stopped, her hand quickly shoved the phone back into her pocket and she found herself walking after him. A complete stranger.

“Did you get everything you needed?” Athena asked, a smile that didn’t fit her face curved her lips. It wasn’t like her to just impulsively speak to people but here she was. It was however like her to do exactly what she wanted and this was somehow exactly what she wanted. To talk to him. To get to know him. When did her feelings for Cosimo not take over her entire being? Now. While she waited for him to talk back to her she couldn’t help but continue to smile that big smile. It was probably the same smile that ruled over hormone-driven teenagers at High School but here she was smiling up at him as if she where the mouse and he had all the cheese. What was his name anyway? His hobbies? His likes and dislikes? Suddenly and without warning, she wanted to know more than anything. Where those stars in her eyes? Sure not.

[Andrew McGee]

“Did you get everything you needed?”

Andy turned and looked at the source of the question. It was the girl who managed not to run into him while that caterwauling was blaring out of the speakers. Cute little thing. Way too young for his tastes, of course. He was many things, but not that. Of course, his inner alarm going off was not helping the situation any. There be fangs hiding in that smile, he guessed. Andy was not one to freak out on that fact alone, so he smiled back at the girl.

"A well stocked shop and selection to choose from," he replied. "This place yours or do you work here?" He glanced down at his hand holding the bags and realized he was one bag short. "But it appears I forgot something. Excuse me, please." He stepped past the woman and started to go back into the store just in time for the person who rang him up to come out with his missing bag in hand. A few quick, light words between them as the bag changed hands, apologies, and the paladin turned back.

And there was the girl. Still looking at him.

Still smiling.

This was beginning to drift into the weird now. It had been a long time since he saw a look like that in a woman's eyes, and in a vampire's eyes? It made no sense at all. Was this some kind of a joke? He didn't think so because he could not think of a single reason why anyone would do something like that to him. Maybe she had a 'Grandpa' fetish?

"Or maybe she is just a friendly sort of person? Like you used to be?" he admonished himself in his thoughts. Did everything have to be a plot and bad?

"I would not have noticed I forgot something till I got back to the project I was working on," he spoke again as he took a relaxed stance and leaned on the walking stick he carried. "So thanks for making me stop and think there." Andy smiled again as he saw that look she had going. He would not delude himself for a moment that it was real, but a bit of him found it quite flattering despite the obvious.

"Old men do that. Pretend someone years younger than themselves are interested in them!" his thoughts persisted. He quietly told himself to shut the **** up. He could indulge in a bit of fantasy for a second or two even if he did not act on it.

[Athena (DELETED 6736)]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

* Athena answered easily, her hands sliding into her pockets as she smiled up at the much older man. That look remained no matter that it didn't fit her personality or her face. "I work here. Thank you, though. We try." she laughed, casually shrugging her shoulders as she looked at him. Using her hands in her pockets to adjust her jacket comfortably. While he turned Athena gazed over at the cashier working currently and winked at her while she helped the man out. This only gained her an odd look in return. This obviously wasn't something that Athena did often let alone in her family's store. That much was obvious by the look on the girl's face. Athena ignored it. What did she know anyway? With a flip of her hair she moved back towards the man as he turned back to her.
* Athena paused, she smiled again at him and shrugged her shoulders. "We all tend to forget something once in awhile. It would have soured my night to go back to work and find out I didn't have everything. I'm glad that I prevented that for you." tipping her head, her blues stayed on his face while she asked. "Are you too busy to grab a drink?" There were alarms that faintly sang in the back of her head. This man didn't look like Cosimo. After all, he was older, he had a cane and for some reason no matter what.. he felt off. It was an ill feeling while she got closer to him but it didn't seem to matter. It didn't seem to matter that something sang DANGER while she wanted to know. What was he working on?

‹Andrew McGee› "Drinks would be good," He needed something right about now. It was obvious the the vampire girl wanted his attentions for who knew what reason. Despite his inner alarm going off, he was not getting a feeling he should be ready to fight. Unusual, but not out of the ordinary either. "MIght I know the name of the company I shall be drinking with?" he smiled with charm. Best to play along till he could fathom what was going on here. At least the music returned to normal. That was a plus.

* Athena laughed when he asked for her name. Duh, of course. She hadn't said her name and instead just asked him out like a common hussy. "Athena, sorry." she laughed again, the sound light and easy. A hand moving from her jacket to wave in the air like she was waving away smoke. "There's a little hole in the wall bar not too far from here." she gestured towards the door. "Are you free now?" she asked, forgetting all about the work that was waiting for her under a car. It had just been her break time before. Now she was just blowing off work for a man who wasn't Cosimo, what the hell Athena?

‹Andrew McGee› An eyebrow raised at the name. One of those Greek gods or something? Mythology was not his strong suit, normally. "Andrew," he replied as he offered his hand. "And my dear child, hole in the walls I am no stranger to, I assure you." he laughed softly at her antics. "And, yes, I am free now. A good drink and a smoke I always have the time for."

* Athena smiled still, her hand reaching to give the man's hand a firm shake. "Nice to meet you, Andrew." Letting go of his hand though she did linger a moment or two too long. "You're not? That's good." she laughed too, gesturing now towards the exit again. "Well then we better be off." she smiled, walking over towards the exit with clinks of her shoes. "I would have to agree. It's always nice to drink and smoke." Well, she would have agreed more so when she were human. When she could have something to drink but now she was forced to order and simply hold the cup. "What is your drink of choice?" she asked, now shoving her hands back into the pockets of her jacket.

‹Andrew McGee› "I normally enjoy the company of people like Beam, Walker or Daniels," he replied, hoping she got the joke while following her to the door. The handshake did not bother him at all. Yeah, she held on a bit more than the norm, but he had noticed some of the fangers tended to do that. Especially those who simply wanted to feel the warmpth of a living body again. Still didn't mean he was in any type of danger. Once he was outside, he paused an re-lit his cigar. "So lead on, daughter of ancient Greek myth. Lead me to this dive you speak of so we may sit and bask in the true environment man was meant for."

* Athena did get the joke. It made her laugh. Before her turning she had drank a little herself. Then he spoke of her being a daughter of anicent Greek and she couldn't help but to laugh again. "I will." she walked out the doorway, pushing the door open so they could pass. When he paused, she paused to let him light his cigar. She made a mental note to ask him how he liked it. The night air touched her skin and she sighed. The night had become every part of her and it always brought her peace. "You're not afraid of the dark, are you?" she teased, walking them away from the building and towards the street and the street lights.

‹Andrew McGee› "Afraid of the dark? Depends on what you consider 'the dark'," he replied. It was a pleasent night so far. "Is not the darkness, but what is in the darkness that's the question. In the war I saw my share of strange **** in 'the dark' and you either learned to run or become what the things in the dark were afraid of. That game has not changed at all," he explained as they walked along. "This town? Just a different battle field is all."

* Athena thought about that. Well, maybe she hadn't thought of it before asking. She let him talk, the only sound coming from her was the sound of her shoes against the concrete. "What did you see in the dark during the war? Which war?" she asked two questions, her hands in her pockets still as they walked. It was a few blocks, she knew they would be walking for some time but the thought didn't bother her. For some reason, for some weird reason she wanted to be near him. She wanted to know more, know everything. Maybe she was of the curious sort.

‹Andrew McGee› "The war overseas type of war," he nodded at her question. "The kind of thing that will give you nightmares for the rest of your life." he let the statement end there. He doubted she was old enough to have ever served before, let alone in any kind of combat. It was hard to explain to someone who had never experienced such a thing. Now fighting in the town was totally different. The was street gang stuff compared to what he had experienced before. "Just be glad you never had to deal with such a thing." he managed to add with a smile.