[Open] The Bar (Thread to Mingle In)

[Corentine (DELETED 6472)]

Cori was taken aback for a moment… Myk was actually giving her his shoes. They were not just shoes either..they were a pair of the most fabulous shoes she had ever seen. “ Myk, what will you wear home? I certainly will not be able to carry you.”

Cori had gotten many gifts, when she was turned. Trahir had spoiled her the first few days..but that had now subsided. She wondered if his kindness was shown merely to entrap her. Pushing that thought from her head, she focused on the man in front of her. He seemed almost giddy in the fact that he just gifted her his shoes of death… “ Myk, I do not know what to say..” Cori reached out and took the heels from him, nodding and lowering her eyes. Showing him that she was grateful for the gift and his kindness.

“ I will go grab you another drink, Myk. I promise it will be a tad less caustic than what I gave you first off.” Cori wished she could drink with him. She longed for the feeling that alcohol gave to her, whilst she was human. When she drank, her guards came down a bit and she was more outgoing...her filter was also put to bay...while drinking.

“ As much as I would love to have a drink with you, unfortunately I cannot.” Cori knew that her face showed a bit of sadness..mixed with something else that she was not quite ready to divulge to her new friend.

Cori reached out and placed her hand upon Myk’s…” I will be right back”. Cori realized what she has just done, she touched another vampire… she had been forbidden to do this since the soiree’ with her Andras family, Trahir had forbid her. Cori shrugged her shoulders and retreated back to the bar...she stood for a bit and stared at the plethora of poisons, and decided to choose lemon Stoli. She grabbed an iced shot glass from the cooler, dunked its rim in sugar and poured a double shot for Myk. “ A lemon drop,” she said to herself...perfect.

Cori walked back to the table, assessing the crowd and seeing if she saw anyone that may create an issue. there were none to be found. When she reached the table she put the shot glass on the table,,” I hope this suits you, Myk.”

[Myk]

The Telepath was happy that the Killer was happy. A warm smile spread across red lips as she took the gift so humbly. Her earlier question made him giggle too; Cori was a complete delight and so unlike her Path.

“I’ve walked bare-footed before,” he said with a wink. “Many a times in fact. But… there are other ways to get about…”

Myk was speaking about the tome the Lady had gifted to him, a gift that was used and cherished like nothing Myk had received before it. It was by using this tome that Myk could zip home at the blink of an eye, find his Family, and it was through the Fadeportals that Myk could zip back again into the city, if he liked. Still, that wasn’t something they could immediately discuss and it wasn’t as though Myk expected to talk at length about the subject anyhow. Cori was up on her feet soon after they had spoken and promised to get him another drink. Myk waved her off with a happy grin, expecting her to be back with a cheer, but before she had vanished, she dropped something troubling into the waters. Myk’s hand hung lifelessly in the air, his pewter eyes blinking repeatedly as he stared at her and subsequently watched her leave. Cori had confessed that she couldn’t share a drink with him and this bout of news had struck them both with misery. She had petted his other hand though, trying to reassure him that it was no big deal, but the Telepath was too much like an Allurist for his own good. The sense of disappointment she felt practically radiated off of her and Myk found it difficult to ignore. Even when Cori had returned with the bright yellow drink which smelt of lemon candies, Myk’s face was a picture of grief.

“Thank you,” he murmured, pewter eyes sinking into the pool of yellow liquor. “I… I didn’t mean to upset you though. I know not everyone… can…” Myk paused, looking up to her. He beckoned her with a nod of his head, hoping to share a secret. Of course he could have spoken into her mind directly, but that was a little imposing. “Not everyone can eat and drink as normal,” he whispered once he felt she was close enough to hear. With that secret spilt, Myk sat back and curled his hand around the glass. “It takes practice, I believe. Like swallowing swords and trying not to let that gag reflex kick in. Though… with that said… swallowing swords is a little less… messy.”

[Corentine (DELETED 6472)]

Cori had only been told that she could not eat or drink as usual..she had never tried it. The sadness that had registered upon her face, had to do much more with her current state than not being able to drink alcohol. She was beginning to miss her human family...talking to them, sharing...and feeling genuine affection from them. As of late, the only thing that Cori had felt was anger..anger and a deep need to take out that anger on those that crossed her path.

As of late it had been zombies...but it was a fear of Cori’s that it may progress to others...others that she felt had wronged her in some way. Cori knew that she was alone, more so than she had been whilst she was human. It was not the life she would have chosen for herself, not at all. Of course, with loss comes a benefit. She knew she was stronger than she had ever been, she also had powers that she was still learning to hone. It did not seem enough though...she wanted more.

As she listened to the pewter eyed male, that had just given her his shoes, she felt something. Maybe it was some remnants left of the haze that had come over her a bit ago..maybe it was something different. She sort of felt a kinship with him...and it was not something that she was use to. Her interactions since being turned, had been limited…

“Myk, so are you saying that I could drink something...but it would just cause me some pain?” Cori laughed at the thought...pain was something that she had become accustom to. Numerous gunshots and wounds had riddled her body since she was turned. “ I would like to try a drink, Myk.”

[Myk]

“I hear it is different for all of us,” he corrected quickly with some sternness to his voice. Myk was adamant to not mislead her in anyway. “There are those who feature less… differences from the state they were before their turning, and then there are those that experience many, great changes.” The Telepath let his words tumble into a sigh then. “I wish I could explain more, but, right now may not be the best time. Or the best place… There are so many ears and eyes about.”

Myk hoped that Cori would understand him, but there was a dissatisfying lump in his stomach, one that suggested he was going to fail yet again. Myk’s track record with communicating effectively with others was poor, with misunderstandings occurring frequently. There was a solution to this immediate problem concerning their ability to converse in secret, but Myk was worried about using his power on someone he had only just met, someone who seemed quite new to their world. Was Cori even aware of Telepaths, or of the other Paths at all? Had her sire taught her anything or had he been the type to let her discover as she went? Was Cori’s sire the type that allowed her to trial and error her own learning process as Myk’s sire had done with him?

Myk would never say a word against his own sire, his Temperance, but he was not so blind as to ignore the distance between them. Myk loved Temperance with all his heart, but he knew nothing about her in reality, the same way that she knew nothing about him. It made it easier in so many ways to love one another so unconditionally when faults were not apparent. In cowardice, Myk actually preferred their relationship this way. Although Temperance was barely available, he would not ever hold it against her. Myk smiled, held her close and enjoyed the moments that they did share; he appreciated what they had and wouldn’t want it any other way. Still, as much as Myk enjoyed learning, enjoyed taking on the world in his own unique way, he appreciated it most when others would grant him knowledge out of the blue. In looking to Cori, pewter eyes swelled with anxiety and sadness. He wanted so much to enlighten her, to tell her everything he knew, but he was worried about the outcome. Would she think him condescending? Might she attack him as a result?

Myk bit his lip and closed his eyes, settling the untouched drink back onto the counter. “We could talk better without the veils and the secrets,” he said calmly before opening his eyes. “I have ways and means of making our communications… untraceable. If you’d like…”

[Forsyth (DELETED 6007)]

Things were quiet, even in the apartment alone, even working a job around people, it was too quiet for his liking. He needed to get out, to do something, maybe communicate and attempt to get to know more people then just stay to himself most of the time. There weren't many places he knew about, except the family bar that he went to once - which in his luck he met Dhara, maybe another or he could go up to someone new and attempt to communicate, just like Dhara told him to.

He entered the building and glanced around as he headed to the bar, taking a spot on a stool. He sat there quietly as the noises around him continued, occasionally zoning into one, then out, and back onto a new one. He was good at listening in on gossip, getting to know more about the City that he now lived in. His fingers tapped along the counter as he waited to be served. Lately he was doing quite well with feeding, even if it weighed heavily on his conscious, he knew he needed it, and his supply was getting low since it was only him at the apartment most of the time now.

[Corentine (DELETED 6472)]

Cori understood what Myk was saying to her, all too well. Speaking on specifics of their kind was meant to be done in a more secluded area, out of the glances of prying eyes and open ears. Her attention was immediately transferred to the male that entered the bar...she had not seen him before, during one of her shifts..which caused her curiosity to rise. She paid attention to him, only wanting to ensure that he was served in a timely manner and that he brought no trouble to the bar...it was her job.

Cori’s attention was immediately drawn back to Myk… the softness in his voice was not something she was use to. Was he offering to teach her things? Trahir had taught her much, but it seemed that she was now, was left on her own. She had no sire and her grand-sire had gone awol….gathering knowledge from another would be fantastic. It would be nice to learn from one that did so without the threatening undertone. Cori did not blame Trahir for his approach with her...she surely was not the easiest of students to teach. Obstinate and bullheaded...descriptors that she had heard more than once before. Trahir had tried his best with her, but she had fought him and maybe, even still...will always do so.

“ Myk, I would love nothing more to speak with you in detail… nothing more to lower the veils that surround me.” Cori felt safe with Myk, the pewter eyed, heel wearing male that literally fell into her life. “ Tell me what you want me to do.”

Before Myk could reply, Cori’s attention turned back to the male at the bar...he was still waiting for a drink and getting impatient. She smiled as she watched him drum his fingers upon the mahogany of the bar at which he sat.

[Myk]

The Telepath was aware – on some level – that Cori’s attention was halved. Myk knew that she was doing her job while she was with him and he would never blame her for that. He kept a smile on his lips and kept his eyes on her alone. The Telepath needn’t look to the male at the bar to know he was there, to know that Cori was keeping her sentry’s gaze on him. It didn’t really bother Myk who came and went in this establishment; it wasn’t like he’d come here on purpose at any rate. Maybe if there had been something more than Fate which had brought him here, Myk might have glanced about and partook in people watching. As it was, the Telepath waited for this Killer’s answer and when he had it, that warm, soft smile of his became broad and sharp.

“I hope you excuse the intrusion…” Myk said before finishing the rest of his sentence with telepathy, that deep, silken voice sounding closer and more intimate now that it was playing in her mind alone. “Some Vampires aren’t so keen to have thoughts pushed into their heads like their own, but… This is one of the best ways that I can communicate with you without prying ears.”

As the session of unheard sound played in Cori’s mind, Myk concealed the silence with action. He reached across the table, took hold of his drink and sipped. The lemony fizz and cold burn of the liquid drenched his tongue and the back of his throat, cooling and stirring and thrilling him. Myk smiled and as he set the drink back down, he pushed another wave of telepathy into her mind.

“This is what they call Mind Speak… Which, in effect, is what you would know as telepathy. I can speak into your mind, but you cannot speak into mine. If you wish, however, I can hear your thoughts. You simply have to… err… welcome me into your inner sanctum.”

The lewd-thinking Vampire couldn’t help but smirk at his own joke and could only hope that it wouldn’t offend the Killer sitting opposite him. Myk had no idea how well-versed the lady was in their world of darkness, whether she had felt this power before, but if she hadn’t, no doubt it was a surprise. The fact that he could read her mind, given her permission – though maybe not – was likely an alarming realisation too. Myk only hoped he was not rushing her.

[Corentine (DELETED 6472)]

As soon as Myk began to speak, Cori’s head snapped to face him...his lips were not moving, he was actually drinking!! How the hell could she hear him… telepathy he stated, basically he was in her mind. Cori did not fear what was happening to her, she had seen and had participated in many things, since being turned...all were more frightening than what was happening to her in this moment. This did not even hurt… absolutely no pain.

Cori sighed and gazed at the pewter eyed vampire that sat across from her, the one that had so graciously given his shoes to her a bit earlier. She felt safe with him, which was something quite new to Cori. She had not felt safe with anyone, since Trahir...and that feeling had dissipated over the last few weeks. This stranger was now in her mind, a place that she had never allowed anyone before. Cori held secrets, thoughts that she never revealed to anyone...as a human and as a vampire. If she allowed him in, deeper...would he be able to see these thoughts? If he did, would he use them against her, would he judge her for them? Cori placed her elbows upon the table, and made a decision...hopefully one that she would not regret.

Lower your guard, she thought to herself, let him in...if you want what he has to share with you...you must. Cori closed her eyes and cleared her mind...it was then that she felt a bit of clarity come upon her. Cori had let her guard down...she had let Myk into her mind.

Cori began to think what she wanted to say and not verbalize it...merely a thought and hopefully her guard had dropped far enough to let him in.

“ Myk, how can you do something like this…I have so many questions for you..so many. Can you hear me?”

“There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.”
― Bram Stoker, Dracula

[Myk]

The Telepath knew immediately that this was a big ask. The fact of the matter was that the other Paths were weary of his kind, his abilities. Myk couldn’t blame them for their fear because there was much to be frightened of. A Telepath was easily able to invade someone’s mind, understand their thoughts, their skills, their memories and even their digital history. A Telepath’s access to a person’s existence was not merely limited to the person in front of them and what they remembered either. A skilled Technokinetic and Hacker could also find their digital footprints and sabotage them that way as well. Myk knew what he was capable of, that he could find the dark recesses of her mind where her greatest fears were stowed away and use them to his advantage. As it happened, Myk wasn’t the type to take advantage. The world was lucky that he wasn’t so inclined to world dominating fantasies, but then, Harper Rock’s current residence of the undead weren’t all so favourable.

Myk closed his eyes momentarily and took a slow inhale to steady his emotions. He was so prone to being taken away by the slightest train of thought that their psychic connection could easily become broken. If Myk wasn’t paying attention, it didn’t matter how well relaxed Cori’s guard was, he wouldn’t get anything. So when he relaxed, Myk was able to hear the hushed, echoing voice of her thoughts. Myk smiled this broad scarlet grin that took over his face, content that they had established a connection that was secure from the world around them. The Telepath opened his eyes and nodded to her.

“I can hear you,” he projected the words into her mind with a soothing quality. “And in answer to your first question… I can do these things as naturally as breathing used to be… it’s… just who I am. When we are born to this world, we’re each equipped with certain skills and tendencies. Vampires have come to categorise these abilities and personality traits, giving us labels such as Telepath, Allurist, Killer, Necromancer, Shadow and Mystic. I would be what they would call a Telepath… Likely because of the way most of my abilities seem to stem from the mind, like I am some kind of psychic.”

As Myk injected these words directly into her thoughts, he was weary of how much information he was putting in her head all at once. He had to pause, to let her absorb these facts before he continued else he was afraid her brain would pop like an over-filled balloon. To break up the very obvious external silence, however, Myk took another sip from his drink and then grinned at her.

“The atmosphere here is quite lovely,” Myk said aloud. “Maybe I shall come here purposefully from now on.”

[Corentine (DELETED 6472)]

Cori listened with intent as the vampire spoke into her mind. Cori heard him speak about the varying paths that vampires travel..Myk had chosen the telepath. Cori thought a moment and realized that she surely fell onto the path of a killer. She had realized that with each passing day, her strength grew and at times, a new power came to be. She thought about how each path was chosen, and who chose this path for her?

Myk’s words were like velvet in her mind...quite fluid. The feeling was not something she was use to and yet it was not frightening at all. Cori knew that her secrets, the ones that best not be let out were locked away in a box inside her head. This box was locked with a large lock and she would never give anyone the key to this. In here she shoved everything about Revelation and Trahir...most recently, it is where she stored her love for her new hobby… Myk would not be allowed in here, there would be no reason for him to enter… no reason for anyone to enter.

Cori made the attempt to fiddle around with her hair and scan the crowd as Myk spoke. She knew that sitting there in silence with mouth agape, may attract attention.

She turned towards Myk, after scanning the crowd..”So others have this power, Myk? Is it possible to invade ones mind without one knowing? Is it also possible for you to influence another? I am sorry..” Cori smiled…” I have so many questions for you.”