Path of the Vampire forum

When Marlow asks the vendor for my drink, I do the same for her. A mocha with an extra shot of coffee – strong, rich but sweet – a coffee signifying the woman drinking it. We all find these parallels in life. Our tastes express who we are, of course. I like the espresso for its dark smoky qualities and since an espresso is supposed to be drunk quickly, you get an instantaneous bout of hot smoky liquid in your mouth before it melts into something completely different. The bitter notes, the floral honey of the beans, then linger on your palette and you start to feel that whip-smart buzz wake you and stir your hunger for life. I like espresso because it is so unassuming on the surface, has such a bold reputation and then when you drink it, you can feel its power and know its softness too, its subtleties. An espresso is a fashionable drink as well and I am most certainly drawn by its allure. The mocha is fashionable for women who love the power of coffee, but are perhaps too reluctant to take it in its raw form. Like a spirit diluted in fruit juice to make a cocktail, a mocha is the coffee equivalent. I do not judge her poorly for her decision, however. I like mochas too – chocolate is delicious after all.

“Would you like to sit over here?” I ask when the drinks are delivered.

I move toward an empty table with two chic bucket chairs. The black leather drinks in the light that scatters off the crystal lamp above. It looks like the perfect spot for a couple of ladies to sit and gossip and get to know one another. I also like that there is a wall near us and no reflective surfaces so she can feel confident here. I would like to keep the conversation casual because it feels like everything is just so serious and sombre in this city. I miss my friends and the shallow words we would exchange – chatting senselessly about boys and dresses and well, occasionally about womanhood. At least I can join in on some of the conversations and when they realise this, they become awfully distressed and ashamed that they had managed to forget such things. As if I blend in too easily into normality. It is flattering really and I bat away their apologies because they really are silly to think that I might mind. I do not find them insensitive for mistaking me for one of their own…