Making Connections (Sol)

[Rhett Keyes]

Logan was dead. Logan was dead and Jesse knew. Sure, Jesse didn't owe anyone any explanations, most of all Rhett since he had left Fforde a few months ago, but no one told him Logan was dead. Did Dhara know? How come she never told him if she did know? Rhett decided that she probably didn't know, or didn't know that he sort of knew Logan. Rhett typically kept to himself, Dhara and RetroKade, so it was unlikely she knew that he had the...privilege of meeting the guy.

"Oh." Rhett said before he shook his head and then chuckled. Sol made it seem so permanent, but Rhett knew better. Rhett had died about half a year ago, or maybe longer by now and he came back. "Well, I'm sure it won't be the last time Logan comes up." Rhett said, indicating that he understood he was dead, for now, but he would be back when he could be back.

When Marisol started talking about powers and what Logan did with his power and how he used it on Sol, Rhett frowned. He never seemed to get that impression from the guy, but he had only met him, maybe twice. No one really knew anyone after hanging out, or around them two times. "How does that work then? Since he's gone? If he's not around, then you can't and don't need to do whatever he asked you to do, right? And when he does come back? Will you be his servant?" Rhett asked after looking around, making sure they were lone. He rubbed at the back of his neck, as his eyes fell on her playing with her own neck. "Need another drink?" Rhett asked her, happy to get Sol another one, as Rhett took a step towards the main part of the room again.

"You know what? You don't need to answer any of that. It's a bit full on for a first encounter." Rhett chuckled before shaking his head. "Sorry, I don't actually know a lot of other-va-well, people like Logan and I, so when I hear something new, it always takes me back. My wife; well, she's not like Logan or like me." Rhett explained, knowing a little bit about what his wife could do and how it didn't line up with the things Rhett could do. "How is Jesse? How did he take the news?" Rhett finally asked, circling back to the sire he shared with Logan, and unknowingly, Marisol.

[Marisol]

She knew what he meant and didn't know how to explain that she knew he wouldn't return. Logan’s wife had tried to shoot Marisol, he had shoved her out of the way despite knowing he was already severely wounded... she could still feel the heat of the bullet as it passed through and hit her. She didn’t know how to explain that the moment Logan had turned to ash, she'd known she was free. It was as of an invisible leash had been severed, she no longer felt as if she had to follow every little word. It had been a strange sensation. Logan wasn't returning. Jesse had looked the entire duration that Marisol had been... well, short of death, when he wasn't feeding.

"I wouldn't, no." She answered, even after he said she didn't have to, "I don't think it works on vampires." The woman murmured the word softly, her hand idly moving over the sore spot. Good lord, she hated... whatever it was. She needed to talk to Jesse. It was annoying. "Yes, but I actually think I need something stronger. This isn't a come on, but do you want to get out of here and talk?" The brunette nodded towards the door. There was a small grimace from that scratchy, dry feeling. She didn’t mind the topic as long as it was surface related... and knowing Rhett knew Logan, as well as a member of the bloodline, it was easier. She heard in the distance a man shout 'Marisol' and her eyebrow twitched faintly. She didn’t let herself react, cursing that her dress was so recognizable.

"I was under the impression there was an expansive catalog of who knows who in the world of people like you in this world." Her lips twitched in amusement. Although, she knew that she belonged in that world now, too. "She isn't like me, too, your wife, then, nor are you. I am what Logan was. Same traits." Marisol said softly, her amber eyes lifting to look at the man.

A frown played across her lips. How was Jesse? It was a good question. "He spent a lot of time away when I was... recovering." Marisol wasn't sure how to explain that, either. Pure unadulterated misery came pretty close, really. "I can't get a read on how he felt, or feels." She wet her lips. It wasn't easy, really, understanding her sire. But then again, hadn’t she just spent almost a year working alongside a borderline psychopath? Charming, handsome and a smooth talker, Logan had definitely fooled many. Her own family, included. But Marisol? She had the misfortune of meeting the devil in disguise. "I hope he is well. I have questions to ask him, I have yet to do so. I'll have to do it soon."

[Rhett Keyes]

Rhett listens and nods his head. Now that she was a vampire, he supposed she would have no idea about Logan, and wouldn't be under his influence either. That becoming a vampire had sort of nulled the hold he had on Marisol at some point and in some way. All Rhett knew was that the world he once knew, along with so many other people became 'crazy,' when he became a vampire.

Rhett had been mister ordinary with very little personality or social interactions. He knew the p's and q's enough at a party, but he never went to them because he had dreams and aspirations. Things that he wanted to get done and do by a certain point or age in his life. Now, with those barriers out of his way, Rhett had more time to socialize, but sometimes he felt shafted. Now that he had forever, why work hard and do all these other things when he could do them at any point? Sometimes, Rhett felt his life was purposeless since becoming a vampire. He was sure everyone felt this way at some point, but Rhett had felt this way for damn near a year now.

That's not to say that Rhett didn't feel a purpose on the smaller scale. He felt a purpose to be a decent sire to Dhara. Rhett felt a purpose in the sense of being a husband to his wife. But humans felt a bigger purpose. They felt a need to have to connect with people to search for that one person that you could spend 'forever' with, and try to keep the whole human population going long after they had kicked the bucket. In Rhett's eyes, there was no need to make tons and tons of vampires, or any other vampires because Dhara would live forever, as would any other vampire made from any other vampire. Their race was obviously destined to survive.

"Sure." Rhett said after a long, deep thought. Maybe it wasn't a pick up line, or maybe it was. He wasn't going to counter or give in to it either way, and instead chose to move towards the door with Sol. "Any location in mind, or is it up to me to pick one?" He asked her, realizing he wouldn't know where to go, other than some place near the college campus from when Rhett had been in college. Rhett was almost out the door when he heard someone calling for Sol, the male stopping and turning back towards the voice. "Should we wait?" He asked, not realizing that she had a 'date' of sorts and that she probably shouldn't be leaving without him.

[Marisol]

Life had never been what Marisol wanted. After her mother had told her that she was “too pretty” to follow the career that she had wanted to do as a child, she’d become a model. Her life was socializing, being charismatic and “proper.” She’d hated it, but it was because of that lifestyle and upbringing that she was perfectly comfortable in events such as these. In some ways, it helped prepare her for becoming a vampire, to life a life of prepared luxury. In others, Marisol wondered if it set her up for this ultimately. Living in the evenings, sleeping during the day. After all, it was her mother’s path that had set her into the path of meeting Logan Sanders.

Not that everything in that path was negative, Marisol felt. After Jesse had turned her - and she still wanted to slap the smug smirk that seemed to remain on her sire’s face due to the fact he let her think she was going to die - things had gotten somewhat better. At least, that was what she told herself. There was still an underlying guilt that overtook her occasionally, a guilt that she had survived when Logan had died. She still didn’t understand why he had shoved her out of the direct path of the bullet… but… she shook her head mentally, getting rid of the train of thought.

“You can choose a place, I don’t really know this side of town.” It didn’t really help she chose to stay in Gullsborough when she’d been alive. That’s where her business was, after all. Should they wait? Probably. Marisol briefly entertained the idea before deciding that no, she certainly did not want to wait for whatever his name was. The pros didn’t outweigh the cons, and the least he could do was ***** at her - and generally a punch to a man’s pride would shut them up. “Nope.” The woman said as she popped the p before her hand lightly curled around the man’s wrist, leading him towards the door quickly in the opposite direction of the way her ‘date’ was coming.

[Rhett Keyes]

Did Rhett feel sorry for Sol's date? In one breath, maybe just a tiny bit. He'd feel a little...guilt for anyone in his situation. Here, the guy came with a strikingly beautiful woman, while Rhett came with no one, and the roles reversed. Rhett was leaving with some guy's date, and he was leaving with no one. The irony of it."Okay." Rhett said with a nod before Sol wrapped a hand around his wrist and led them both to the door.

But in another breath, Rhett didn't feel all that bad. What if the date she was with was a prick? Or it was just going bad? No one should have to endure a date and end up being miserable. What was the point and purpose in letting either of those scenarios play out for the benefit of just one person?

With Rhett's free hand, he dug into his pocket and pulled out his car keys. For a second, Rhett had some reservations about this entire scenario. Sure, Sol knew Logan. Knew of. And she knew Jesse, but that didn't mean anything. Rhett didn't know anything about Sol, other than she liked art, was a member of Fforde, had known Logan and one or two other things. Sol could be anyone. What if this was some sort of scam, or trap? Rhett wasn't a naturally paranoid person, but...it wasn't every day someone like Sol waltzed into his life and wanted to leave with someone like him.

Rhett shook his head and shoved a palm to the glass door of the building to open it for the both of them. What was the worst that could happen if it was a scam or something similar? Rhett was positive he could overthrow Sol, without beating the **** out of her (cause Rhett had some sense of what guys did and didn't do when it came to the other gender), so he wasn't all that concerned anyways. He'd just show her the door after pulling over and that would be that. Maybe he'd text Jesse and tell him to go pick her up.

"I know a place." Rhett said as he nodded his head to the car park. "My car's that way." He said, his steps long in their stride and quick. After all, there had been a guy who was her date and didn't seem happy to be losing her. Rhett didn't want to make a scene, but if he had to..."It's only a few blocks from here. And the train station isn't too far away from there, if you need to pull another runner." Rhett finished with a chuckle as he pressed the key fab to his car, the lights flickering to life from the headlights and taillights. "Come on." Rhett's wrist dropped from her hand as he moved around the sports car to get her door. If this was some sort of scam, Rhett was walking right into it like a schmuck.

[Marisol]

She supposed she should explain. It would, technically, be the polite thing to do. What if he got the wrong idea, that she was someone that liked to ditch her dates and go with other guys? "Logan set up the date. I had actually forgotten I had been volunteered for the auction." She explained quickly. It was embarrassing, really. But at that point, she really hadn't been anything but a pretty little pawn in his hand, unable to say no when given a direct order.

Then again, Logan hadn't always been intolerable while she was a thrall. But, that was also because once he learned she would fight back if she could, once delivering a well thrown punch at his perfect nose and breaking it, and severely bruising her hand in the same motion, he begun to back off and include her opinion in things. The auction, however, had been a last minute thing he'd thrown in her direction and she hadn't gotten the email in time - as well as gotten a planned date.

"He's grabby and talks too much." It was a stupid excuse, really.

She could have said he smelled of too much garlic, in attempt to make a bad joke in a situation that looked bad somewhat better, but still. Her cell phone would likely end up blown up later, and that was a fate she was fine accepting - at the very least, she would end up changing her phone number, if not blocking the insults. Marisol followed after Rhett with ease, even in the heels that she wore. The chuckle had her a bit relieved, as it seemed he sound some humor in the situation - she suspected that on a regular note, most men wouldn't. "If he finds me after this, I'm going to be particularly pissed off. That will be creepy." She frowned, letting go of Rhett's wrist as he moved to open the door.

Marisol could only blink, surprised to see the act of chivalry brought back from the dead. "Thank you." She stated, pushing her hair over her shoulder as she reached over to give his arm an appreciative squeeze.

[Rhett Keyes]

Rhett was able to get in his car without any problems; meaning Sol didn't seem like she was trying to pull anything slick at the moment. Not that she could have gotten far without the keys to the ignition, but the wary thought entered and left his mind as soon as Rhett found the front driver's seat. Not long after he pulled out of the parking lot, he felt a hand on his arm and glanced down at it quickly. Rhett offered Sol a small grin and then nodded his head.

"Couldn't leave a friend of Logan's hanging like that. Don't think anything of it." Rhett said with what seemed like utmost sincerity-because there was nothing more to it than that. If Sol was a friend of Logan's then Rhett couldn't leave her high and dry. And if the guy was grabby, then she definitely needed to get out of there sooner, than later. "So, I can't drink-but...I'm sure you could maybe drink whatever I order in a sneaky fashion." Rhett chuckled as he came to a stop at a light and then looked over at Sol, just thinking...and waiting. Wondering how crazy this all was. Sol could have left with anyone in that place and somehow, she was leaving with him. Even if it wasn't like that, it still seemed crazy that Rhett was leaving a party with anyone-especially someone as attractive as Sol.

"I kinda know the guy. We're not friends or anything, but...I helped his kid with something. Baseball. I used to play it until I blew my shoulder out. Sort of trained the kid and now he's signed for a uni scholarship for next year. I tell him it was all his son's natural talent, but Rich thinks it's all because of me. It's a sports bar-but also serves as a low key club on the weekends." Rhett told Sol as the light changed green and he proceeded to the sports bar called, 'Tailgate.' Rhett parked the car in the small lot across the street and then got out once he shut the engine off. "It doesn't look like a lot, but the people are good in here." Rhett said once he opened the Sol's door and leaned against the top of it, both hands over the side of the metal door, as he looked down at Sol.

[Marisol]

"Friend, former thrall.” Her full lips twitched in a small smile. It wasn’t something that Marisol had really issues with any more. Logan was dead and that troublesome habit was over. She was her own person again, and as Marisol considered it, she actually felt a bit better about being free again. Even if she was sure missing Logan would rear its head from time to time. Mindless work hadn’t been that terrible. "I do appreciate it, though.”

As she listened to Rhett, Marisol gave a nod of her head. "We’ll figure it out.” Her hand moved to adjust the hem of her dress as she leaned back and looked out the window. There was an incline of her head. Her amber eyes showed her curiosity as Rhett mentioned helping out a guy’s kid. Was he a coach -- ah. "That’s dreadful. Was baseball what you wanted to pursue as a career?” She turned her head to look at him as she couldn’t help but smile a bit. "You must be proud, even if it was just the kid’s natural talent.”

She fell quiet for a few moments, taking in what she now knew of the man. He didn’t look too comfortable dressed up and going to events, played baseball at one point. Marisol reached down to adjust the nude heel she wore after the car stopped. She took in the sports car as Rhett got out, not seeing anything special - but not seemingly minding it either. "Isn’t it more about the company that you choose to keep, anyhow?” She asked, looking up at him as she swung her long legs out of the car, resting her elbows against her bare thighs. "I’d rather be in a place with good people than a fancy club any day.”

Marisol stood up, tucking her hair behind her ear as she rest her other hand on the opposite side of Rhett’s. A smile crossed her lips once more, "What was your favorite drink at this place?”

[Rhett Keyes]

"Right." Rhett said with a chuckle, not sure how the thrall thing worked. He didn't have any, and Rhett wasn't sure he could ever have one. It just didn't seem like something he could get behind in any aspect. When she asked about baseball, Rhett nodded his head. "Yeah, but at most I'd have a career until I was in my early thirties...which is about now. So, I'd be looking to do something different anyways. Probably nothing like I want to do, or am doing currently.." Rhett admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

As she commented about Rich's son, Rhett nodded again. "Definitely. Even some good ball players don't get scholarships. Only the great and promising ones do." Rhett acknowledged the kid's abilities and talents with a grin and compliment. "Expecting some great things from him in the future." Rhett looked back at the place when Sol mentioned the company and not so much the place and Rhett could agree. In fact, he did agree. "Absolutely." Rhett said, his eyes drifting downwards as Sol took to a very...inviting position as she turned to face him. "Would rather hang out with low key nobodies than some fancy dicks any day of the week." His eyes found her face again as Sol stood up and took the same stance as he did. It was easy for her, being she was in heels and just as tall as him.

"I don't like football, but knew some guys in their college days that played-one or two from high school even.. It's not served a lot unless our team is playing...it's called a patriot shot." Rhett stepped away from the door, finding them--him to be getting drawn in to Sol's personal space. "Rich might make you one, if you ask nice. The guy's more bark than bite." Rhett laughed before thinking on another drink he used to drink in 'Tailgate.' "Otherwise, take me out to the ballgame is good. Might be a bit strong for....uhm....a lady." He held up both hands in defense. "Not to sound like a sexist dick, but I've never seen a lady drink one yet. Even I gave a cough here and there." Rhett admitted with a grin, before glancing back at the bar. "Ready?" He asked with an arm gesturing to the brick decorated bar that appeared to be two stories, but on further inspection, anyone would recognize that the upstairs was probably an apartment.

[Marisol]

"It's always interesting, the paths that we take rather than the ones we once wanted to." Marisol briefly considered her old dreams to possibly teach, or even to just help people as a nurse. She'd just wanted to help others, which is what had sent her onto the path of charity. Of course, that had also helped that Logan pushed her into some of the scene because of his dislike of large events. "As long as you enjoy what you do at the end of the day, though, is what matters." She smoothed out the slip that she wore and pulled idly at the orange string that showed at the edge of the hem. Rather than pull it any further, she used her nails to cut it free and balled it up between her fingers.

Her lips twitched as her mind echoed the words great and promising. "I'll have to keep an eye out for him on the tele at some point, then. I'll be able to say I knew his old coach." Her teeth showed with the smile as she looked out the window and considered the idea of suggesting that they begin to raise more money for the good ball players. It was an idea, at least. "I've been around fancy dicks enough in my lifetime, truthfully. The rich, the arrogant." A roll of her amber eyes showed how very little any of it meant to Marisol. The brunette didn't miss the way his eyes drifted over her and she only smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "The nobodies are always somebody, anyway. Just not the type of somebody whom people truly expect."

It wasn't something that bothered her, really, with the man too close. He had a comforting personality, something refreshing compared to the stiffness that she dealt with, either that or the sort that she found vile - such as her previous date for that evening. Marisol inclined her head at the name of the drink, that same smirk still playing across her lips as she folded her arms in front of her chest - seemingly only adding to the already defined area. "Aren't most men?" She quipped playfully about the man being more more bark than bite. The grin that followed showed that her words had meant to be warm. "Vodka or whiskey mixes, then?" She was amused. She'd always been drawn to dark liquor, "I guess we'll have to see what'll be in store for this evening then, hm?"

Marisol chuckled, "From what I've seen, you're the furthest from a sexist. Maybe a storybook hero, the way you swept in to save the damsel from an orge." Her amber eyes lifted once more to the bar, taking in the appearance of it all. She'd been to a lot of cocktail bars and briefly glanced down at the dress that she wore. It definitely looked more of a casually dressed place, but, she said, "Ready."