Those who can ((Marcus DV))

[CharlotteC]

She gave just another quick glance around before leaning forward to pick up her beer again, sipping it just so that she could have a break in the conversation, and then, while holding the mug in her hands and resting it against her lap, she looked at him and laughed softly. "We have what the elders call paths... my path, can eat and drink. All the others can't, with a few exceptions. That said, even water makes those that can't ill, the only thing that they can have is... well what you think." She glanced down to his throat again and then smirked before looking back up at him. Then she sighed a little and continued, "As for getting anything from that way, some of us do have a weakness, can get drunk, high, buzzed... they can even get sick or poisoned. I'm not one of them... sadly." She looked down and sighed softly, she really missed a good buzz, be it from a green plant or caffeine.

Then she leaned in a little more, to the point that it almost could pass as cuddling with him, but her hands were still firmly gripping her drink. Her eyes glanced around once more and then she looked at him, "I can truthfully tell you, I don't know how many know, I know that I keep a few close friends that have close human friends. Then there is me roommate, he's a lot like a brother to me, he knows, but he only knows because he is under my enthrallment. That is what keeps him safe. Any other human... and myself as well." She sighed again and took a longer drink from her beer, wishing and praying that she could feel just a hint of being drunk.

"There is a 'gang' of sorts, they want to keep the secret just that, a secret. And they kill anyone who knows, and kill anyone who breaks that secrecy. Personally, I dislike having to hide in the shadows, to not be who I really am. You knowing could not only get you hurt, but it could send me to a place worse than hell. And personally, I don't want either, for either of us. Sometimes they will let things slide, but that's only if the person that the secret was told to is bound to be lunch, or join us. However, one thing I could never get behind is the fact that they kill their own, and that ticks me off to no end. Fighting with each other, it serves no purpose other than to help those that are the real enemies. The more we fight with each other, the less we are paying attention to them and then what happened to leave these people scared little rats in their shadows will happen again."

She downed the rest of the beer and then glanced over to the bar, wondering if she should get more. Then remembered, what was the point? She couldn't get drunk. Then she looked over at Marcus again and looked at his drink to see if it needed to be refilled. "Shall I get you more before I continue?"

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

As the conversation continued Marcus would occasionally look around the bar and take in as much info as he could while listening to Charlie. He would observe others and even pick out the ones that were very vulnerable to a pickpocket like himself. As Charlie began to explain about paths Marcus took another drink of his beer. It definitely helped his nerves from earlier go away and he was grateful for that. He noticed how she looked at his throat again when she subtly referenced a vampires primary source of sustenance. Of course it had occurred while he was drinking his beer and he choked a bit from the drink. "Very funny..." Marcus said as he tried to recover smoothly but failing horribly. To any outside observer it looked as if Marcus choked from the alcoholic beverage being too strong which would look rather pathetic since it wasn't a very strong beer. Then he saw the way she had said that last sentence and her downcast look. Marcus wanted to crack wise in an attempt to cheer her up but decided to hold his tongue this time.

Marcus was then surprised when she leaned in even closer and he got a bit nervous. He knew she was just trying to stay discreet and not let anyone hear their conversation. Usually it wouldn't have been a problem but something about her was very alluring and he had a hard time keeping his feelings in check. So a slight blush appeared on his face although he was trying to keep a straight face on as he continued to admire her up close. He was trying really hard to not be obvious about it but he doubted that she wouldn't notice if she paid attention. "Enthrallment?" Marcus asked simply, he figured that question didn't need much explanation and didn't trust himself to say any thing else. He took another drink his beer and realized he was nearly out and that he was already feeling the alcohol give him a slight buzz.

Suddenly Charlie dropped a large amount of information on Marcus and he tried to process it all as quickly as he could. A gang of vampires that wanted to stay secret made sense to him. He could also see how more free-spirited people could find this smothering. The threat on his life since he knew would always be present now, awesome. Then she said the only exception was one of two options and he didn't particularly like either one. Before he could get a word in in that she then began talking about how vampires hinted other vampires instead of some true enemy? There was a true enemy of vampires too? What the hell had he stumbled into.

Marcus was still trying to take this all in when he heard Charlie's offer of a refill. He looked down at his nearly empty drink and decided he would need another. Maybe a few more. "Yeah... I could use another." Marcus said as he was still reflecting on everything she had just said to him. He had plenty of questions and wasn't sure which ones to ask first. The two that he found had the most priority were whether he had to become a vampire now to stay off this gangs hit list and what would happen to Charlie that was worse than hell. She had seemed so serious he had no reason to doubt her description of the place. "Before you go, does that mean I need to join this gang to protect us both now? I mean, what could be worse than hell for you? Are you sure we're even safe right now?" He asked with concern for both himself and for Charlie.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie had started to stand up, reaching for his cup, however, his questions thought stopped her short. "Personally, I would prefer that you didn't join that gang, plus, with your aversion to violence, you wouldn't fit with them. They get off on harming anyone and everyone. But thank you for the offer to do it for my protection as well." She sat down in that moment and leaned in again, "As for what could be worse, I will go into that when I get back. And for now, I believe that we are safe, like I said, this place is owned by my mentor. He's not big on violence either and he protects his own." Then she gently patted his knee and gently eased the cup from his grip before she stood once more and made her way over to the bar.

Thankfully, she was back before another woman could try to get in with Marcus and once again ruin their conversation. She sat down, holding out his beer to him as she continued, "Ok, so back to what I was saying. Though, if you need me to stop at any time, if you think you don't want know, just tell me to stop and I will. I don't want to tell you anything you don't want to know and I won't force you to listen either." She said to him and then took a drink from her beer, though as she did, she was wondering just how much they had in common. Would he be just as curious as she had been? Would he want to know more? Or would he be smart in this case and run, run far far away from her before being friends with her could get him killed.

There was a sinking feeling though that he was as curious as she had been. That he would ask questions until he was sure of what he was going to do.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus was visibly relieved when Charlie said she actually preferred he didn't join. Not that he wanted to at all. He smiled at her gratefully as she took his drink and walked toward the bar. He took this short time alone to reflect on the night so far. He had lots of questions burning to be asked but he knew the more he knew the deeper he was burying himself. Maybe he should just stop with the questions and just leave. Nothing was keeping him here. He came for one reason and that reason spit him back out his first night. Marcus was still considering this when Charlie had returned promply with his drink.

"Thanks again." Marcu said as he took the offered drink from her. He listened to her little disclaimer that would have been way more appropriate before telling him about her little gang. "A little late for that warning, don't you think?" Marcus said with a small smile as he drank from his cup. "So, you aren't secretly planning on making me join. If anyone knows I know we are both dead. Or in your case more dead? You can eat food because you're some path which is pretty much a race for your kind. You got crazy cool powered and I'm sure others do as well. And I'm just a normal guy who now knows way too much. Am i missing anything so far?" Marcus asked in exasperation. He sighed and took another drink. "Is there anything really relevant I should know about? I'm not sure how much more information I can absorb tonight." Marcus said truthfully. "Oh, and you won't get into any fights with your mentor for breaking the number one rule of your group?" Be added as an after thought while drinking his beer. He was noticeably drinking it faster than before.

[CharlotteC]

If it had been possible to blush, Charlie would have in that moment. Still, she was able to at least look a little ashamed in the way she had lowered her head and her eyes dropped in that moment. It really had been too late for that warning, and she should have given it to him, should have asked if he wanted to know, if he wanted to be a part of this. She hadn't though, and she felt truly sorry for the fact that what she had told him so far could get him killed. Get him killed and get her sent to that horrible place for gods knows how long. She sighed softly and then lifted her gaze to him, "No, I believe that you haven't missed anything thus far." She said softly, glancing down at her beer again for a moment, she wished she could feel the effects of the liquor, feel that fog that came with alcohol as her brain slowed and her inhibitions vanished.

"The only thing relevant you need to know right now is that I am trusting you with all this information. And that I hope, that at least until it is safe to reveal ourselves that you won't tell anyone what I have told you. There are many of us in this city, so you'll have to be careful who you speak to and about what." She said softly before she glanced around the bar and smirked a little, "While I am sure he won't be happy with me giving up some of our secrets, he is not the kind of man to get violent. He hates conflict of any kind, but I am pretty much like a daughter to him, so I don't think he would be too hard on me." She said softly and then looked back at her beer, "Really, all of this right now depends on my trust in you." She said in that same soft voice as she looked up at him, looked into his eyes.

She hoped that he could see that despite the fact that she was a monster in most people's eyes, even her own kind, that he would see that she was still the same girl she was before she was turned. The person who fought for others, the person that wanted freedom for all in ever sense of the word, the girl that loved her daily bowl, the girl that was the hacker version of Robin Hood. She was what she liked to call a Hacktivist, and even now, she wanted to use her powers for good not evil.

[Marcus Donald Valentine (DELETED 7799)]

Marcus had just finished taking a long drink from the beer when he noticed Charlie's eyes shoot down as well as her slight look of shame. He didn't mean to say it so harshly and regretted it. He knew he could be snarky at times and the alcohol wasn't making him any less snarky. Sure, the fact that he could be killed at anytime for just knowing this was a horrible deal. What was he getting out of this? Nothing he realized as a look of slight anger cross his face. He then sighed and took another drink. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's fine." He said, though his tone wasn't exactly elated.

Marcus leaned back and was only slightly glad he had been keeping up so far. Though her next warning was sort of sobering. He wasn't about to go blabbing all over about vampires like some nut. However, the fact that there were many of them in town wasn't comforting. He looked around the bar and began to wonder how many people here weren't human. Would they kill him if they knew he knew? If they were like Charlie then maybe he was safe but what if they weren't? People were already cruel as it was but give them some more motivation and power and one could only imagine what kind of monsters might be among the vampire. His dire thoughts were interrupted by her mentioning how her mentor would be okay with this, for the most part.

It was all on him. A homeless guy who just got into town. Marcus continued to think in silence, not realizing how much time passed in silence between them. He looked at Charlie and saw her eyes looking back at him, waiting for his response. He wasn't sure what she wanted to hear at this point. He tried to stay positive in most situations but even he had his limit. "Charlie, this is the most life changing night I've probably had since losing my virginity." Marcus said in a semi-serious tone. He looked at her with a smile but was still visibly stressed. "Too bad this night isn't nearly as fun. In all seriousness, you can trust me. Not like anyone would believe me around here anyway." He said a bit wistfully. He finished his beer and put it down. "So, what now? Do I get to meet your 'father' now? Does he need to know about me or something? Or am I your little secret?" Marcus said with a grin and a small wink at Charlie. Vampire or no, she was really cute and the alcohol was making him want to forget about the tense atmosphere. To just go back to joking and flirting with Charlie like on their way here.

[CharlotteC]

Charlie could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn't exactly going to be prancing about happily with the information that she had given to him, and she couldn't help but sigh ever so slightly after he had said it while gently biting down on her lower lip. If ever there was a time she wished that smoking a bowl would get her high, it would be this time, because at least if she were high, she wouldn't feel as sad as she did right now. She had pretty much screwed over this guy's life with just the little bit of information that she had given him. Again, a sigh left her, and she almost missed what he began to say.

Almost.

Her head lifted, her eyes focused, and one brow lifted ever so slightly. There was a small part of her, a part that was still fighting for control over herself that was tempted, so very, very, very tempted to make a joke about how she had popped his cherry in a way. Though, it was safe to say, a joke like that, right after he handed it to her on a silver platter was just too easy to take. At least, for right now. When he said that no one would believe him, she smirked a little. She had had the exact same thoughts when Killian had changed her. Or rather, right before he did. If she had told someone, who would have believed her? Only difference between her and Killian, Killian let his vampire flag fly and didn't care who came after him and anyone related to him. He didn't protect his own. Charlie, she wanted to have freedom to be who she was, tell who she wanted. But until those of her race who thought killing their own was any good were gone, it would never be. So she had to be careful. She had to protect those she counted as family and friends. People like Marcus now.

His joking finally brought a smile to her face, not a full one, but an honest one none the less. "Now we just deal with living as best we can. As for my 'father' as you call him, though he tends to prefer the term 'mentor' because he and I are actually very close in age, he doesn't have to know about you. So yes, you could be my little secret. That is of course if you want to meet him. He wouldn't harm you. Though, the only time you would have to meet him, is if by some chance you wanted to see how the other half of this city lives." She said with a smirk and then leaned up against him and whispered "Then I could pop that proverbial cherry too." Then she bumped him with her shoulder gently and leaned back, taking another drink of her beer.