This completely caught Alice by surprise. She had not expected for him to ask to meet up with her. In fact, she had by far not thought he'd just as easily agree to tell her anything. Well, in fact he didn't, but he'd not want to meet her would he not want to talk about something. Besides, she really disliked talking to people on the phone, so she was happy about that turn of events.
“Meeting somewhere sounds like a good idea. I don't know where though, so just choose wherever and whenever you want and I'll come by.” Alice really didn't mind where to meet, would she choose she'd probably go to the park or another quiet, secluded area again, just because those were the places she liked. There were also other reasons for her leaving the decision to him though. First off Blaize was the one that was more or less pushed into this conversation by her, so it would only be polite to let him choose where to meet. The other one was her curiosity. Which kind of place would he choose? Alice knew would she be in his position, she'd opt for a graveyard, just to hear the reaction of the other. A smile appeared on her face and she almost laughed, remembering just in time she was on the phone and stopping herself.
For a moment she considered meeting him might be dangerous, especially now he knew that she knew about him. But as usual, the curiosity won over that thought. Alice never did what was good for her, she usually got into dangerous situations because she didn't accept the fact they were dangerous as a reason to go against her curiosity or her wish to do something. Yes, the saying was that curiosity killed the cat. And one day it might bring her to her demise, but that didn't matter to Alice.
Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
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Alice Wilson (DELETED 8534)
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
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Blaize
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Blaize had just confirmed that he was a vampire, and Alice was giving him leeway to choose where to meet. Was that safe? Why was he even questioning whether or not it was safe? He wasn’t going to do anything to her. But she didn’t know that.
”We can go to the park,” he said. He didn’t know how well Alice knew the city and it was easier to suggest somewhere they definitely both knew. And, if he was going to be honest with himself, he was curious to see what her reaction might be.
”I’ll see you there in about half an hour?” he said. He’d only wait long enough for her confirmation and agreement before he was pulling on a jacket and some shoes – it was strange, to not have to shower. He should have been covered in a thin sheen of sweat, his body loose and limp from the exercise. He did feel well-oiled, but he didn’t feel the same kind of fatigue. It was strange. It felt wrong. It felt like he hadn’t done enough – which only meant, in the end, that he would push himself harder.
But when did he ever get out and do something that wasn’t dancing, or dealing with his back-door business? As soon as this meeting with Alice was over he could come right back and continue where he had left off. He was a machine, and nothing could stop him.
”We can go to the park,” he said. He didn’t know how well Alice knew the city and it was easier to suggest somewhere they definitely both knew. And, if he was going to be honest with himself, he was curious to see what her reaction might be.
”I’ll see you there in about half an hour?” he said. He’d only wait long enough for her confirmation and agreement before he was pulling on a jacket and some shoes – it was strange, to not have to shower. He should have been covered in a thin sheen of sweat, his body loose and limp from the exercise. He did feel well-oiled, but he didn’t feel the same kind of fatigue. It was strange. It felt wrong. It felt like he hadn’t done enough – which only meant, in the end, that he would push himself harder.
But when did he ever get out and do something that wasn’t dancing, or dealing with his back-door business? As soon as this meeting with Alice was over he could come right back and continue where he had left off. He was a machine, and nothing could stop him.
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Alice Wilson (DELETED 8534)
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Alice glanced over to the clock, quickly going through the time she would need to get to the park. Half an hour should be possible. This would probably cause trouble for university today, but if she'd be up for too long because of this meeting, she'd just ditch classes for that day. She could just look up the topics they had taken care of that day and read into it herself later. After all, she might not get another chance. Somehow she had the feeling that Blaize might change his opinion would he think about everything for a day or two.
“Sure, I'll be there in half an hour.” If her mother didn't hear her leave and stopped her. Her mother didn't like Alice walking around alone in the middle of the night, especially now. Though she'd been against it since Alice started doing so. As with most things, her mother was a fair person and previously she allowed Alice to go on her nightly walks, even though her mother was worried sick. 'You're an adult, you can decide for yourself. But I'd really recommend for you not to do that.' was what she said. But now, this didn't count anymore. Now Alice was supposed to stay at home once it was dark, only when she was out with friends she was allowed to stay longer.
However, tonight she'd not care about that. “I'll see you there then.” Saying this, Alice would wait for a moment if he would reply and if he didn't she'd end the call to get dressed and leave.
“Sure, I'll be there in half an hour.” If her mother didn't hear her leave and stopped her. Her mother didn't like Alice walking around alone in the middle of the night, especially now. Though she'd been against it since Alice started doing so. As with most things, her mother was a fair person and previously she allowed Alice to go on her nightly walks, even though her mother was worried sick. 'You're an adult, you can decide for yourself. But I'd really recommend for you not to do that.' was what she said. But now, this didn't count anymore. Now Alice was supposed to stay at home once it was dark, only when she was out with friends she was allowed to stay longer.
However, tonight she'd not care about that. “I'll see you there then.” Saying this, Alice would wait for a moment if he would reply and if he didn't she'd end the call to get dressed and leave.
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Blaize
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Blaize had nothing more to say. Not on the phone, anyway. As soon as Alice concurred about time and place, he hung up and left the apartment. Half an hour would have given him time to shower and change, to put on cologne and brush his hair and whatever else men did these days to groom themselves. Half an hour was probably too much – but he was no longer human, and Alice was. Alice was the one who might need the time.
As it was, Blaize had learned not to double dip with the cologne. With no sweat, there was no body odour. The cologne didn’t slip, it stayed where he had sprayed it until he hopped into the shower and washed it away with soap, replacing it with a different smell. Regardless of his exertions in the penthouse studio, he was still as smooth as the moment he woke up. The scent of both soap and cologne clung to his skin, stuck his clothes, lingered in his hair which had remained its peroxide blonde, and had never been oily or lanky since the night he was turned. The Black Swan had been thoroughly scrubbed from his body and he’d come out like a newborn.
Sometimes it was infuriating. For a full week he couldn’t stop pushing his fingers through his hair, revelling in how soft and smooth it was. But now he couldn’t keep it out of his face – which was why he’d pulled the pale-blue cap onto his head.
The walk to the park only took him twenty minutes. The bench was not hard to find, and it was unoccupied. And so it should be – it was in one of the darkest parts of the park. People shouldn’t hang out here at night time. But here they were. He took a seat, his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants and his chin tilted back, blue gaze seeking the stars through the trees. Even with his preternatural sight he could not find them. The lamps were too bright.
As it was, Blaize had learned not to double dip with the cologne. With no sweat, there was no body odour. The cologne didn’t slip, it stayed where he had sprayed it until he hopped into the shower and washed it away with soap, replacing it with a different smell. Regardless of his exertions in the penthouse studio, he was still as smooth as the moment he woke up. The scent of both soap and cologne clung to his skin, stuck his clothes, lingered in his hair which had remained its peroxide blonde, and had never been oily or lanky since the night he was turned. The Black Swan had been thoroughly scrubbed from his body and he’d come out like a newborn.
Sometimes it was infuriating. For a full week he couldn’t stop pushing his fingers through his hair, revelling in how soft and smooth it was. But now he couldn’t keep it out of his face – which was why he’d pulled the pale-blue cap onto his head.
The walk to the park only took him twenty minutes. The bench was not hard to find, and it was unoccupied. And so it should be – it was in one of the darkest parts of the park. People shouldn’t hang out here at night time. But here they were. He took a seat, his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants and his chin tilted back, blue gaze seeking the stars through the trees. Even with his preternatural sight he could not find them. The lamps were too bright.
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Alice Wilson (DELETED 8534)
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Hearing him hang up the phone, Alice put her phone away and quickly got up. She would need to be quick but quiet if she wanted to be at the park on time but not wake her mother while getting ready. Though she wasn't the person to put too much effort into dressing up anyway. In fact, she never understood how some other girls could stand in front of a mirror for hours, unable to decide what to wear or applying make-up en masse. If it looked nice it looked nice. End of the story. Therefore, the biggest trouble was just to be quiet, but as Alice was used to wander around the flat at night while her mother was asleep, that didn't pose as much of a problem as she had thought.
Before she left, she grabbed her phone and her keys and then she headed outside. The moment she closed the door behind her, she exhaled, happy not to have woken her mother. In the end, even if her mother had woken up Alice would've gone anyway, but then there'd be a lot of trouble the next day. Outside she stood for a moment and looked at the clock of her phone, before she got her bike. That way she didn't need to hurry and would still be on time. As she arrived at the park and locked her bike to a bike stand near the park entrance, she was actually a few minutes early, as she saw upon another glance at the clock.
Standing at the park entrance, she noticed they hadn't decided on an exact spot to meet at. However, she was rather sure he'd be at the bench they met at before. Or he'd appear there if he wasn't there yet. As expected, the bench was the right place, since she saw him already sitting there. Had he actually planned to be here early? After all, if there were vampires, there was surely someone hunting them. So it would kinda make sense if he had come here early on purpose to check if she set a trap. Alice knew, that she probably didn't come of as trustworthy on the phone earlier, especially since she couldn't give him a reason why she wanted to know more. Heading over to the bench, she gave him a smile as she greeted him. “Hey there.” Stopping at the bench she then asked: “Mind if I sit down?” Kind of a useless question since they met up here, but as usual Alice saw it as common courtesy to be polite. Besides, with this strange situation she didn't really know what else to say.
Before she left, she grabbed her phone and her keys and then she headed outside. The moment she closed the door behind her, she exhaled, happy not to have woken her mother. In the end, even if her mother had woken up Alice would've gone anyway, but then there'd be a lot of trouble the next day. Outside she stood for a moment and looked at the clock of her phone, before she got her bike. That way she didn't need to hurry and would still be on time. As she arrived at the park and locked her bike to a bike stand near the park entrance, she was actually a few minutes early, as she saw upon another glance at the clock.
Standing at the park entrance, she noticed they hadn't decided on an exact spot to meet at. However, she was rather sure he'd be at the bench they met at before. Or he'd appear there if he wasn't there yet. As expected, the bench was the right place, since she saw him already sitting there. Had he actually planned to be here early? After all, if there were vampires, there was surely someone hunting them. So it would kinda make sense if he had come here early on purpose to check if she set a trap. Alice knew, that she probably didn't come of as trustworthy on the phone earlier, especially since she couldn't give him a reason why she wanted to know more. Heading over to the bench, she gave him a smile as she greeted him. “Hey there.” Stopping at the bench she then asked: “Mind if I sit down?” Kind of a useless question since they met up here, but as usual Alice saw it as common courtesy to be polite. Besides, with this strange situation she didn't really know what else to say.
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Blaize
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Blaize heard her coming before he saw her. Not because she was heavy, or noisy, but because even with her slight frame and her soft steps, his ears could pick up anything. As soon as she was standing in front of him, Blaize’s chin dropped and he lifted a hand to shift the shadow of the cap from his eyes. He even went so far as to pull the cap from his head, his hair a mess of blonde.
”No. The bench is all mine, there will be no sitting,” he said. He even managed to remain serious. Dead serious. No smile ever cracked his features, the skin far too smooth and the eyes far too bright. Even though he looked dead serious, however, he still shifted, dropping his arms and sliding to the left. He even patted the faded, splintering wood of the bench for good measure – indicating that the girl should sit.
He could have opened with something about the weather. He could have talked about how it was a wonderful night for a chat. He could have got straight to the point and asked what she wanted to know – but he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to know what it was that Alice wanted to know. There was a whole gamut of things that Blaize could have said, but he said none of them. Instead, he hit on a whole different point.
”So why does a nice girl like you come out late at night to meet an upstanding vampire like me?” he asked. The curiosity had begun to stagnate. It had begun to prickle and sting. Inquiring minds, they needed to know.
”No. The bench is all mine, there will be no sitting,” he said. He even managed to remain serious. Dead serious. No smile ever cracked his features, the skin far too smooth and the eyes far too bright. Even though he looked dead serious, however, he still shifted, dropping his arms and sliding to the left. He even patted the faded, splintering wood of the bench for good measure – indicating that the girl should sit.
He could have opened with something about the weather. He could have talked about how it was a wonderful night for a chat. He could have got straight to the point and asked what she wanted to know – but he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to know what it was that Alice wanted to know. There was a whole gamut of things that Blaize could have said, but he said none of them. Instead, he hit on a whole different point.
”So why does a nice girl like you come out late at night to meet an upstanding vampire like me?” he asked. The curiosity had begun to stagnate. It had begun to prickle and sting. Inquiring minds, they needed to know.
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Alice Wilson (DELETED 8534)
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Hearing Blaize claim the bench for himself, despite gesturing for her to sit down, Alice laughed slightly. Then she sat down, calm, as if she'd not sit next to a complete stranger who was also a vampire, but instead next to a friend from university. Actually, the fact that he was a vampire was less alarming to her than him being a stranger to her. Until now, he didn't seem too different personality-wise from humans. And to Alice it wasn't what a person was, it was what a person did that defined them.
His question however brought her to think. After all, it was the same question she had asked herself the whole time on her way to the park. More or less the same question at least. “I'm not so sure if I agree on the whole 'nice girl' part, but why would I not? As I said earlier, I just want to know more. And it's not like I would go to sleep the next hour or so anyway, so I don't mind the night.” Yet still she knew no sane person would have done the same. Maybe she was really crazy, at least that meant her nickname did fit her. Though in the end she probably was only careless.
“Though I guess I could ask you the same.” Pausing for a moment she then smiled. “With the roles reversed though. Why did you come here? I don't think that all of you are happy with what happened lately. And even less happy about someone telling stuff to a random person.”
His question however brought her to think. After all, it was the same question she had asked herself the whole time on her way to the park. More or less the same question at least. “I'm not so sure if I agree on the whole 'nice girl' part, but why would I not? As I said earlier, I just want to know more. And it's not like I would go to sleep the next hour or so anyway, so I don't mind the night.” Yet still she knew no sane person would have done the same. Maybe she was really crazy, at least that meant her nickname did fit her. Though in the end she probably was only careless.
“Though I guess I could ask you the same.” Pausing for a moment she then smiled. “With the roles reversed though. Why did you come here? I don't think that all of you are happy with what happened lately. And even less happy about someone telling stuff to a random person.”
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Blaize
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
The joke was there on the top of his tongue; I’m not a nice girl either. Rather than voice said joke, however, Blaize cleared his throat and the joke along with it. The questions she asked were pertinent, and the dancer hadn’t thought about it. He’d thought about his sire, of course, and what Lyonel might think if his childe were sharing his secrets willy nilly. But, it wasn’t as if Blaize were shouting it from the rooftops. He wasn’t telling everyone he met that he was a vampire. This was a one-off.
”Well, you’re not exactly just a random person. You’re…” he stopped. The circumstances under which the two had met were eccentric, to say the least. Blaize glanced to his left, to that spot on the ground where he’d inadvertently murdered someone. A living, breathing person. His tongue swiped at his lips and he shrugged his shoulders.
”You’d be the first person I’ve said anything to,” he said, turning his cool gaze back to the young woman at his side. The calmness of his expression belied the turmoil within. If there was anything Blaize was good at, it was hiding what he was truly feeling. Did it matter what Lyonel thought? Of course it did. Yes, it did. But Blaize was struggling. Everything depended on what Lyonel would think, whether or not he would be disappointed. But Blaize was an independent individual, and it felt strange to be so beholden to someone else. This was his life. He could do with it what he wanted. He pulled himself out of his thoughts.
”I’m still green, if you know what I mean. Fresh, to all of this. I’ve got loyalty neither to secrecy nor to sharing. If you go sharing my name around, though, I might have to kill you,” he said. At this point, he should have laughed. He should have smiled as if he were joking. He was joking. But the smile was not forthcoming.
”Well, you’re not exactly just a random person. You’re…” he stopped. The circumstances under which the two had met were eccentric, to say the least. Blaize glanced to his left, to that spot on the ground where he’d inadvertently murdered someone. A living, breathing person. His tongue swiped at his lips and he shrugged his shoulders.
”You’d be the first person I’ve said anything to,” he said, turning his cool gaze back to the young woman at his side. The calmness of his expression belied the turmoil within. If there was anything Blaize was good at, it was hiding what he was truly feeling. Did it matter what Lyonel thought? Of course it did. Yes, it did. But Blaize was struggling. Everything depended on what Lyonel would think, whether or not he would be disappointed. But Blaize was an independent individual, and it felt strange to be so beholden to someone else. This was his life. He could do with it what he wanted. He pulled himself out of his thoughts.
”I’m still green, if you know what I mean. Fresh, to all of this. I’ve got loyalty neither to secrecy nor to sharing. If you go sharing my name around, though, I might have to kill you,” he said. At this point, he should have laughed. He should have smiled as if he were joking. He was joking. But the smile was not forthcoming.
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Alice Wilson (DELETED 8534)
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
„Seems like I'm living dangerous then.“ Alice replied with a smile. She wasn't sure whether he was joking or not. Usually people would say such a thing as a joke, yet she could not see any indication he meant it as such. Though in the end it didn't really matter, she didn't plan on telling anyone either way. Doing so would feel like betrayal to her. Of course she never promised she wouldn't tell anyone, but she saw it as an unspoken promise. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that wasn't the only reason, but right now she had to focus on the conversation. Dealing with her inner demons had to wait until she would have time for it.
Thinking about this her gaze went to the side, where a bit more than a week ago a dead body had been laying. The situation that had started all this. Alice still wasn't sure if she was grateful for everything that happened or not. Everything that resulted out of that situation had it's good and bad parts. Hell, she was sitting in the park next to a vampire, casually talking. This would not have happened, had that other man not died. Would she be able to change the turn of events, would she do it? Would the life of a man that tried attacking her mean enough to her to save it? A question of morality. But remembering the decision she made only a moment ago, she pushed that thought out of her mind. She wouldn't bother with that for now.
“Maybe not loyalty to secrecy or sharing, but you must have an opinion, right? That one is more favourable, or one is just the right thing to do. Keep as much about you hidden so you are feared, or tell as much as safely possible to be accepted?” Would Alice have been in his situation, she'd be thinking about this question all the time. After all, it was the question that would probably decide the future of both humans and vampires.
Thinking about this her gaze went to the side, where a bit more than a week ago a dead body had been laying. The situation that had started all this. Alice still wasn't sure if she was grateful for everything that happened or not. Everything that resulted out of that situation had it's good and bad parts. Hell, she was sitting in the park next to a vampire, casually talking. This would not have happened, had that other man not died. Would she be able to change the turn of events, would she do it? Would the life of a man that tried attacking her mean enough to her to save it? A question of morality. But remembering the decision she made only a moment ago, she pushed that thought out of her mind. She wouldn't bother with that for now.
“Maybe not loyalty to secrecy or sharing, but you must have an opinion, right? That one is more favourable, or one is just the right thing to do. Keep as much about you hidden so you are feared, or tell as much as safely possible to be accepted?” Would Alice have been in his situation, she'd be thinking about this question all the time. After all, it was the question that would probably decide the future of both humans and vampires.
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Blaize
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Re: Call to a Stranger [Blaize]
Blaize nodded and again turned his gaze to the sky. An opinion. Sure, he must have an opinion. But opinions were formed by experience and knowledge, and Blaize didn’t think he knew enough, or had experienced enough to form a wholesome and robust opinion.
”The truth? I’m not that far from human. It’s hard to just… switch your loyalties like that, you know?” he said with a click of his fingers. ”I knew about vampires before I became one. I’d adjusted to it, and I’d accepted it as something that existed. I suppose… my opinion is that I don’t really care. The woman who told me clearly didn’t care, though I didn’t see her beyond that one night. It’s how I got this scar,” he said, dropping his chin and pointing to the small scar adorning the right slant of his upper lip. There was even a twitch of a smile. It was a fond memory.
He hadn’t thought about any of this, really. In a way, this conversation was a good thing. It forced him to try to understand his own stance. And why shouldn’t vampires and humans be able to live in harmony? They could have fun together, couldn’t they? They could help each other. So long as humanity could adjust and accept. So long as they didn’t give in to their fear – or their greed. Though, Blaize wasn’t one to talk. Couldn’t his brand of determination be called greed? He would do whatever he could to get to the top.
”It’d be nice if we could all live together in peace and quiet, though I understand that it’s probably not going to be possible. And in that vein, I don’t think I’d go shouting it from the rooftops. But I kind of accidentally blew it with you, huh?” he said, peering at Alice curiously.
”The truth? I’m not that far from human. It’s hard to just… switch your loyalties like that, you know?” he said with a click of his fingers. ”I knew about vampires before I became one. I’d adjusted to it, and I’d accepted it as something that existed. I suppose… my opinion is that I don’t really care. The woman who told me clearly didn’t care, though I didn’t see her beyond that one night. It’s how I got this scar,” he said, dropping his chin and pointing to the small scar adorning the right slant of his upper lip. There was even a twitch of a smile. It was a fond memory.
He hadn’t thought about any of this, really. In a way, this conversation was a good thing. It forced him to try to understand his own stance. And why shouldn’t vampires and humans be able to live in harmony? They could have fun together, couldn’t they? They could help each other. So long as humanity could adjust and accept. So long as they didn’t give in to their fear – or their greed. Though, Blaize wasn’t one to talk. Couldn’t his brand of determination be called greed? He would do whatever he could to get to the top.
”It’d be nice if we could all live together in peace and quiet, though I understand that it’s probably not going to be possible. And in that vein, I don’t think I’d go shouting it from the rooftops. But I kind of accidentally blew it with you, huh?” he said, peering at Alice curiously.
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