Those Crazy Bitches (Dhara)

[Flynn]

FLYNN The darkened streets were eerily silent for a city like Harper Rock. The vampire population was seemingly large in the area, and despite that fact, Flynn came across no one else for several blocks. Something about the silence was unnatural, uncomfortable. A chill shot down his spine,, a reminder of how vulnerable he was. While most of the vampires seemed to be in relative control of their actions and emotions, others were more of a wild card. And having grown up in the city his entire life, he had had more than his fair share of experiences that never did make much sense. The fact that those experiences were related to vampires was simply the most recent development.

His mood wasn’t helping the night feel any less uncomfortable, either. Vanessa had taken the breakup as he had expected she would. A lot of yelling, some tears. After seven months, he had simply grown bored with the everyday routine they had fallen into, needing something new. Something exciting. A bar seemed like a good places to melt all the stress away, but getting drunk wasn’t very appealing. Which left him back at square one, deciding what he would do for the rest of the night. At least, at a bar, he might leave with a woman on his arm. One content to pack up and leave in the morning without expecting a call back.

Smirking at the thought of such a rendezvous, he turned down the next street and kept his eyes open for an opportunity. Something, anything to keep him away from his apartment. Breaking up with Vanessa didn’t make him heartless, but he was not about to mope about, either. That was her gig, apparently, once she successfully chucked her cell phone at his face. “What were you even thinking, man?” he mumbled to himself, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Always attracting crazy bitches…”

Okay, so bitches may have been taking it a bit too far, but who was there to hear him?

Dhara Coffee in one hand, violin in the other, she strolled down the quiet street, enjoying the silence and the moonlight that limned her pale skin and white hair in silver, giving her an ethereal glow. She sipped on the scalding hot brew, humming to herself as she walked. She wore a sapphire colored tunic, her usual black skirt and her white locks spilled freely down her back.

Every now and again, she’d look down and chuckle at the way her skirt swirled around her booted feet. She was easily entertained, enjoying these last few days before the university started again. It was in one of these moments of looking down that she walked past the only other person in, what felt like, a three mile radius. She paid it no mind until she heard ‘crazy bitches’. Her chin came up and she blinked, stopping in her tracks. She turned around and stared at his back. “I beg your pardon?” She said, loud enough for him to hear. She wasn’t a confrontational person by any means, but if he had just called her a crazy *****, then she certainly wanted to know why.

FLYNN His eyes had been trained on the ground as the woman passed him by. All of his thoughts were clouded by Vanessa’s outrage, leaving a pounding headache in its wake. As he reached out to pinch the bridge of his nose against the steady throbbing, a feminine voice called out. The tone was hard to distinguish, but it gave him pause and he came to a stop. Glancing over his shoulder, his gaze fell on the slight woman. And the first thought to come to mind was just how...small...she was.

Flynn turned around to face her fully, arms crossed over his chest. He was hardly the most imposing man on the planet, but he liked to think that others generally left him alone from his aura of disinterest. Perhaps, he would be lucky enough to send this woman off with as little conversation as possible.

Realizing, suddenly, that he had yet to answer her, his eyes narrowed. “Yes?” he asked, voice cold and uninviting. On any usual day, most people go out of their way of addressing random strangers on the street, but here this woman was. The only other person for blocks, it would seem. “I happened to be speaking out loud, so let me assume you are offended by my mouth?”

Raising an eyebrow, he leaning in closer to the woman while keeping a healthy distance, “If the shoe fits, though, right..?” He knew it was low. He didn’t know this woman from Eve, but he was in a bad mood. Turning on his heel without another word, he began back down the street.

Dhara She tipped her head, completely non plussed by his attitude. “Only offended if it is directed at me.” She said in that calm way she had, the way that usually infuriated people. She sipped her coffee and gazed up at him. His next words caused an expression somewhere between amusement and a slight frown. Not because he implied she was a crazy *****, but because she wasn’t sure what shoes had anything to do with it.

She followed a few more steps after him, calling out again “Excuse me?” She said to garner his attention, shifting from one foot to the other, then sipping her coffee. “What do shoes have to do with anyone being crazy?” She tipped her head to the side, causing the streak of black hair to fall in her face. She blew it out of her eyes… well tried to, and failed. She ended up looking rather silly as she tried to toss her hair back, and use her fingers to rake it out of her eyes and off her face without spilling her coffee.

FLYNN He fought back the urge to groan aloud as the woman called after him again. As soon as he glanced down to his side, there she was. Walking with him and asking questions. Everything about his posture tensed, but he refused to stop moving. Eventually, she would have to turn back around, right? She had been moving the opposite direction before, after all. Who completely deviates from their plans to follow a random stranger?

His lips drew into a thin line at her question, one eyebrow raising up in surprise. As soon as the emotion arrived on his expression, it was gone with a practised glare, “It’s a figure of speech…” he managed to say through gritted teeth. “Ya know...if the shoes fits, wear it? You heard the words ‘crazy *****,’ and assumed it was in reference to you. You...wore the shoe…” he tried his best to explaining, waving a hand dismissively of the conversation.

With a subtle smirk, he gestured with his head down the street. “Should I bother walking off again, or will you simply keep following me?”

Dhara “I will probably keep following you.” She sipped her coffee again, having succeeded in getting her hair off her face. “As for what you said and me thinking it was directed at me… that is your assumption.” She grinned up at him, his bad mood having no effect on her cheerful nature. She shrugged slightly, the violin case thumping her leg as she did. “What I was asking for was two things, initially. The first being, did I hear you correctly. The second being was it aimed at me.” Another sip of coffee, the same maddeningly calm voice, colored by a German accent. “If I had truly believed it was directed at me, I probably would have kicked you in the shin or something.”

She chuckled softly, knowing she wouldn’t have done anything of the sort. Her smile lingered as she looked up at him, amused by his behavior and the conversation. “We do not have that expression where I come from. I have never heard it until you said it.”

[Dhara]

FLYNN He was no master of accents, so it took him a moment to determine just where this woman must have meant she came from. There was a fair share of Germans that he had come across in the city. It seemed that people liked to migrate to the place, but he suspected that was more supernatural than anything. Someone comes to visit and they never return home, or they get in so deep with the supernatural that they choose to stay. It was the same old song and dance, really. “Well, now you have heard it. Please, do use it to your heart’s content,” he said with little amusement in his tone.

Now that it was clear she had no intentions of leaving him alone, he set off down the street once more. Hitting up the bar was still an option, of course, but if this woman followed him in, there was no saying what others may assume. Inwardly groaning, he knew the possible option was to just go home. In which case, he could simply walk in and close the door, leaving her behind him. “If you are going to insist on coming along, I guess I have no choice... “ he drawled out, as if the idea of continuing with her was a chore to be completed. “I’m...Flynn.”

Dhara She chuckled softly at his comment. “I am pleased to have your permission.” She drawled out, sarcasm lacing her otherwise cheerful tone. Her brows arched slightly and she sipped her coffee, giving his words some consideration. “Flynn.” She repeated his name, her accent coloring the simple name with a German tilt. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Flynn. I am Dhara.”

Again the head tilt, amber eyes focused on him, weighing his rather sarcastic invitation. “Truthfully, I have no intention of darkening your already bleak evening anymore. You seem to be in a bit of a… mood.” A pause while she sipped her coffee. “Then again that could just be your nature. Regardless, I only wanted clarification on if you had been speaking to me. And I do not consider myself to be a verrückte hündin, therefore I will not be wearing that particular shoe.” She smiled up at him again, waiting to see if he would deign to say anything more.

FLYNN His dark eyes followed her coffee as she lifted it, and a deep craving set in. In that moment, he remembered he hadn’t had his cup, today. As if to spite him for such a thing, his head decided that was the best time to remind him just how awful his headache was. “Well,...Dhara. First, I won’t pretend to know what the hell you just said.,” he said with a simple shrug, even if he was assuming it was close to ‘crazy *****.’ “And second, I do appreciate your demonstration of your quick wit.” It was said with a roll of his eyes, but that hint of a smirk was back in place. At least she was quick on her feet.

“But, as it turns out, I owe you a thank you. I just realized I need just that…” he continued with a gesture to her cup. “As for the mention of my mood...it’s just a character trait, I’m afraid.” Without waiting to see if she was going to follow any further, he made the next turn in order to circle around to his favorite cafe. Vanessa frequented the same one, but he highly doubted he would find her there. Sadly, for her, he wouldn’t feel nearly as awkward about an encounter as she might.

Dhara She moved a bit fast to catch up to his much longer stride, reaching out, her fingers brushed his arm to gain his attention again. “You must think me akin to a yappy little dog who will not go away by now.” She said, grinning. “However, if you want coffee, and you want good coffee… you are going the wrong way.” She sipped her own brew again and smiled. “I drink about a dozen cups a day, I am quite positive that the best coffee to be had in this town is over at the University.”

She went to take another sip, pouting when she came up empty. She tossed the paper cup into the trash, gazing almost mournfully at her empty hand. “Well, as it turns out, I could use another cup as well. I could show you if you like, Flynn.” She hummed for a moment, thinking to herself. “If, of course, it would not make your… character trait… any worse.” She grinned, flashing even, pearly white teeth, a soft laugh escaping her. She had no idea why she kept talking to him, or why she found it so amusing, but she did and it was. And she really did know the place to get the best coffee in town.

FLYNN The touch came as surprise and he nearly jerked away from it in a less than gentle manner. Reigning in on his impulse, he narrowed his eyes on her as she began to speak, sucking in on his lip in annoyance. She spoke of the best coffee in town and he couldn’t help the low chuckle that followed. Only when she was done talking did he lean down so he could meet her gaze head on, though there was little there for her to see. “As lovely as that sounds…” he mused, rubbing his chin as if he might still reconsider. “I had every intention of getting a black tea. Maybe splash of lemon.”

Pulling back, he rubbed in frustration at his forehead, cursing women’s ability to be vicious when enraged. “I have quite the headache, and I find tea relaxing. If you want to tag along, maybe try a new cafe’s coffee if you are adventurous, come on. It’s not far.” He waited in a show patience for her to decide if she was coming before moving on. The street lights felt too bright, the silence of the street was too loud.

Dhara “I never figured you for tea…” She said thoughtfully. The little kiosk she favored served tea, but she wasn’t a fan so she had no idea if it was good. With a little shrug, she followed after him. “I have been to every cafe and kiosk in town. I have a bit of a…” She pursed her lips, looking for the right word. “Habit? Addiction perhaps is the one?” She shrugged again, then dug around in the satchel she was carrying, pulling out a small, round case.

“Headache?” She repeated, as if checking that was what he said he had. She opened the case and revealed three little compartments. “These work really well, if you take two of the blue ones and one of the white ones.” She showed him the pills, then snapped the case shut and offered it to him, falling silent, at least for now.

FLYNN “How could you? You don’t know me,” he quickly replied, dropping his hand and staring straight ahead. He didn’t slow his pace, despite the visible effort Dhara was making to keep up with him. It wasn’t that he wanted to be rude, but the conversation was noise that bounced around his head like a bag bricks. Considering her comment on having an addiction, there was a pause and then another chuckle, “Didn’t you say you have had about a dozen cups just today? And you have to make it sound like a question that you may have an addiction?”

Coming upon his cafe, he stopped and held the door open for her with a grand gesture, “Are you coming in? Even if it doesn’t quite meet your standards for your coffee, I could promise you that it won’t be a total disappointment.” While he preferred tea, he wasn’t opposed to coffee and usually settled with one cup in the morning. His overall lack of interest in the coffee may make him an awful judge of its taste, but she would only found out if she bothered to try it.

[Flynn]

Dhara “It is not my addiction that I call into question, it is the use of the word and the context, knowing if it is correct.” She poked her tongue out at him, then ducked under his arm and into the cafe. She waved at the barista, who was already pouring her a large black coffee. As she had told him, she was a frequent visitor of every shop in town.

“I will concede this cafe does make a decent cup of coffee.” She shook the small case at him again. “Would you care for something for your headache or no?” She asked as they meandered up to the counter, she to accept her black coffee and he to order his black tea with maybe a splash of lemon.

FLYNN His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, unsure how what she was said was different. “If you do not question the addiction, than how can wonder whether the context is accurate? You can’t admit to an addiction and simultaneously deny it,” he countered, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited for the barista to bring him his tea. He came in at least once a day, and just as they knew Dhara’s order...they also knew his. Once the young woman returned to the counter with steaming cup, tea bag still within, he flashed a bright smile of thanks and glanced to his companion.

He considered the offered pills for his headache and ultimately shook his head. “I’m not sure how I feel about accepting random pills from strangers. Even cute ones,” he admitted with a shrug, moving past her to eye the cafe and the door. With his back to her, he gestured between the two and asked over his shoulder, “Well...seeing as the bar no longer sounds so appealing...would you...care to sit? Or...simply continue our walk until we have to go our separate ways?”

Dhara She grinned up at him and shook her head. “Not what I was meaning.” She paused to sip the scalding hot brew, thinking. “I mean maybe context of the word? No that is not right.” She huffed, blowing a white lock of hair that decided to land in her face. “I mean… was it the right word, used in the right way? I still struggle with English sometimes.” She smiled, chuckling over the fact that he called her ‘cute’. Apparently she was akin to a puppy or a baby it seemed. She tucked the case away and gave his offer some consideration.

“Well… I literally have nothing going on and could walk until the sun came up, so…” She smiled again and motioned to the tables on the faux patio. “Perhaps we sit outside until I have finally annoyed you to the point where you are ready to continue with your evening in silence?” She moved to stand beside him, craning her head to look up and gauge his reaction.

FLYNN Her comments on staying out until sunrise made him tense, his gaze locking onto her own. It wouldn’t be the first time that he had happened upon a vampire, if that were the case with her. Still, without outright asking, he wouldn’t know the answer. And that was a question he wasn’t sure he was ready for. It wasn’t that he feared them, per se. But, even just one was a handful for any human, no matter how powerful they might be. “Outside, then...sure,” he answered while drawing out the last syllable.

With tea in hand, he holds the door open for the woman to allow her to pass through and then follows along behind her until she chooses a table to sit. Setting his cup on the table between them, he stretched before dropping into the chair. “You may find yourself disappointed when you fail to grate on my nerves quite as much as I may let on. I have some practice in dealing with such women. And in comparison, you hardly match up…” he said in his flat tone, though it was laced with a hint of teasing.

“So...tell me, Dhara...why you are actually still here?” he asked with a subtle frown, dark gaze narrowing. “No girlfriends, boyfriends...jobs...to keep you busy?”

Dhara She ducked under his arm, clearly a reflex as she was in no danger bumping her head. Settling with her back to the cafe so she could see the street, though her eyes fixed on him as if he were the only person there. And really, he was the only one who held her interest. Some people found her gaze a little intense, but she had always been that way, focus wholly on the person she’s spending time with.

“Well, it is good to know I am not annoying.” She grinned at him and sipped her coffee, thinking over his question. “No boyfriend, singular or plural. I do not fancy women, so no girlfriend either.” She smiled again, tapping her paper cup. “I work two jobs, but am taking the night off. Once the University starts again, I will have three jobs. I was not kidding when I said I have nothing to do. I had planned to play my violin a bit in the park, but really that is all.” Another sip of her coffee. “What about you? No jobs? No girlfriends or boyfriends?” she tipped her head slightly, “You do not strike me as the type to not have a someone on your arm. Too cute for that, certainly.”

FLYNN Her gaze hardly bothered him. It was not uncommon for him to be stared at in some capacity of another. Usually those stares came once his tattoos were revealed, as they were most often hidden away...much like they were tonight, covered by the sleeves of his jacket. Never one to shy one from anyone, he met her stare head on. If someone’s eyes are the gateway to their soul, his was more like a massive stone wall. His poker face never failed him. So, for the moment, she held his full attention.

He listened, quietly, as she answered each part of his question in turn, nodding at the appropriate times. “Three jobs? Wow, you must be quite the busy bee,” he commented, eyebrows raising in a rare show of surprise. “I’m impressed. A woman who takes care of her own.” He fell quiet after that, letting a moment of silence fall between them before offering her an answer to her question. After a minute, a smirk began to take over his expression, and he had to cough to cover up the beginnings of a chuckle, “Are you trying to tell me that I am too attractive to be single? I guess it is a good thing that I have only been single for...perhaps an hour and a half? Two?” To cover up the smirk, he lifted his cup to take a sip, still keeping his eyes locked on her own over the rim.

[Dhara]

Dhara She chuckled softly and shrugged sipping her coffee. “I am saying you do not look like the type to not have a Mr. or Mrs. Right Now on your arm.” She sipped her coffee, her fingers tapping along the seam of her cup as she watched him, that small smile playing about her lips. She loved a person who made eye contact and held it.

“I do like to keep busy. Before coming here I had been almost all over the world. There are some places in America I have not seen. Then I came here and... “ She shrugged slightly and grinned, once again showing those even white teeth. “Though I did return from a trip to Tokyo not too long ago. But you still have not told me what it is you do for a living? Or are you just a rakish playboy leaving a trail of broken hearts in your wake?” She was teasing him about his ‘two hours single’ comment.

FLYNN He didn’t bother to hide his laughter this time, shaking his head at her bold words. “You know, if you asked my ex, she might tell you the latter. Though, I doubt I am far behind, despite my denial to the claims.” If there was one thing he never bluffed about, it was himself. Lying to someone else about who are is the same as lying to yourself. It actually tended to help weed out the majority of women he met as anything more than a good time.

His shoulders came up in a shrug, then, displaying his disinterest in his job. “I am an office clerk, I’m afraid. Terribly dull stuff. But, it gets the bills paid…” A sort of secret smile formed on his lips, like he was amused by an inside joke that she wasn’t privy to. “I do have a hand in a bit of traveling. Never to Tokyo, though I am sure I will get there, someday.” Finishing off his tea, he set his empty cup down on the table and leaned back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other.

Dhara She tipped her head as she gazed at him, blowing her hair from her eyes. That small smile said he was hiding something. “I suppose that is what we must do, whatever pays the bills. I work as a TA for the German Professor at the University, manage a handful of properties and do the bookkeeping at an arcade. Like you, terribly boring.”

She finished her coffee and thought about getting another cup for herself, but reasoned she’d probably had enough. “So if your job is so dull, what is it that you love? I firmly believe you should at least do what you love in your spare time.” She toyed with the violin at her throat. “Before coming here, I made my way around the world with music.” She grinned at him, her eyes taking a far away look. “Tokyo is… amazing… I used to think I would settle down there when I had my fill of travelling.” Her mind wandered for a moment before she blinked and gave him a sheepish smile. “Apologies, I was gathering wool it seems. I just love Tokyo.”

FLYNN Schooling his expression back into place, he considered the wide variety in her job choices. “That is...quite the list. Do you find yourself with much spare time to do your music much, then?” he asked, gesturing to the violin case she had be lugging around this whole time. Making note of the fact that she spoke of her traveling for music in the past tense, leaving him to assume that was no longer the case. She had settled, and not where she had wanted to. Fighting the urge to prickle her as to why, he took a deep breath and counted to five before letting it go.

What did he love? Teeth worrying the inside of his lip, he merely stared at her in contemplation. “Well, I can’t show my entire hand, already. Where would be the mystery in that? Isn’t that what rakish playboys do?” While it wasn’t the most subtle way of avoiding the question, he felt it was well executed, even if she didn’t go for it.

Dhara “Well, having never met a rakish playboy until now, I could not say.” She smiled at him, thinking back on her scant love life. Calen had claimed to be something of a lothario but she’d never seen that while they were together. Rhett was pretty straight laced, and that completed her list. She snorted softly at herself, then dragged her mind back to his question.

“I do still have time, actually. I play the piano when I get off work in the mornings, to relax before bed. Working nights can make it a little difficult to calm the mind and sleep straight away. And of course on my days off I play my violin or my lute. Sometimes I even do it to earn pocket change still.” She thought about what he’d said and then laughed suddenly, as if the sound was startled from her. “I actually understand that reference!” She said delightedly. “It is related to poker!”

FLYNN Flynn was like any other when it comes to music. He enjoyed listening, or even dancing for the right reasons. However, he was far the best at trying play or make it. He had a healthy admiration for anyone who could play a music instrument, as it was clearly not a skill meant for everyone. Just as he opened his mouth to comment on her violin a moment later, she was laughing. Instantly, his careful facade shifted to reveal a fair bit of shock. Most never picked up on his slips, going for the figurative meaning, instantly.

He allowed the legs of his chair to settle back onto the ground and he leaned forward, across the table. “Now that...that is impressive. Most wouldn’t pick up on that,” he nodded, taking care to cover up the initial surprise. “You could say I...dabble in poker. You might even say I love it, sure.” The smile was back as he finished, content to keep some of himself a secret.

Glancing down at his watch, he blinked at the time before returning his attention to her. If he stayed out much longer, he would sleep the entire day away tomorrow. “Wow, you really must be more interesting than most, because you have managed to keep me entertained for quite a while now.”

Dhara “You play poker?” She asked curiously. She didn’t realize he had, she was just pleased that she’d gotten the reference about revealing the hand. Which was a poker term she’d read about. She chuckled when he glanced at his watch. “And you have not even scratched the surface.” She looked up at the sky, pursed her lips for a moment, then looked back to him.

“Though I suppose if you are checking your watch, it would be logical to assume you must be going?” She was wide awake herself, but she was also used to being up all night and half of the day. She ran on very little sleep. “Would it be presumptuous to say that I hope we can do this again? I have enjoyed meeting you, Flynn. I do not meet people very often.”

[Flynn]

FLYNN He blinked at her as she asked him for confirmation to playing poker. He felt like he had just been played, even as she rang of only genuine curiosity. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and he wasn’t entirely sure that he liked it. Sitting back, he kept quiet but nodded as a means of an answer. She continued on to assume correctly about needing to leave, but it was her request that caught him off guard.

There was a brief pause, his expression calculating as he stared intently at her. And then, as if a light had switched, he stood with a lazy grin. Sitting at the edge of their table, he leaned in toward her. “As a rakish playboy, I am afraid I can’t commit to second dates. But...maybe I’ll see you around.” With that said, he pulled back and began to step away from the table. “And since you are staying up till sunrise, do get yourself a coffee for the road. Just...tell them it’s on me.”

Dhara She blinked at him, then chuckled softly. It was a bit disappointing to think she wouldn’t be able to sit around and drink coffee and chat with him again, but such was life and at least she’d had a wonderful evening. She couldn’t help her instinct to lean back when he leaned in, keeping a little space between them.

“Thank you.” she finally managed to say once he had stepped away. “For the evening and the coffee. Good night.” She smiled at him, but made no move to get up yet. She watched him, and the other people that were around. But mostly him.