¤~ Catching up over Cocoa ~¤

[Emma (DELETED 7144)]

<Emma> *She had been nervous about contacting Tay, but the moment she got the good news, she had wanted to call him right away. Things had settled down, and after typing a text perhaps 100 times, she would finally hit send.* [T] You likely don't remember me, but you helped me put up some fliers. Thanks to those, I found what I had lost. So thanks again for your help. - Emma

<Tayden> He was wiping down the glass case in his sister's shop when his phone buzzed against the surface and rattled the glass a little. He dropped the cleaner down, followed by the paper towel and then picked up his phone. Since his sister was here, somewhere in the back, he couldn't think about who might be texting him. Not since Anika died. Tayden opened the message and carefully read it. He was only a few words in when he knew who it was. That redhead from a few weeks ago. * T * Hey, Emma! Great news! I'm glad things worked out for the better! Tay.

<Emma> She had set her phone aside, tending to a few things in her small basement studio apartment. Emma had not expected to get a reply back so quickly. She had been checking on the dogs. All three of them were cuddled up sleeping together. Clearly they had all missed Alexander. Walking back over, she caught sight of the blinking alert light. [T] Thanks, the woman that found him said she saw the flyer we had put up at the shop near your sister’s. I hope I'm not bothering you, just really wanted to share my good news with you.

<Tayden> When no answer came back immediately, Tayden suspected the conversation was as over as it had begun. Short and to the point. Tayden was pleased she was able to find her dog, he remembered how worried Emma was over it-not that he could blame her. The phone buzzed again, just as he was done cleaning the glass counter, and he moved back over to his phone and opened the message to see it was from Emma again. * T * Awesome! I bet he’s glad to be back home again. And no. You’re not bothering me. You’re actually keeping me company. It’s dead in the store tonight. Must be the weather that’s putting people off.

<Emma> She had settled on her couch, and Alexander had managed to wiggle free from the two bigger dogs and was now settled at her side. The world just felt a little better since she had found him. Maybe things could change and get better for her. [T] I like to think he's happy to be back. I swear he has become my grumpy little shadow. So the shops dead? I'm sure that can cause a night to linger on. Are you guys open quite late? I like the cold, was actually thinking about heading out for a walk later if it starts snowing. It's so beautiful in the street lights when it snows. Don't you think?

<Tayden> He read the message and then gave his reply some thought. Tayden didn’t feel one way or another about the snow. If he was inside, he could do whatever it wanted to do out in the world. But if he had to travel in it, then he would prefer for it to not be snowing. * T * I swear I’ve already been here for eight hours, but it’s only been five. And no, I’ve only got about another hour left-even if it feels like I’ve put in a long night. We’re usually closed by ten, but Sunday’s are nine. And sure! If you and the guy want to get out, I can meet you somewhere. Just let me know where?

<Emma> The text conversation had started with Emma unsure the man would even remember her. Though now he wanted to go on a walk with her. She couldn't help the way her smile lingered a little. She had found her Alexander and now had possibly gained a new friend. [T] I could meet you at your sister’s place in an hour? Alexander is crashed, so I'll likely leave him and the other dogs at home. Some fresh air is always nice though.

<Tayden> She wanted to meet him here and he didn’t mind. It wasn’t an out of the world request. She knew that he would be here and there would be no way for him to get lost in some place he didn’t know was at. Even if that was highly unlikely, being he’s lived here his entire life. *T* Sure. Be here at about ten past the hour? We have nightly closing things to do. Maybe next time Alexander can come. Would be nice to meet the dog on the fliers.

<Emma>So she would be meeting up with him and he was already speaking of a next time. It was definitely nice to have someone to socialize with that talked back, her dogs were not much for conversations. As for her sire, something seemed to be bothering the man lately, so she tried hard not to bother him. At least things were getting better working at his shop for her. Though she still made mistakes often. [T] Sounds like a plan. And definitely next time I'll bring Alexander and my other dogs along.

<Tayden> He had been slacking in his night duties, because of his texting to Emma. Good thing his sister was his boss and she knew that wasn’t the norm for him. Tayden looked over the last few words in the final sentence and wondered how many dogs she had, other than Alexander. There was such a thing as a crazy cat lady, but what about a lady who owned a lot of dogs? Not that he thought Emma was crazy-but he knew better than anyone that looks could be deceiving. No one knew he was a blood thief unless he made it a point to let them know. *T* See you in a while! I’ve got to get some serious work done if I want to get out in time! Tayden hit send, put his phone down and went to dusting some shelves near the back of the shop.

<Emma>She had not bothered to text him back right away. Instead she found herself getting up to freshen up a little. She was still dressed in the outfit she had worn to work. Emma found that if she really went all out with attention to how she looked, many seemed a little more understanding of her lack of knowledge of motorcycles. She would straighten up a few things, but time seemed to be crawling. Though when it got close to time, she would slip on pair of black knee high boots before heading out. [T] On my way, see you soon.

<Tayden> He was finishing up the last of his check list for the night, when he heard from Emma again. Tayden saw that she was still coming and sent a short reply to her. *T* Great! I’ll probably be outside when you get here. I’m almost done. Tayden made sure all the cash registers were left open after they had been cleared, so it was as simple as putting money in the drawer and closing it in the morning. When he did that, he checked the list again and then moved to the coat rack, slipped his coat on, flicked the switch off and then headed out to lock the place up for the night.

<Emma> Walking out, into the night, it was a pleasant sight to see the light slow flurries that fell from the clouded night sky. Little snowflake caught in her straight lounge red hair as she walked to the transit. Once she took the transit, the shop was not far. She must have had perfect timing, as by the time she approached the shop, he was already outside locking up. Her approach was far from quiet, the sound of her shoes always gave her away. "Fancy running into you again." She could not help but joke a little. A small smile played at her lips. "So, still up for a walk?"

<Tayden> Tayden zipped up his coat and then blew warm air into his hands as he scanned to the left and then scanned to the right in search of Emma. He saw her by her red hair first, it stood out like an ember in a roaring flame did. It was an attractive and bright quality. Tayden definitely had a thing for redheads because of the way they stood out. Not that he quite saw Emma like that, he didn’t really know much about her other than she had multiple dogs and had moved here at some point, recently. “Yep. I was just in the neighborhood, hanging out around all these closed shops.” He smiled at her before coughing into his hand. “So where are we going?”

<Emma>She came to a halt not far from where he stood. There was simply something about the man before her. He seemed to truly had a kind heart, to have helped a complete stranger in such a way. "Hanging outside closed shops? Sounds exciting." It was nice to speak with the hint of a playful tone. Emma certainly felt comfortable around him. She noticed then as he had coughed, and for a moment questioned if walking in the cold was the best idea. "Are you feeling alright? I could perhaps walk you home? And maybe we could re schedule our walk for another time?"

<Tayden> “Sounds illegal.” He corrected Emma, because anyone hanging out near closed shops had to be up to no good in his mind. “And no, I’m fine. It’s just a little cold. I tend to hibernate as much as possible in the winter. Or run from place to place.” Tayden admitted with a shirking of his head from embarrassment,. To think some guy couldn’t withstand the cold was sort of preposterous, wasn’t it? “I’m glad to walk wherever you want to. Fresh air tends to make people sleep better or something. I read a long time ago.” He said as both his hands claimed a spot in both of his pockets before looking at her. “We could walk in the direction of my apartment and maybe stop for something to eat on the way there or something?” He suggested, thinking it would be a good idea to have a mid-way stopping point for both their sakes.

<Emma>She was held up for a moment on his words. A cold? "I want to say there is this coffee shop not far from here that has soup too. That sound good? If anything, it would be something to warm you up a little?"

<Tayden> Emma was probably the nicest person he knew, next to his sister. Before the Paladin’s held her as their captive. She had been changed, had a little resentment towards them, not that he blamed her. But before all this, she didn’t have an ounce of resentment in her. The word just didn’t exist, even if she didn’t like or mesh a lot of people. Resentment was a lot different than saying, ‘I don’t like that girl.’ “Sure. If that’s okay with you? Do you like soup?” Really, he didn’t want to make Emma go anywhere she didn’t want to go, or wouldn’t go to.

<Emma>As she spoke then, she would step a little closer to him. “Do you like soup?” She thought for a moment, and smiled a little before she continued. “I have always loved hot chocolate. It smells nice, and the cup keeps your hands all nice and warm.” Such an odd thing to love, the feel of warmth. Emma still was not used to the idea of how cold she felt all the time. It’s why she loved when her animal companions would cuddle close to her. Or just the feel or being close to a fire, or even holding a hot beverage in hand, even if she couldn’t tolerate drinking it.

<Tayden> Tayden thought about the offer of soup. He didn’t dislike soup or like it. He preferred other things-like burgers and fries. But he wouldn’t turn down a nice bowl of hot soup in the middle of winter either. He chuckled at Emma’s explanation of her like for hot cocoa and found himself agreeing. He was more of a soda drinker, but he liked cocoa for the same reason. “I do like hot cocoa.”Tayden started out as he looked through the windows they bypassed.”And soup. If it’s filling. Too many soups just aren’t.” He confessed, like chicken noodle. Other than the noodles, it would never sustain anyone’s real appetite.

[Tayden (DELETED 7355)]

<Emma>She walked along with him then, in the direction of the coffee shop. It was so easy to make such casual conversation with Tay, and she truly enjoyed the simplicity of it. “Do you like marshmallows or whip cream on you hot cocoa when you drink it?” Emma never minded a few marshmallows, they melted nicely and didn’t affect the temperature much. At mention about soups, she would give a small nod. “I get that, but they are quite nice for the warmer days. Though the coffee shop has other things as well. Like sandwiches and many different baked goods. They all looked quite appetizing the last time I went in…” She couldn’t lay claim to the taste, as she had never actually eaten anything they sold.

<Tayden> He didn’t even blink or hesitate when she asked him how he liked his cocoa. “Marshmallows. Definitely. Was my favorite memory from when I was a kid. My mom making Teagan and I some in winter. She always had two cups waiting after school.” He laughed and then shook his head at the memory. “You should get something. Why look, when you can just buy something and try it?” He bit back his tongue. Maybe she didn’t get anything because Emma had a limited income. He understood that. Teagan and he had been scraping by paycheck to paycheck before she started her own businesses. “My treat.” He smiled at her, avoiding the potentially awkward conversation about finances.

<Emma>She could not help but wear a lingering smile as he spoke of a fond memory of mother making hot cocoa for him and his sister. It reminded Emma of such things, and the family up north that she had to give up. Being the youngest of so many, and the only girl, Emma was quite accustom to family having done such things for her. Her mother and she had been close, and her father was a warm loving man who always took care of his little girl. Her eldest brothers, had always watched out for her and it would not have been a lie to confess she had always been spoiled with love from those family members who were so dear to her. At his question then, she found her tongue playing over her permanent fangs, behind her closed lips. “Some foods just don’t settle well with my stomach. I sort of have to watch what I eat….” It was not a complete lie, those sorts of food would make her sick, it would all just come right back up. An experience even as a vampire, it was not very fun. “Though I wouldn’t pass on a cup of hot chocolate though.” Even if just to hold it close and feel its warmth, to smell the sweet chocolate and pretend to drink it. Emma had done this plenty times before. The cups they had at the shop, had those black lids that hid the contents of the cup. “Are you always so kind to those who wonder into your sister’s shop?” Asked with a small hint of a playful tone. She would guess that he was, he just seemed the type.

<Tayden> Tayden nodded his head in understanding. Acid reflux and such. He got that from certain foods, more on the spicier side of things.”Yeah. Sure. If that’s what the lady wants.” Tayden looked at Emma after seeing a store he might check out later on their way to the cafe. “And I’m always nice, but I typically don’t hang out with the clients-unless it’s for a class or something. And I’ve never offered to buy one anything to eat or drink until now…” He rubbed at the hair on his face, wondering if she would ask about that in greater detail. He decided to try and avoid that by asking her something else. “So how many dogs do you have again? I’m sure you told me, but I can’t remember and all I can remember is Alexander’s name.” There, something she will focus on and forget about all the other crap he just said.

<Emma> His words, the way he shared them had her smile, and if she could have blushed, she likely should have done so in that moment. She found her eyes lingering to the sidewalk for only a brief moment, before glancing back to him, only to make a small comment on such. “Well, I definitely consider myself lucky then.” That was all that would be said though, as his following question seemed geared to change the subject. “I have three dogs. Alexander, he’s quite small, though I have had him the longest. The other two are Alaskan Huskies, Apollo and Artemis. At one time I had been training them to be sled dogs….” She trailed off, that was a thought of past goals and plans. Her family had several such dogs, and her brothers and father had been in countless races. Emma had always hoped to enter one herself, but hopes and dreams had a way of changing. “Do you have any pets?”

<Tayden> He thought about the names of the other two dogs she had. All of them had started with the letter ‘A,’ but the other two were named after greek gods and goddesses, wasn’t it? Tayden paid attention in school, but when you're bogged down with a ton of stuff in a short few months, it made it impossible to remember stuff you won’t have to care about later on in life.He shook his head, then bent down to snatch a coin up from the ground and put it in his coat pocket. “Nope. I don’t think my sister and I are pet people.” He said with a laugh. “We not only work together, but we live together too. The city just isn’t safe for people to be living by themselves anymore.” He said with a shrug. “Good thing you’ve got some guard dogs living with you.” He’d hate to hear about anything bad happening to Emma.

<Emma>“Not pet people? What about having a fish, or maybe a reptile? They don’t require as much attention…. Well, at least you’re not a cat person.” The last part was only a joke, Emma didn’t mind cats at all. She loved all animals. “I think that’s so awesome that the two of you are so close. It reminds me of how it used to be with my brothers.” The words slipped before she would try and move onto something different. “Alexander is a great guard dog, he will bark at anything unfamiliar to him that enters his living space. The other two dogs, I think they could sleep through anything. I’m not far from my S… friend that lives in the same building as me. I work at his shop, he sort of looks out for me.” How did one describe a sire, without actually expressing that was difficult to do.

<Tayden> “Well, her and I just sort of moved back in together.” Tayden said with a shrug. “She’s had a lot going on in her life before that. I don’t think she would want or need the extra responsibility of taking care of anyone or anything, other than herself. And I’m not always home a lot.” He admitted. “Oh?” Tayden looked genuinely interested in the mention of Emma working at a shop. “Where’s it at and what kind of shop?” He asked as Tayden focused on the cafe he was sure she had been talking about.

<Emma>At his question of the shop she worked at, she would laugh lightly to herself before talking about it. “You will likely find it funny, I know I do when I think about it sometimes. It’s a motorcycle repair shop and the funny part is I know nothing about motorcycles. I actually only recently only went on a ride on one. I didn’t drive though….. I don’t know that I could…..” It was still all so amusing, but that shop held memories for her. She had nearly died outside of that shop. Her throat had been slit and her left for dead. Ryland showed up just in time, but it had all been a very painful transition. “I just answer phones, and schedule appointments…. Simple stuff like that.”

<Tayden> He stopped and just looked at Emma. He never would have pegged her for working at a repair shop for motorcycles. He did laugh, because it surprised him. When she went on to say she answered phones and did paperwork, he nodded. “That’s pretty cool. I don’t know how to drive one either, or never ridden on one either. So, you’re one up on me.” He continued walking and pointed to the cafe. “Is it that one there, or….down there more?” He pointed to the next block they were going to be approaching in a couple of minutes.

<Emma> she would laugh a little with him, and then add. “I don’t think it really counts though. I did have my eyes closed for the majority of the ride.” She had not told her sire about that part, but he likely had guessed at such, since she had never asked him for a ride home again after that one time. As he pointed out the café, she would node. “That would be the one. “ shared as she would point out the one closest to them. “Maybe some time, you could come by my work and I’ll show you around and pretend I know what I’m talking about.” The words a sincere offer, though shaded playfully with the add of pretending to know about motorcycles.


<Tayden> Tayden laughed when she said she had had her eyes closed for the entire time. “Yeah. I could do that. I mean, I guess I’ve always wanted to see one up close and personal. They look tricky to ride and even get up on.” Tayden moved in front of Emma a little so he could open the door for her and only after she stepped in, did he follow after her. “I don’t think I’ve been in this place for years.” He commented idly, while looking around to see if the outlay was still the same and if some of the same people still worked here.

<Emma>“Well, there are many bikes to check out. The showroom is full of so many different custom style bikes and the shop does custom builds to fit what a buyer is looking for. I really make a great secretary for the shop.” She teased. As he held the door open, she would thank him and walk in. At his remark then, she couldn’t help but ask. “Have you always lived here in this city?” A wonder then, did he knew what was so different about this city, like all its little dark secrets. “They have the best hot chocolate here… perfect marshmallow coco ratio.” Spoken as her eyes lingered around. “Where shall we sit? Maybe a booth away from the windows? That way it would be a little warmer…”

<Tayden> “Yeah. We both have. Teagan is actually my twin sister. Not identical-obviously.” He chuckled as Tayden’s eyes landed back on Emma.”I’m only older by a few minutes. I guess I was eager to come out and make sure she came out alright. Or something.” Tayden always had his eyes on his sister, when he could. He felt like someone had to.

“Booth from the window sounds really good.” He agreed, then pointed to a booth near the middle back of the cafe. “How about there?” He smiled at Emma, then extended a hand out, to let her know she could go wherever and he would follow her.

<Emma>"I bet you could pull off pink hair if you wanted?" Shared as she recalled him mentioning before that his sister had pink hair. Emma found Tay attractive sure, though what stood out to her the most, was his kind nature. He even looked out for his sister, even joking about how he had been doing so since birth. "I suppose that's just the role of a brother.... I know mine were always watching out for me. Perhaps a little too much at times." Emma had always attribute that over protection to why she never really dated back home. Her brothers could be a little intimidating and the town was small as it was. "That booth looks great." Spoken before heading over, and sliding in one side. "I wonder if I could pull off pink hair." She wondered aloud, now that she was thinking about it again.

<Tayden> He followed after Emma, chuckling under his breath. “I don’t know...thought about lime green actually. St. Patrick’s day is coming up.” He teased before sliding in the booth across from her. “Why would you want to change your hair color? I think the red looks great. On you. I mean it looks great.” Tayden stumbled over his words, thinking how he could advance back from the foot he put in his mouth. “Is it real? Your hair color?” He always wondered-lots of women dyed their hair, and her hair was the first thing that drew him into the woman. After that, it was her soft and gentle nature.

[Emma (DELETED 7144)]

<Emma> "Lime green? That could be fun?" As she spoke, she would slip off her jacket, and unravel the fuzzy black scarf that had been around her neck. "Pink just sounds fun.... my mother would never had allowed me to do such a thing before." At his last question she would smile and laugh a little. "It's my natural color. I suppose i like it more now, then when I was younger. Kids can be cruel about anything. Being called carrots, not all that fun." She would smirk. Reaching for one of the menus on the table, she would slide it over to him. "So, what looks good? I already know what I'm getting."

<Tayden> Tayden snorted a little at her words, not because he thought what Emma said was stupid, but he didn’t agree with the lime green look. At all. He was happy with how he looked, and didn't feel the need to change much, or anything about himself. “Could be fun. Somehow it never is fun for guys to dye their hair. It’s not seen the same way as a woman dying her hair. WHat’s fun for her, isn’t fun for that guy. It’s strange or something like that.” Tayden glanced at the menu stuck in a holder and then nodded. “I know. Hot cocoa with marshmallows and a couple of their raisin oatmeal cookies.” He mused over her words about being called a carrot and then made a subtle joke about carrots. “Well, you know they say carrots are good for your eyes.” Might have been a tad too much. Tayden wasn’t the type to flirt a lot.

<Emma> The tips of her nails played over the edge of the table before her. "I guess I can understand that. I could never understand the double standards that exist. Like with my hair, growing up I always kept it long, and have never colored it. My mother wouldn't even let me use a curling iron or straightener until I was 18." She had to laugh a little at the thought. " but yet my oldest brother had dreadlocks down to the middle of his back." She would stop then and simply shift her train of thought. It still hurt to think about never seeing them again. " Well, now it's just a wait for a waitress.... they can be a little slow about service. But they are always super nice." At his comment about carrots though, her eyes would shy away for a moment. Her smile felt unfading, he was truly sweet, even if such words were not intended the way she thought of them. Looking back to him, she smile still. "So have you always lived here in this city? It's an odd place for sure, I'm not used to so many people."

<Tayden> Tayden was already looking around for a waitress before Emma mentioned it. He was still listening, but wanted to get a feel for how long it might be before they saw a sign of a member of their waitstaff. He saw two women, one on one end and the other on their end doing work. One was taking an order, the other was setting up a table for the next customer, silverware and glasses for water were turned upside down and placed on the table.

“Huh?” He asked as she asked about the city and the longevity that he’s been here. “Yeah. Whole life.” He nodded as his gaze turned back to Emma. “We used to live on the other side of town actually. Close by Newborough.” He told her, figuring it was fine to share things like that. It was in the past and they didn’t live there anymore. “Odd? What do you mean?” Tayden inched forward, waiting to hear about her perceptions of the city.

<Emma> She found it interesting that the man had lived in the city his whole life. Emma couldn’t help but wonder just how much he knew about the unseen aspects of the city. Though she would do her best to keep her lips shut about certain things. They were hard not to talk about though. Now that Emma really thought about it, Tay was actually the first human she had held a conversation with since her turning. Not that she knew many vampires, the people she associated with was of a very small number, one that consisted lately of just her sire alone. Tay was easy to talk to, and it was such a nice change to how her social life had been lately. As highly as she thought or her sire, that she adored, he was not much of a talker, where Emma could ramble on and on at times. If this had bothered her sire, he didn’t make it known. It was quite often that she could catch him at work, and unload a mound of questions all seemingly at once.

“Moving here was the first time I had ever left Alaska..” She felt compelled to share such a simple fact. Yet in a way, it was a way of expressing how she could sort of relate. As he spoke though, she could not help but wonder a few things about him. Why had they moved from the Newborough area? Not that Emma really knew where that was, without having to look at her phone. She hated the thing, honesty. Never had she had to rely on such a device so much. She used the googles maps more than anything. His question though, had the man before her holding her full attention. Out of habit, one of her hands would reach to twirl a strand of her hair. Normally Emma had her hair done with long hanging curls. Tonight though, it was bone straight, and fiddled with few strands of it as she considered his question.

“Well, it’s odd not knowing where everything is. I don’t remember getting lost back home, but do so here quite often. There are so many places and lots of people. Definitely not something I’m accustomed to. I guess I’m just still caught up in a little culture shock of what it’s like to live in a  city.” All of her words were completely honest. Yet, she had left out word of the odd sort of things that she discovered to dwell within this city.

<Tayden> The guy nodded in understanding. He couldn’t imagine leaving here and then going to Alaska. It would be a culture shock, as Emma referred to her own experience as. So he understood. Sort of. He could empathize without actually knowing what she was talking about personally.

“Well, if you ever need help finding a place, you could talk to me. I don’t mind helping you out. Just shoot me a text or call me. I will try my hardest to answer in a prompt time frame. Unless I’m really tied up.” Tayden didn’t go out of his way to ignore people, most of all people he viewed as a friend.

Tayden put a finger in the air to catch the attention of a waitress, who nodded her head and approached the two of them. ”Hi! I’m Jenny. What can I get the two of you today?” Jenny pulled out a small order notepad from her black apron and then a pen and waited for the two of them to place their order. “I’m going to go with the oatmeal cookies-the three for two deal and a hot cocoa with some marshmallows and then whatever she’s going to have.” Tayden set the small menu aside and looked at Emma, waiting to hear if she was going to keep her order the same, or if she had a last minute change of mind.

<Emma> As Tay spoke, a smile would linger, and she still fiddled with a strand of her hair. "Well, If that's the case, it might be tempting to get lost on purpose." She couldn't help but tease a little. Emma was in much higher spirits since she had found Alexander. She had almost commented on the remark he made about being treaty tied up. She had moments of taking things literally. Did someone really tie him up? She just as quickly dismissed the thought, realising of course he had been referring to being busy.

As she waitress approached, she sat quietly as Tay gave her order. Once he finished, Emma would smile to the waitress, though being sure not to show off too much of her teeth.  " Hello Jenny. I would also like a hot cocoa with some marshmallows. Thank you.. " The waitress made not of the order, and would wonder off to put it in.Emma's attention held once again to the man before her. A human... was it really a good idea to be hanging around a human? It was not a subject she had discussed with her sire entirely.

Regardless though, Emma found Tay's company pleasant and he didn't seem the sort that would want to bring her harm. What if he discovered the truth about her? Would he be disturbed, or maybe he had already heard about vampires? He had lived in the city his whole life, there was a good chance he already had experience with vampires. "So, tell me more about your sister's shop? I think you had mentioned something about classes? Do you teach some sort of class?" It was not surprise that she wished to learn more about him.

<Tayden> Tayden laughed and then shook his head when Emma asked if he taught any classes. “No. I can’t even begin to pretend I know anything about self-defense and how to instruct it. I actually take the class that’s offered at my sister’s shop.” He admitted a little sheepishly, before Tayden looked around the cafe again. “Our shop sells a lot of things-things people can use to defend themselves. There’s a lot of not so nice people in the city.” Tayden admitted, careful on how he phrased that. “Every city has that though.” Tayden finished up as Jenny came by with their drinks and then slapped her forehead with the open palm of her left hand. “I forgot your cookies.” She rushed off to go get the cookies Tayden had ordered and brought them back as soon as she had left.

[Tayden (DELETED 7355)]

<Tayden> “You should stop by. Try a class out. Free session.” Tayden suggested before taking a drink from his cocoa cup. “Everyone should learn how to defend themselves if the chance every arises. And it might. Unfortunately.” Tayden said with a small frown before picking at one of the cookies on a paper napkin that said the name of the cafe they were at.

<Emma> She found it interesting that he took the class, though it was not a bad thought. It was definitely something someone should hold a little knowledge about. She still wondered who might have taught the class. His sister perhaps? Tayden’s words would draw her in though, and she couldn’t help the small comment that would slip. “Every city has them?.... Bad people I mean?” She covered it up a little at the end. Though this city was full of things that were dangerous, like those that lurked in the sewers. Emma had had her share of bad encounters when going to one of her sires places in the sewers.

Thankfully the waitress had come with drinks, and Emma would thank her. She would press open the small part of the plastic lid. It was open to drink out of, but Emma didn’t plan on actually drinking it though. But she held it in her hands, enjoying the feel of how warm the beverage was. Puckering her lips a little. She would blow into the opening as if attempting to cool it. Though she simply was enjoying the smell of the hot chocolate mixed with the scent of melting marshmallows

“That would be nice, it certainly couldn’t hurt to acquire such a knowledge.” With what Tay had said towards the end, she could not help but wonder something. Had had some bad experiences within this city, to have him hold such an opinion. “Growing up, my father taught me how to shoot. They were all into hunting. Sometimes they would take me along with them, but I could never bring myself to shoot an animal. Though I did quite well with those paper targets….” She could not help but smile a little at that thought. It always drove her brothers crazy that she had been a better shot, and that she didn’t shoot animals.

<Tayden> Tayden looked at Emma, a little skeptically as she asked about bad people in every city. He seemed confused. Didn’t Alaska have any bad people? “Well, yeah. I mean you have your low level thugs.” He started out, after grabbing one of the cookies and started eating it instead of picking piece off it. “Help yourself if you want to.” He offered, pushing the paper napkin in the middle of the table so it came between them more, than just sat by his. “Thieves, people with anger issues, that sort of stuff.”

He finished chewing the cookie part he had in his mouth before going on. “I’m sure Alaska had crime? Maybe not where you lived, but there has to be jails there, right?” He urged her to think about what she knew, or heard about crime in Alaska. Maybe they didn’t. He didn’t know. Tayden had never been there before, so it was possible people lived too far away from each other to be jerks to their neighbors.

He chuckled thinking about paper targets. “Well, we don’t use weapons in these classes. It’s more about using your body as a weapon, or getting out of bad situations that could get worse as time goes on. Maybe you could come and knock me on my ***.” He grinned thinking about how that very well might be possible. Tayden wasn’t a good fighter by any means, but he was sure he could fend some people off for a little while before he did a runner.

<Emma> She enjoyed the feel, and smell of her hot beverage in hand as Tayden spoke. Emma would ponder over things mentioned, as if in thought reminding herself of what they were and what she didn’t understand about them. Low level thugs, thieves and people with anger issues. Did Alaska have such people, surely but Emma had never encountered them before. One thing she had certainly never encountered in Alaska was vampires, zombies, hunters, and the list could go on. As he had offered some of his cookie, she would just smile and thank him, but she would not reach for one.
“I’m sure they do… It’s just nothing I ever encountered myself. My life before coming here was quite sheltered.” She was still indecisive if it was a bad thing or not to have grown up in such a way. It was nice during her youth, but had not truly prepared her for the world that awaited her. Had Emma had a better knowledge of what to expect in the world, she could very well still be human. No use in holding regrets over such things though, she had to move on, to make the best of the new path fate had chosen for her.
As he spoke of the class again, she was quite intrigued. With his comment about knocking him on his ***, her smile would brighten a little. “I could never do such a thing.” She assured him, and truth be even if it were for learning purposes, Emma could not see herself doing such to the man across from her. “Who teaches the classes? Are there a lot of people that take them? Does everyone have to participate in the class activities? I might be a little embarrassed to have a lot of people watching me…” Her smile lingered a little shyly at the thought.

<Tayden> Tayden listened to Emma, nodding his head. He couldn’t really understand not living in a place where there were people who were scrupulous in nature, but it sounded...different? Maybe even nice? He shuffled in his booth, thinking about her questions at the end. “Well, there’s some instructor-she’s pretty good. And I hope no one is watching me. We’re typically partnered up, so I doubt anyone’s really watching anyone. That might be a little embarrassing.” Tayden said with a nervous chuckle before shrugging.

“Maybe we should rename it a comedy club.” He traced his jawline, his thumb brushing against the bristle on his face. “Maybe we can do something else instead. Something you’re more comfortable with.” Tayden offered with a small shrug before he finished the rest of his oatmeal raisin cookie and then raised a hand to cough into that hand. Had he just suggested something potentially different to hanging out, doing some classes at his sister’s shop? “What are some things you like to do? Other than taking care of your dogs?” Tayden asked before taking a large gulp of his cocoa, eyes on the woman across from him.

<Emma> Holding her cup still, she pretended ever so often to drink from it. Listening to Tayden, she hung on every word. Though was a little concerned when he had coughed again. She couldn’t help but feel bad for keeping him out for her own selfish reasons of enjoying his company. “Well, hopefully you get to pick your own partner? It would be far less embarrassing if I was able to participate in the class with someone I knew.” Though the list of people she knew within the city was quite small, and honestly she could not exactly claim that she knew any of the very well. She hid things as well, or at least tried. Such as this moment, with Tayden. As far as she knew, he had no idea what she truly was, a vampire, and that should would rather drink blood then pretend to sip her cocoa.

“I don’t feel a comedy club would be an appropriate name.” She smirked, knowing he was only teasing, but would comment on it anyways. “It’s great that your sister offers those classes. It’s a very serious thing, that a person should know how to defend themselves….” His last question had her wonder a little…. The things she did that didn’t involve her dogs or work, were quite boring (well the ones she could mention). She hunted zombies in the catacombs when she could. Best to get fighting practice done with the undead, but taking classes seemed a far better option. Definitely a more social way to train. As of now, she would go and train alone, and then head home alone (aside from her pet companions). With a class it would involve interactions, ones that could possibly lead to social interaction even after the classes.

“You must promise not to laugh…” She added playfully before continuing. “I enjoy spending time at home…. Back home, it was I did a lot. I was either at my cabin, or up at the shop my parents owned. So I guess my habits have stayed much the same. I’m at work, or out with the dogs, home with them. I like to knit and crochet. I love reading, all sorts of things. Oh and those complexed coloring books, I absolutely love those…. And crossword puzzles…” She had to laugh a little. “Oh my, I do sound like an old woman? I guess I just need to find more things to be into now that I live in a more populated are. I went and seen my very first movie at a theater last month. It was very interesting, watching on such a large screen…” Emma could not even guess what he was likely thinking. “What about you? What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at your sister's shop, or helping strangers put up fliers or buying them hot cocoa?”

[Tayden (DELETED 7355)]

<Tayden> He listened and then thought about everything she said. Emma was a homebody-nothing wrong with that in Tayden’s mind. It was probably safer for her in the long run that the woman wanted to stay inside. What if the Paladins came after her like they had his sister? Maybe it was next to impossible knowing two women that that happened to-but this was Harper Rock.

“No. Sounds like you just like to keep your mind active and working.” Tayden didn’t think she sounded like an old woman, and Emma certainly didn’t look like one either. “And it’s safe inside. I’m sure there aren’t a lot of people bothering people at home. Least not while they are at home.” He thought on what he said and believed what he said sounded awkward. “I mean, it’s very rare people are getting robbed while they’re at home. I think anyways. If I hear you’re home-let’s say, but your neighbor isn’t...where to you think I’m going to go?” He realized that might not sound much better. “Not that I would do that.” He said quickly, not wanting Emma to think he was that kind of person.

Tayden thought about the things he liked to do. “I like to watch movies inside. I don’t go to any of the theaters in town much. I think it costs almost thirty bucks for just me to go to a movie. It’s overly inflated.” Tayden shook his head before sighing. “I like to play some computer games too. Card games, minesweeper, things like that.” He laughed and then grabbed another cookie and broke it in half. “If you like movies, I could bring one over by you sometime, or you could come over by me.” He offered after taking a bite of his cookie.

<Emma> She enjoyed how he seemed to make light of how she basically admitted to not having much of an active social life. It was true though, she was much safer at home, compared to being out within the city. Emma knew first hand how cruel this city could be, it was a cruel action that had her sire find and save her. She would continue to enjoy the feel and smell of her beverage as she listen to his speak. Though as usual, she found herself curious. “What's minesweeper?” The words would just sort of slip out.

“Sorry..” Shared with a lingering shy smile. “Is it a type of computer game?” She tried to recall if she had ever heard of such a thing, but could only find herself thinking about actual mines. Like landmines? That would have been a dangerous game were it actually something literal. Her thoughts would drift to movies though, and she found it hard to believe that it could cost so much to see a film. “I do like movies…. I'm a little embarrassed to admit there are several I have never seen. Would be nice to get a few good suggestions. Maybe we could watch a movie sometime?” She wanted to, but also could not help but think what that could mean. Spending time alone, with a human, would that be safe?

She felt she could trust herself, and felt that she could trust him. He had been nothing but kind to her. “What are some of your favorite movies?” Growing up, her parents had been very strict on what her and her brothers could watch. Still to this day Emma had never watched a rated R movie. Perhaps that's what made some of the cruelties of the world so much harder to handle.

<Tayden> Tayden wasn’t surprised that Emma didn’t know what Minesweeper was. It was an old game and hardly stimulating to people his age. Most went for games that were full of action, missions, things of that nature. “It’s a game where you get so many turns and you have to click on squares, hoping not to set off a mine. There’s usually a set number of mines and clues that a mine or mines might be near a square based off the number under a square you click to open.” Tayden explained after finishing the cookie. “I could show you sometime. It’s one of those games that makes you think and side on caution.” He laughed and then shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not overly good at it. Just okay.” Tayden admitted after laughing a little.

“And, well. I like things like Fifth Element, Armageddon, Lucy, the Taken movies, Colombiana...little bit of violence, but good plot lines. I like comedies too. Anchorman, The Hangover movies...I’m open to a variety of things.” He picked up the other part of the cookie and popped it in his mouth. “I could bring a comedy over sometime. If you want.” Tayden offered, figuring comedy was more in line with what she might watch, then some of the violent movies.

<Emma> She did as best she could to follow his explanation of the minesweeper game, but found herself a little lost in the words, and it likely shown on her face. How odd she must have come off, to be baffled by such a thing. Yet here he was, offering to show her the game sometime. There was something oddly comforting in the idea of the different suggestions he offered for chances to see her again sometime. A simple thought that held her smile, as she found herself doing the same exact thing.

“I have never watched any of those movies before.” Maybe to any other modernday cultured individual, she would have not wished to admit such, but felt Tayden would never judge her over such things. “What would you say is your overall favorite movie? If you had to pick one…” She hoped he was not tired of her endless stream of questions, simply Emma wanted to know more about him. She felt her cocoa in hand slowly losing heat through, and would pretend once again to take a drink. It was just a reminder of how different they were. What if he found out what she was? Would it freak him out? Or would it anger him that she had lied and pretended not to just be another monster of the city.

<Tayden> Tayden could see the look in Emma’s eyes and the expression of confusion written on other features of her face as he kept talking. When Emma said she hadn’t seen any of the movies he mentioned, Tayden’s mouth stood slightly agape in surprise. As soon as he realized it-and how rude that might be, Tayden closed his mouth and then said quite plainly without any second thought, “We should rectify that sometime.” He nodded his head, and thinking on what his favorite movie was. “I think FIfth Element, or Lucy.” It was a toss up, and hard for him to choose just one-but those were in his top two.

“What’s your favorite book?” Tayden put the attention on Emma-if only for the reason of getting to know his newfound friend, then to figure out what genre she liked. To see if they might like the same type of genres.

[Emma (DELETED 7144)]

<Tayden> He figured it was highly unlikely since she didn’t watch a lot, or any movies and had never heard of the movies he even listed just a few minutes ago. “What’s your favorite genre?” Tayden inquired, leaning against the back of the booth to get more comfortable.

<Emma> “I’ll definitely add those to my list of must see movies. Well, I don’t actually have a list, but it seems I should start one.” Her words played, before pretending to drink from her cup again. She would set it down upon the table, her eyes wandering around the shop for a moment as she considered his question. “Well, it's a little tricky to pick one. Growing up there was a small series that I really liked. It only had three short books, called The unicorn series by Tanith Lee. Black Unicorn, Gold Unicorn,and Red Unicorn. I have always really enjoyed fantasy, even if my mother did frown upon it. Ted Dekker wrote a series I always liked too,The Circle Trilogy, black, red, and white. Just fiction like that, Tolkan wrote several books I enjoy too.”

Emma realized she was rambling a little, but she simply kept going. “Romantic novels would have to be a close second. I loved Message in a bottle, the end of that book made me cry, silly I know.” Her smile brightened a little with confessing such. “I watched the movie too….. but it was not as good as the book.” Out of habit, her teeth would play over her bottom lip. She contemplated things, like if she was talking too much or not. Deciding upon the later, she would continue. lead by the warm thought of how pleasant it was to be holding such a conversation. “I think one of my favorite movies would have to be Return to me, that was a sort of romantic comedy.” shared as she would pick up her cup again, and then turn the conversation back towards him. “What about you? Favorite book?”

<Tayden> Tayden listened and couldn’t help but smile a little more. He wasn’t into those types of books. In fact, Tayden had never even heard of the Unicorn Series, and there wasn’t really any way he was going to be reading some romance novels. He wasn’t a real big sap about love. Sure, he believed in the concept, but didn’t those movies sort of exaggerate the real definition of love? Or at least make it some crazy scenarios that probably didn’t ever happen to people?

“My favorite book?” Tayden rubbed at his beard as he thought about what his favorite book was. He read-but no where to the level that Emma did it seemed. “Pompeii, maybe. Or Terra Incognita. Medicius. I like stories about ancient greece or Rome. Ancient history has sort of always drawn my attention on the reading front.” He admitted with a shrug. “I can’t confess to being an avid reader though.” He chuckled then and looked around the cafe. “Do you want to get out of here?” His eyes went to her drink to see if she was even ready to go, or if he was being rude. “Something wrong with your cocoa?” He frowned, noticing it had quite a bit left in it.

<Emma> She would note when Tayden would smile a little more, or how he rubbed at his beard as he was thinking. His prefered literature intrigued her, as Emma had always been fascinated by ancient Greek history. Myth was always entertaining to read, as it was full of twists of love and heartbreak. With his question on if she wanted to get out of here, she would give a small nod. “That sounds good, perhaps I could walk you home.” She found herself wanting to be sure he got home safe. Getting home was easy for her, she was just a tome away from the building she lived in.

She would stand from the booth then, her cocoa left on the table as she pulled her jacket and scarf on. “I just didn’t taste as good as I remembered.” the words were a partial truth. Had she taken a drink, it would have tasted like nothing to her, and it likely would have made her sick. Blood was a different story, each time she fed, the blood held a different taste depending on where it came from. She would catch sight of the waitress, she was behind the counter checking out a different customer at the register. Emma would excuse herself for a moment, and head over just in time to catch the waitress and paid for the cocoas & cookies. Walking back she smile, coming to a stop near the booth. “Ready to go?” 

<Tayden> “Walk me home?” He laughed a little and then shrugged his shoulders. “If you want to. Though, I would have preferred to walk you home.” Tayden admitted as he stood and took one final glance around. The place was alright in a quick pinch, but he probably wouldn’t come back here for a while, or ever unless someone suggested it. And even then he might steer them some place else. “Where abouts do you live? Maybe we could walk that way and I can circle back to the apartments in the Wickbridge area?” Tayden suggested, not really keen on the idea of her walking alone at night for too long. “Or could go halfway between both stops?” Some women were independent and self sufficient and that might be the better of the two options for someone who might be that type of woman.

Tayden was buttoning his coat when Emma slipped away and he looked up to see her paying for their drinks and his cookies. He grinned at her, and then nodded his head. “Yeah, only I thought I was paying for this one.” He murmured softly before shrugging his shoulders. “Next time.” He said with resound certainty that anyone would have believed it-and they should. “Come on.” Tayden wrapped an arm around the back of Emma’s neck very briefly, in a playful and light gesture to get the both of them moving towards the door. “Next time. Movies at...your place?” He suggested her place only because it might be a little awkward and crammed in his sister’s place with the three of them there. Never mind the fact there would be little to no privacy.

<Emma> As his arm was at her back for a moment, she would glance over to him and smile. “Well, we can compromise and you could walk me home? I live in Wickbridge also, in the sanctuary building. Do you know where that is?” She would walk with him then, headed towards the door. “Movies at my place would work, though you would have to bring the movies. Maybe Fifth element and Lucy?” Recalling how he had mentioned those as being his favorites. “Be warned though, my place isn't something fancy but it works for now. At least until I save up for something bigger”

It wasn't bad though. If anything, Emma's sire had two places in the same building, though his apartments were upstairs. They were much larger than her place. He had told he she could stay at any she liked, and she did often hang out in one of his places in the sewer. Though it had a hot tub, and Emma really felt safest in the city when she was underground. This was one of the main reasons she had gotten the basement place at the sanctuary. This was she was able to be close to her sire and still sleep in an area below ground level.

[Emma (DELETED 7144)]

<Tayden> Tayden’s grin quirked a little more as Emma revealed that she lived in the same building as he did. “I ahh, yeah. I’ve heard about it.” Tayden admitted with a nod as they left the cafe. “My sister and I happen to live in there too.” He laughed a little before shrugging his shoulders. “Crazy coincidence?” He asked her after the entrance door closed and her looked left and then right, jogging his memory on which way to go from here. Left it was.

“Are you okay with walking, or would you rather catch the train there?” For a guy who usually noticed who was and wasn’t breathing, or who did and didn’t have color to their face, but tonight he was oblivious to those facts while with Emma. It seemed unlikely to Tayden that someone like Emma would be a vampire-because she never spoke about it and seemed to live in an entirely different world. Sheltered might be too harsh of a word, but it was the first that came to mind.

While Tayden waited for her choice-he started heading in the direction of the train station, because the river bank went on for blocks before there was cement that allowed people to get to the other side of the city. They were only going one of two ways and they had to go this way regardless. “How long have you lived there for?” He asked, thinking about how much he liked the apartment, even if it was a bit cozy.

<Emma> Walking along with him, she was quite surprised to learn that he lived in the same building as she did. “I guess even in a big city, the world has a way of seeming small.” She found herself liking the idea of that thought. “I'm fine with taking the train. It would be quicker that way. It feels like it's getting colder…” Not that temperature bothered her now, but she couldn't help but keep Tay in mind. At least knowing he lived at the sanctuary was both comforting and scary thought. The sanctuary felt safe, but many vampires still lived in the building. Did Tayden know about them, was he safe from vampires?

“I have lived in my place maybe five months now? Before that I stayed at one of my bosses places. He has several different places around town….. He’s sort of like a father figure of sorts…” It was the best way she could think to describe it. “Do you like the sanctuary? They have a really nice pool. Sometimes when it's empty and quiet, I like to swim laps.” She was sort of shy about others seeing her in swimwear. Back home, she had never even worn one until coming to the city. It had been interesting to learn how to swim, and she found she really enjoyed it. She thought of the other things the sanctuary had, like the portal to the QZ. He had to know about zombies then?

<Tayden> “Yeah. Maybe.” Tayden agreed thinking about what Emma said and semi agreeing with her. The city could be big, but he seemed to always bump into the same people. Maybe it was kismet, or maybe it was because he stayed in the same places and didn’t travel too far. Tayden didn’t want to be the one to lead the paladins back to his shared apartment with his sister and get her and him both into some sort of predicament he couldn’t get them out of.

Tayden thought about the sanctuary and then nodded his head. “I do.” He replied, thinking about the swimming idea. “I’ve never actually swam in that pool-but it always looks clean.” He told her with a smile, thinking on how he might venture down there one night. “I’m not a big swimmer.” He admitted, looking away a little. “But I can play a decent game of Marco Polo.” He offered with a small chuckle. “I’ve only lived there with my sister a couple months now at most.” He glanced around, before going to the train station, rubbing his hands together to get them warm again. “I think we’re going to get a bigger place soon. It’s getting a little crowded.” He said as Tayden put his hands in his coat pocket and squeezed them together to try and get them warm that way too.

<Emma> “I have never seen anyone swimming in it before, though there are times when quite a few people will be hanging around in the lobby area.” At the mention of a game, she would ponder on it a moment. It was definitely not something she had heard of. “Marco Polo? How do you play?” She couldn’t help but laugh a little at herself. The more she talked with others, the more she realized there was still so much she didn’t know about. As they neared the train station, she was glad to feel that at least it was a little warmer in the stations. Trains were always easy to catch. She would near the one that would take them to the station not far from the sanctuary building.

“I bigger place would definitely be better, I’m sure. I know I have been thinking about one myself, my place feels a little small at times, and it’s only me. Well, the dogs too..” She would smile at the thought. As she walked onto the train, Emma would slid into one of the seats. She would cross her arms in front of her, as if she was trying to keep herself warm. Her eyes would glance back to Tayden then as she spoke. “When you guys get a different place, would you stay in the same building? I’m not exactly familiar with some of the other places around the city. Apartments are still a new idea for me, that so many people would live in the same building. They didn’t have places like that where I’m from. Well, nothing on such a large scale.”   

<Tayden> “Well, it’s sort of like tag and hide and seek combined. Only, in the water.” Tayden chuckled not knowing if that was a good way to sum up how to play Marco Polo. “Maybe I’ll show you sometime.” He offered Emma as they stepped on the platform of the train to Wickbridge, his hands rubbing together again before the two got on the train.

When she mentioned how small her apartment felt, Tayden could only imagine with five dogs that it would be tiny. Five dogs and a human seemed cramped in those sorts of layouts. “I think we’ll have to move to a different building. Maybe Beta towers, if something is open or, Veil. I don’t know. It’s just a passing thought.” He shrugged not thinking too much into it. “They don’t have apartments, or apartment complexes?” Tayden had never heard of a place that wouldn’t have apartments. Not everyone could own a house, right? But, then he wasn’t very well traveled, so Tayden didn’t know.

[Tayden (DELETED 7355)]

<Tayden> He moved to a section of the train that had very few people in it-which would allow the both of them to communicate easily as the train was loud enough as it was, without the added chatter of people they didn’t know. “Where would you move? If and when you moved? I think the apartments are all the same in the sanctuary.” He said, recalling a couple different apartments he and Teag had checked out before they decided on the one they were currently living in.

<Emma> Like tag and hide and seek…. but where could you hide? She felt lost on the idea, though would simply smile and give a small nod of her head. It might seem silly for her to inquire further over the game, when it was likely she was simply missing something. At his question about apartment buildings, she would just give a small shrug. “The tallest building we had in town was only three stories tall…” She would spare details like how she had never ridden on an elevator until she had moved here and other such things. As he mentioned other places, she would not recognize the names. This was not at all surprising though.

As he asked where she would move, when and if, the first thing that came to mind was the sewers. Though she could hardly say that? Her sire had two different places in the sewers though. The one was small, but the other was much larger. “likely something close to the sanctuary. I like this area.” Emma didn't know if she would ever want to be too far from her sire. It would not take long before they would be pulling into the wickbridge station. Emma would stand then, but a little too soon as the train halted, yet she would catch herself before falling. “I don't know that I would ever move and leave this city now though. Though it might be nice to travel sometime….” If that was even possible.

<Tayden> Tayden nodded his head. “Yeah, it’s a pretty nice district. Guess it sort of depends what is open and available is what makes the final decision.” Tayden shrugged his shoulders. He could probably live just about anywhere, since he’s been at the bottom and the middle tier of income before, so anything would suit Tayden’s purposes just fine.

“Travel to where?” He asked Emma curiously, wondering where else was on her bucket list. He didn’t have anything like that, but if Tayden wanted to travel, he would pick some place warm and different to the North American continent. Some place where you can’t find whatever, in North American. What that thing was though, was just beyond Tayden’s grasp. “Maybe Japan. Or China. Italy?” He asked, trying to get a feel for what sorts of places Emma might be interested in, as the train progressed on towards their destination.

<Emma> “Well, I hope something extra nice opens up for you and your sister. I'm sure it would be nice to have something closer to where you work. I mean not that it's incredibly far… Sometimes weather gets bad and ya just stuff like that.” stuff like vampires that want to nip at necks, that's what she hadn't said but she had been thinking it. “ Do that have places in the outskirts of the city? That might be something nice…” Though she imagined such would likely cost quite a lot. Emma had paid out quite a lot just for the small place she had. Not that she even needed it, as her sire had many places that she was welcome to stay at. There was just something nice about having something that was simply hers alone. Complete independence was never something she had experienced before, but her current situation was the closest she had ever come. Her sire kept his distance, he didn't crowed her but was always around if she sought him out.

At Taydens question on where she would travel, she would were a small shy smile. Emma had always dreamed of seeing the world one day. “I would settle for anything really… I love things that have history, and that have been around for a long time. Be that something made in nature or by man. I would love to go see the big redwoods… Those trees look amazing in pictures. Can you imagine standing beside something so majestic?” Her hand would reach to twirl and play with a few strands of her hair as she continued. The more she was around the man, the more comfortable she felt rambling around him. “Italy would be amazing to see, and all the Roman architecture still standing… Florence would be amazing to see, the birthplace of the renaissance. Or Greece, they have those tours that could take you around. The United kingdom would be lovely to see too….. I would love to frolic through a field of blooming heather in Ireland and ya you probably think I'm silly now.” She smiled still. “What about you though? Where would you travel if you could go anywhere?”

<Tayden> Tayden didn’t know much about the real estate situation outside the city limits. He had never even thought to consider it, but now that it had been suggested, he wouldn’t be against living near the wilderness. He didn’t really care where home was, he just cared that he and his sister would be safe-primarily his sister was what he was really worried about. “I’ll take a look and maybe something will catch our eye.” He followed up on Emma’s thoughts about the wilderness before he pointed to the tavern past the riverbank that they were encroaching upon.

He listened to her describe all the places she wanted to see, and why and found himself wanting to see some of those places she had described just because of how Emma described those places. The power of suggestion was a funny thing, sometimes. It was for him. Tayden knew he could be influenced by pretty words-it was one of his downfalls.

“Anywhere? Hmmm.” Tayden rubbed at the edges of his beard as he thought about where he would go if there was one chance to go anywhere. Tayden looked at her, removing his eyes from the passing scenery and shrugged his shoulders. “I think Rome. Anywhere in Italy-actually.” He nodded, confident in his answer that Rome would be his ideal choice. “One day. It’s some place I’ve always wanted to go since I’ve started reading some of the books I mentioned before.” He admitted, coughing into the hand that had been on his beard a few seconds ago. He didn’t cough because he was cold, he coughed because he wondered if he sounded like a huge dork then and there, but he didn’t mind it. Not until he remembered who he was talking to and not the fact he was talking to just some random stranger. “You’ve got a big bucket list.” He laughed and then shrugged. “We don’t live forever. You should go do some of those. Life is short.” He grinned at her, before turning his eyesight to the bank and the small empty space beside it.

[Emma (DELETED 7144)]

<Emma> With mention of Rome, her mind would wander over the places she had only read about, and seen pictures of. Such history, all held by one city alone, it was an amazing thought. “What would you want to see most in Rome?” She couldn't help but wonder what sort of aspects of the city he would want to see most. She would glance out the window for a moment as the train pulled into the Wickbridge station. Her attention quickly returned to Tayden though. He had mentioned something about a bucket, and at first she wasn't sure what he meant. Then felt silly when she finally got it, and was glad that she had not spoken and said something silly. “Oh, well maybe one day I'll get to do more things. I definitely have quite a list I'm working on.”

<Tayden> Tayden didn’t answer until he had held the door open for Emma to get into the lobby. “The most? I’d want to see a couple things.” He chuckled before thinking on it more. “Top two things to see are Palatine Hill and Pantheon. Anything like that, really. Coloseums. I like all that kind of stuff.” Tayen said with a small chuckle before looking towards the pool.”I would probably need at least two weeks off. Once in a lifetime trip is worth the time off. Have to make it count, right?” Tayden kept his eyes on the pool and checked out a couple chairs near the pool. Since he wasn’t wanting to end the conversation here; as Tayden genuinely liked talking with Emma, he pointed to the surplus of chairs. “Want to go sit? Or we can call it a night. You know where I work...and live too now. Sort of.” Tayden grinned at the redheaded woman next to him, fine with whatever she would choose to do.


<Emma> How would that work, she found herself wondering. Would it be possible to be out in the world, so from the city where she was turned. It was in ways a frightening thought, but also a thrilling one. To see and experience new places, truly was an amazing thought. Still, the fear of unknown danger still lurked in the back of her mind, always. If vampires were real, what else might be real? Emma would smile and thank him as he held open the door. Wondering in, she would consider his question, before commenting. "We could sit a while, if you like. I don't want to keep you though.... I'm sure you have had a long day." This said, she would approach one of the chairs near the pool. Pulling off her jacket, she would drape it over the chair, before having a seat.

<Tayden> Tayden listened to the acceptance of his offer and then nodded his head, moving for a chair. “Nah. I mean-yeah. I don’t mind sitting and chatting for a while longer.” He smiled at Emma while removing his own coat and putting it on a chair next to the one he sat on, but left a chair open for Emma to sit at, since she made the suggestion. Once he was comfortable, Tayden decided to strike up the first conversation in a new location.

“Not too long of a day.” He admitted, thinking about how his day had gone. Not all that bad; few customers, some light cleaning and organizing. Output of some new inventory. Nothing too strenuous on his half. “So where is this shop of your boss? Just in case I’m ever in the area…” It was idle conversation, but a conversation he thought was good to have to see if she would be open to him stopping by.

<Emma> She was pleased to hear his reply, even if it was a little selfish of her to want to take up more of his time. She enjoyed his company though, it was so nice when compared to the how things had been going in her life lately. Adjusting to this life, was taking time, and she hoped it wouldn't always be this way. Relaxing in her seat, her eyes would linger about, until Tayden had asked about her sires shop, and he would hold her full attention once again. “Oh, it’s in the ((will insert location later haha I don’t know it)). It’s called Outlaw Motorcycles. You should stop by sometime, and I could show you around the showroom. They have all sorts of custom built bikes, it's amazing the things they can make…” She would ramble only a little, but truly what was done with those bikes was an art, no doubt about it.

Her hands would reach to pull her hair over one shoulder, as her fingers played with the red strands and braided them together. “It's neat to see people who are so passionate for what they do. I often feel foolish for my lack of motorcycle knowledge, though I’m extremely grateful to my si… Boss for giving me the job. I don’t know if I’ll have this job forever. Might be nice to open a shop of my own someday. Until then, I’m working at learning a little more about the bikes the shop sells.” She had nearly let the sire word slip. She hated feeling as if she were deceiving a friend. “So, the shop you work at, is that the only one your sister owns? Do you think you might even own a shop of your own one day?” She could not help but smile as her words trailed off. She had a bad habit of rambling off endless streams of questions at times.

<Tayden> Tayden’s brows rose when Emma mentioned custom made bikes. “Made from scratch, or sort of taking parts from here and there and everywhere on bikes?” Tayden asked, not knowing how custom work on anything was done. “And yeah, maybe I will.” Tayden nodded his head ever so slowly, deep in thought. He had heard Emma’s slip, but didn’t suspect she had a ‘sire.’ Tayden actually thought that maybe, this boss was name something with an ‘s’ and an ‘i’ and that he was hers. How she said it showed a form of possession in Tayden’s mind. Her boss was hers. Why wouldn’t she be with someone, even if they were only dating?

He didn’t say anything, instead he just went on with their conversation. “No. She owns another place. But it’s not a shop. It’s a gym.” Tayden laughed realizing his screw up. “I think she plans to open up another.” He admits with a little shrug, before Tayden shakes his head. “No. Probably not. I wouldn’t know what to sell.” He chuckled, before expanding. “I don’t mind working for or with my sister. We’re pretty close. With being twins and all.” He grinned, eyes on her. “So tell me about your boss…”Tayden inquired, wondering who this guy of hers was.

<Emma> As Tayden had inquired about how the bikes were built, Emma would just hold her lips together tight and laugh. She had absolutely no clue, maybe if she were at work she would have said a little of both. She would just shrug her shoulders, a smile lingering with hearing his mention that maybe he would stop by sometime. She had never had anyone come by work to see her. Not here, or even back home, where she worked at her parents shop. Though being the youngest, and with all older brothers, it was understood why. She listened though, as he spoke further. She found the way he spoke of his sister, had her missing her own siblings. It was still hard for her to stay away from them.

As Tayden had inquired about her boss, she would think best how to honestly reply. Starting first with, "He helped me out of a rough situation when I came here..." She thought of her sire, and knew there was still so much she didn't know about him. "He doesn't talk much but I know he's into motorcycles. That's mostly what I bug him about, when I'm at work. I try not to bother him too much, as he has his own life going on. Though he looks out for me. Kind of reminds me of my eldest brother Charlie, might be why I think so highly of Ryland." Charlie didn't build motorcycles but could fix just about anything. He loved working on his snowmobile. “So, tell me more about your sister? I still think it's awesome that she has pink hair.”

<Tayden> Tayden hadn’t missed how she described this guy named Ryland like. A big brother sort of affiliation, which left Tayden nodding his head and smiling just a little. “Sounds like a pretty stand up guy.” Tayden commented as he thought about his sister and how best to describe her. “She’s like most sister’s I guess.” Tayden chuckled before shaking her head. “I was born before her by a couple minutes.” He thought about how life started and still was with a twin sister. “She’s-we’re both pretty quiet types. I’m a little more outgoing than she is though.” He wouldn’t typically classify himself as outgoing, but in comparison to his sister, Tayden was significantly outgoing. “She was the thing that was missing for a while. When we met the first time.” He cleared his throat after that and then moved on. Not wanting to expand that some creeps kept her hostage and tried brainwashing her against vampires.

“She’s more cautious than me. Finding and getting friends hasn’t always been easy on her.” Tayden laughed thinking about the pink hair comment. “It’s definitely different. Not everyone can pull it off. Doesn’t go well with my complexion.” He laughed and then looked around the main floor as he heard the elevator open and watched someone walk out to the door. When everything was ‘all clear,’ in his mind, Tayden made his move. “So, maybe you want to hang out sometime? After tonight that is.” He shook his head, resisting the urge to smack his face into his palm, thinking how stupid he sounded. “What I mean is, do you want to go out sometime? Or stay in and watch a movie or something?” His eyes returned to Emma, then bounced away, not wanting to pressure her or anything.

[Tayden (DELETED 7355)]

<Emma> With Tayden’s comment of Ryland sounding like a standup guy, she would simply smile and give a small nod of her head. Ryland was a savior in her eyes. As he spoke then of his sister, she would listen quietly, her posture slightly leaned in his direction. Emma had always wondered what it would be like to have a sister. She had been the only daughter in her family, and her mother had certainly went all out to make sure her daughter had not turned out a complete tomboy. With reference to being more of the quiet type, Emma could certainly relate, though she could always put up a social front when need be. It was only with those she felt comfortable with, that she could fully open up. Tayden mentioned then about how she had been missing, and Emma had been tempted to ask about that further. It was hardly a polite thing to do, so she held her tongue. “I’m glad she’s no longer missing. It’s clear the two of you are very close, especially being twins and all.” How cool was that though? Someone in life that one shared so much with. Emma found the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to meet his sister someday.

As he had joked about pink hair not going well with his completion, she would smirk and reference something they had spoken of already. “Could always go with a bright green?” she teased. She was quiet then, as someone walked out from the elevator. As they were alone once again, Tayden would inquire about seeing her again, and she could not help the smile that lingered. He seemed unsure a little, but then had rephrased. “I would like that very much.” Her words sounded very sure, even if small doubts lingered. He was human, was it too risky? She didn’t care, trusting herself that she would never do anything to hurt him. Though what if he discovered what she was? Would he be afraid, would he try to hurt her? “Anytime you like, we could go out sometime. Watching a movie definitely sounds fun, I have so many to catch up on. Maybe we could watch the fifth element?” Recalling that had been a movie he had already mentioned before.
<Tayden> Tayden listened to Emma and then nodded his head. He and his sister were close. He suspected they always would be. At least Tayden hoped they always would be. “For St. Patrick's day?” Tayden asked smiling a little. “Maybe my beard. What do you think?” Tayden began playing with beard then, a hand rubbing over the fine bristles that were on his chin and under his lower lip.

Emma got as quiet as Tayden did when the woman walked out of the elevator and waited to answer his question. He grinned a little more when Emma agreed to hanging out and even watching one of the movies he talked about. “It’s a date then.” Tayden spouted off, before laughing. “I mean, you know.” He shrugged his shoulders and then looked at her, then at the elevator before standing up. He grabbed his cell out of his jeans pocket and then handed it to her. “Want to put your number in my directory? So I can call you?” He looked down at the red headed woman, then looked around. He wasn’t nervous-okay, maybe a little, but he didn’t really want anyone walking in and seeing the exchange between the two of them. Watching them, more or less. Especially not his sister. How embarrassing is that?

<Emma> As he joked about having a greet beard for St Patrick's day, she would smile and give a small nod. " It would certainly be festive. " she teased. Though as he mentioned the word date, Emma would bite at her lower lip a little. The last date she had been on, went nice, but she had never seen or heard from him after that. It was hard not to feel like she must have done something wrong. She found herself smiling though, Tayden was different. He was a friend, one she hoped to never lose now. "Sounds like a date."

Her smile lingered, and she would stand as he did. As he handed over his phone, she would gladly enter her number. Though she already had his. "Are you free tomorrow evening? Perhaps you could stop by, and we could watch a movie? Maybe go for a swim or something after?" Asked as she would hand his phone back over.

<Tayden> Festive. That was a nice way of putting ‘you might look like an odor m idiot,’ out there. Not that Tayden suspected Emma to say something like that. No, that was all his own thought process. After she put her phone number in his phone, Emma didn't waste any time suggesting they do something tomorrow.

Tayden knew he had to work a handful of hours during the day. .. but they didn't play many, or any movies during the day, with the exception of weekends. “Ahhhh, tomorrow?” Tayden asked nervously. “Tomorrow night after five would be okay. I know some movies start at two-but I'll just be getting home then. Unless you want to swim first and then go grab dinner and a movie?” He left the ball in Emma’s court not knowing what she was up to tomorrow.

<Emma> He seemed nervous, and in turn this had her feeling a little uneasy. She had always been terrible about feeding off others responses, finding at times people could be so hard to read. She had lived for so long with people in her life that she had known since birth. Here, it was different, everyone was a stranger to her. This was the reality of it all, as even the vampire that had turned her, she could not fully claim to know well at all. Not how she knew people back in her small home town. All of his words then, they had the weight of her secret.

There was only one option, and it was to possibly drop a small hint. If he knew what lurked in this city, he would catch on, and it would be his decision if he ever wanted to see her again. Emma didn’t know how she could hide it for long, and hated the thought of having to do so to him. She would accept the consequence of her actions, and hope that in some twist of fate maybe it would all work out. “I’m free, as soon as the sun sets. I don’t know that there is a restaurant that serves what I would have for dinner but catching a movie would be fun. If you’re still interested, just text me what time to meet you in the lobby here tomorrow evening.” She paused for a moment before speaking further. “Thanks for walking me home.” Added, as her smile lingered. It had been incredibly kind, and so crazy coincidental that they lived in the same building.

<Tayden> There seemed to be a long recess between his words and her next set. Was she backing out? He shouldn’t have asked her, or suggested to go so early. There were rules about this sort of thing. Well, not really rules, but anything close to lunch time seemed like a lunch date and lunch dates weren’t really dates. Not in his rule book. Lunch was a light, easy thing that let you gauge if you wanted to see someone again later or not. Not that Tayden had a lot of dating under his belt-but to him lunch wasn’t anything overly serious or probably led to any real date. Night life was were it was all at in his mind.

She was free tomorrow. Great. That was a start. After sunset. Even better. Some time to relax and get ready after he was home at about half past two. Emma was definitely agreeing to his date suggestion. A restaurant that would serve her what she could eat. Tayden was about to ask what she ate specifically, but waited to make sure she was done before he interjected. Tayden could work with that. If she worked until the night time, he understood. If she didn’t eat something specific-like meat or...slowly things were beginning to turn in a different limelight. Emma hadn’t eaten anything at the cafe, and now she mentioned food again. And night time only hang out times. Was she? Could she be? He glanced at her lips, more specifically at her teeth to see if she had any fangs-not that all vampires had fangs popping out. Then his eyes glanced at her skin color, and then smack dab at her breasts. Only not really at her breasts. More like her chest, where her lungs would be. Tayden’s palm smacked the front of his forehead as he put two and two together. Was he still interested? Definitely and it had nothing to do with the fact that he was pretty sure Emma was a vampire now. It was someone he could hopefully be comfortable with. Or not. Some vampires weren’t overly thrilled with who-or what he was. “I’m still interested.” Tayden nodded, as he glanced away from Emma’s boobs and looked at her.

Should he tell her, or should he wait? He didn’t want her to get in trouble with anyone. He knew how things could be sometimes with any one group of people and another group of people. Color, religion, or in his case...human versus vampire could pose a problem. Tayden decided maybe tomorrow would be better. Maybe if she got to know him just a little bit more, the blood thief thing wouldn’t be a problem for Emma. It wasn’t like he was sitting here trying to take her blood, even now that he knew what she was. “I’ll send you a text about eight. Shoot for a movie around nine.” Tayden nodded his head twice to show her he was still very much interested and then started heading to the elevator. “And no problem. About the walk. It wasn’t out of my way or anything. It’s so close to my place, might even offer to walk you home tomorrow.” He laughed a little and then got in the elevator that always seemed to him, to want to stay open a little longer than it should. He should call management and let them know. He would too. Tomorrow. “Text you tomorrow.” He pressed the button to his floor and then disappeared behind the two doors that closed simultaneously together, leaving Emma to keep her apartment location hidden from him for another time and day.