This Is What You Came For [Open]

[Maddison (DELETED 8452)]

| Wearing

Maddison sat in front of her vanity mirror, staring at the reflection. It was horrible, really. She was starting to decay. On the outside nothing changed, but so much had. Ever since that night at the Necropolis. She turned away from the mirror and looked across her room. On her bed lay a plum colored dress. She needed a night out. The blonde had been staying in since she was turned, but every once a while she deserved to let loose, right? Tonight was that night.

Long legs carried her over to the bed and she picked up the dress, delicately sliding into it. It fit like a glove, nice and tight. That's how most of her clothing items were. She had a nice body and often felt that it needed to be showed/appreciated. She was sure Robin didn't like it, but that didn't bother her. There were some habits of his that she wasn't necessarily fond of.

She wasn't exactly sure were the male had run off to for the night, but she was kind of glad to be going out on her own. She liked him well enough, but just like everybody, she needed space. The blonde headed back into her bathroom doing her best to apply light make up and fixing her locks. She left them down this evening with a slight curl. It was fun and bouncy. The last thing to be applied was her signature perfume. Black Raspberry Vanilla. Leaving her bathroom, she slipped on some heels and grabbed a wrist-let. Not a lot was coming with her tonight, just some cash, id, and other things.

It wasn't long before the woman was out the door and on her way to the very place she had been turned. She didn't really know other clubs around the city, so this one seemed well enough for her. She'd know this time to stay out of the roped off areas. No cute blood doll was going to get her this time.

Maddison walked into the club with no problems, probably because her sire worked there on a regular basis. However, she didn't know if he was working tonight and if he was? He was probably busy doing whatever he did when he worked. She didn't think anymore accidents would happen, not since what had happened with her. Taking a deep breath, she delved further out onto the mid-level dance floor. She quite needed a drink before dancing. Plus it would take her a lot of drinks to get drunk. Another benefit of being un-dead.

She crossed the room to the bar and ordered herself her drink. Slender fingers left the bills on the bar top and a sly smile was tossed to the bartender as she picked up her glass. Nursing back her drink was on the agenda for tonight. Emerald hues scanned over the bar, no sign of Robin. She finished off her glass, leaving on the bar top as she disappeared into the crowd. The song called to her and soon enough her limbs were carrying her body to the beat of the music.

She only hoped tonight would be a good night.

| Song Playing

[Derek (DELETED 8130)]

The last time Derek Sutherland had stepped into a club had been the late 00s. That would be true had he not been standing in this very establishment a few weeks prior, participating in the charity auction. He had found it odd that the winning bidder had not yet contacted him, but with a new venture at the forefront of his mind Derek hardly had time to spare the English gentleman a thought. The only spare thing he had these days was pocket change, for his inherited wealth was steadily being supplemented by the revenue of two successful businesses.

It wasn’t luck that had got him to where he was today. He acknowledged the privilege both wealth and a friendly disposition afforded him, whilst ignoring the long hours he spent working. Derek thrived on the challenge of being an entrepreneur. It was different doing this of his own accord rather than follow in his father’s footsteps. The desire to succeed, rather than the need to do someone else proud, was intoxicating what with his own projects coming to fruition. After his father’s death, he had needed to exert some measure of control over something, and that something had been the businesses.

To learn of Francesca’s ploy to bully both him and Donovan out of their inherited shares of their father’s multinational (of which she now was the chief financial officer) was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The phone call he’d had with his younger brother that very morning had slashed clean through his characteristic optimism. Derek had tried to ignore the resentment he felt towards their step-sister, but he was blinded by the news of her betrayal. His foul humour had only worsened throughout the day what with every passing hour leading to a growing pile of unmanned tasks.

An afternoon in the wilderness had helped clear his mind. His muscles felt pleasantly worn, but as he’d showered Derek had come to the realisation that if he left his mind unoccupied then his thoughts would return to the matter. Desperate for respite, he’d knocked back a few anti-inflammatory pills and dressed for the occasion. Dinner had been a meagre affair, a poor choice considering the strength of the alcohol in his tumbler.

Derek nursed the drink as he leaned back into his stool. He scanned the crowd over and over, content with passive observation as his body began to process the hard liquor. Maybe later, after a few drinks, he’d be inclined to converse with other patrons. Maybe he’d be willing to tilt his neck back in exchange for a little distraction of a different kind. For now, however, he remained as he was, crystalline gaze constantly flitting back to a gorgeous creature in the crowd. After glancing back in her direction for the nth time, he resigned himself to watching out for her alone. Every so often, the strobe lights gleamed across her blonde hair. What a sight!

[ Appearance ]

[Maddison (DELETED 8452)]

Tonight there was no Robin, Blood Dolls, thoughts of her turning. Tonight it was just her and this dance floor. She avoided the touch of others trying to dance with her. She had to give them credit. Normally, she probably would have danced with one or two, but tonight it was about her. Not them. It was about what she wanted. That's what she had came to the Necropolis for.

Every once in a while though, she would feel a gaze on her. It would cause a shiver to run down her spine. Someone was watching her from a far. She liked Robin well enough, but she hopped that it wasn't him that was watching her. She would have known right? She kind of felt bad for feeling that way. They spent a lot of time together, so she was sure he was probably glad to be away from her for a night. However, she hadn't told her sire was she was going. She felt like she was back in high school, wondering if she would get in trouble for breaking curfew or not letting her parents know where she was.

Maddison turned once and caught the eye of the onlooker. He was rather delightful looking. She let a smirk curl on her lips and then turned back around, moving once again to the beat of another song. She wasn't exactly ready to come off the dance floor. She'd give the male a show. The blonde's arms raised into the air and spun slow and delicately, she almost looked like she was a dancer. Her movements were graceful. Chalk it up to ballet lessons as a kid. Her mom had her in everything ranging from cheer-leading, dance, and other sports.

After a few songs, the blonde was ready for a drink. She grinned to herself as her legs carried her off the dance floor and right towards the gazer. She stopped next to him, flagging down the bartender. Maddison didn't say anything to the male. She wasn't working for it tonight. "I'll have a shot of Tequila." Silky voice commented to the bartender. She then rested against the bar, next to the male.

He'd have to work for it.

[Derek (DELETED 8130)]

The tumbler never left his hand unless it was for a refill. Respite from his thoughts couldn’t come fast enough, and the steady trickle of whiskey down his throat was a dangerous, but effective way to quell his nerves. Derek didn’t keep track of how much he was drinking.

It was warm in this club. He shrugged off his leather jacket, carelessly leaving it to fold onto itself between his body and the back of the stool. Occasionally he glanced to his immediate surroundings, noticing the many pretty girls and handsome guys that crowded the joint. He made a mental note to come out more.

It had been three months since he’d opened the studio, working tirelessly to establish the brand. He had taken time away from his business projects in order to organise his father’s funeral back in June, but had otherwise delved back into work as soon as possible to avoid being alone with his thoughts. He needed to get out more often, live a little. The sentiment was stronger now that Francesca was trying to **** him over.

He’d come out to avoid this very train of thought.
If the whiskey wasn’t doing its job, he’d need something stronger.

Tequila.

Derek returned his attention back to the dance floor, only to find the beautiful blonde standing next to him. He’d noticed her earlier and watched as she’d danced to her heart’s content, but had grown distracted. Mea culpa, he thought to himself, taking a good look at her. She was tall—taller than many girls. It didn’t bother him, no. On the contrary, his gaze dipped to her feet and trailed the length of her. Probably out of his league; he didn’t have game the way he’d once had. Perhaps it was a sign he was growing old, or simply lack of practice. He’d been with girls just as pretty, though not as young, at least not of late. He also preferred brunettes.

“Make that two,” he amended the order, tapping his fingers on the rim of his empty tumbler, “and another.”

Glancing away from the bartender, Derek tilted his head, impishness clouding his eyes as he looked up from his seated position. He leaned back of his stool to fully appreciate the sight before him.

“Are you a natural blonde?”

[Maddison (DELETED 8452)]

Maddison let her gaze travel over the male next to her. She had to admit, he was nice looking. She could always appreciate an attractive looking guy. Even though she was here and looking at this male, her mind couldn't help but to travel towards Robin. She really shouldn't have these thoughts about her sire, but she did. Sue her. Maybe tonight, she could get her mind off it and indulge this stranger.

Are you a natural blonde?

Maddison should have been more offended than she was when he asked his question. He didn't ask for a name or anything else for that matter, but asked if her hair was real or not. Of course she was a natural blonde. She had been cursed as a fair-headed child. Her mother always having to put sunblock on her scalp during the summer time, lest she be burned. It darkened some when she grew older, but it was still sun kissed. She never once had to put any dye chemicals on her head.

"Yes, I am."

The words left her with a slight sass to them. The bartender placed their drinks on the counter and she was ever thankful. Delicate fingers reached out and slid up her glass so she could take a medium sip of alcohol. The blonde coughed a little when the liquid hit the wrong pipe. Great, now it looked like she couldn't hold her liquor. On the contrary. She had tried and had yet to get drunk. Robin had been right.

"Are you a natural brunette?"

She challenged back. It only seemed fair, right?

[Derek (DELETED 8130)]

“Used to be,” he replied with a lopsided smile. Reaching for his own shot of tequila, he raised it up in her direction before knocking it back. The next words to leave him were rough and a little breathless. “—though at this rate I’ll be a silver fox in no time.”

The stress of the past few months was already peppering his hair, white strands tucked here and there. Derek had yet to decide whether or not he liked it; he looked a lot like his father, or so he’d been told on more than one occasions.

“Derek,” he offered, extending his hand forward once he’d replaced the empty shot glass on the countertop. As he did this, he stood to his full height, barely towering over her what with her measurements. With his opposite hand, he motioned towards the empty stool for her to sit in, should she be inclined.

[Maddison (DELETED 8452)]

Maddison looked over his hair, noticing the few stray gray hairs. How old was he? She then wondered. Was he human or vampire, or whatever else lived in this city. She didn't know much, but what she did know was that there were vampires and humans. Robin hadn't told her what else lived in this city.

At least she would never get gray hair. That was a plus, right? But she would never grow old and have children. That wasn't something she ever liked to think about. The blonde shook the thoughts from her head and took another sip from her glass. This time drinking it like she was meant to. No coughing. He then offered his name.

Derek.

It was a nice name, a guys name. A very human like name. But then again, so was Maddison. A lot of names were very human like, but that doesn't mean they were human. No one was walking around with the name like Dracula. She laughed a little and then took the offered seat, leg crossing over the other. She looked up at the man and stuck out her hand to shake his that was already put out there.

"I'm Maddison." She offered, giving his hand a firm shake before letting hers drop.

[Derek (DELETED 8130)]

It was his turn to lean against the countertop, which he did after propping one foot onto the narrow railing below. He knew better than to set his weight onto his elbow or forearm. First off, because it would give him horrible posture given the mismatched height of this bar. Secondly, because bar countertops were usually slick or sticky. Once his hand shaken, he’d dropped it to his side, hooking his thumb into his trouser’s pockets. He reached for his whiskey with the other, sliding across towards him.

Never before had Derek watched someone sip their tequila. Maddison seemed to handle her second go at it better than the first, which prompted him to ask whether she wanted another.

“Would you like another drink?”

He was not interested in getting her drunk. Drunk girls could be insufferable, a literal burden to care for. In his younger days he hadn’t cared how much alcohol anyone had consumed as long as he was having a good time. He was often too drunk to make any honourable decisions, let alone inspire others to rise above their drunken recklessness. Now, however, he would be too concerned for their well being. The world was a dangerous place, just as much as it had been before the darkness staring back had been given a name: vampire. His time in the army had kindled a newfound respect for others, and Lieutenant-Colonel Ryan had inspired greater respect for women than he’d had as a young man.

Eh, he was still young. All work and no play was leading Derek to lose sight of himself as something other than a businessman. Clearly this outing had been the right call.

[Maddison (DELETED 8452)]

This guy was super chatty, she thought sarcastically. She was getting one word liners. Not exactly what she had expected from someone that was chatting her up. Maybe that was move, to try to get her to want more from the conversation. She didn't really know. But her tequila was gone and of course she wanted another, she couldn't get drunk not easily. She had tried though.

"Sure, you trying to get me drunk?" She feigned innocence while teasing him.

The blonde set her empty glass on the bar top and then leaned back in her stool, casting her gaze down his body and then back up to his face. He was a nice looking man for being older. She hadn't had much experience with men in Harper Rock. Too busy with her modeling career and then being turned into a vampire.

That had been unexpected.

She fidgeted in her seat for a moment, fixing at the length of her dress, adjusting it in all the right spots. She didn't want to show off too much, even thought tonight she was showing leg and cleavage. The blonde tilted her head, blonde locks sliding with the movement. She thought for a moment and then stood, obnoxiously close to him in fact. She held her hand out.

"Would you like to dance?"

[Derek (DELETED 8130)]

Derek flashed her an ambiguous smile in lieu of a reply. No, he wasn’t looking to get her drunk. Yes, he was trying to get the most out of this with the less effort, and alcohol was certainly a way of doing that. There was no straight answer that could convey the extremes. He lifted the whiskey towards his mouth and, before taking a sip, stuck his index finger out as he made eye contact with the bartender. Garçon!

If they’d be ordering another round, he might as well polish off the drink he had. A graceful sip turned into one steady gulp, which he swallowed without grimacing. There was no point in savouring it, not when this was his nth whiskey glass of the night. There was no surprise to it, no kick, just the smokey rasp of it down his tongue. Had he poured enough hard liquor down his gullet to merit a sweeter drink without risking ridicule? He certainly thought so.

An order down the counter turned into a group order, leaving Derek and Maddison without service for a while longer. Long enough for him to finish his drink as he watched her rearrange her dress, and for a preposterous idea to cross her mind.

Dancing.

His hips didn’t lie; they’d do him no favour. Strength and flexibility didn’t equal talent. He hazarded a glance over his shoulder at where the strobe lights bounced off the sea bodies. It would be quite an experience venturing out there. There were enough people that his lack of dance skills might go unnoticed.

“How about I pop off to the restroom for a sec, you order us another round, and when I get back, we negotiate the whole dancing thing, eh?”