Path of the Vampire forum

Charlie glanced his way when he said that he was tougher than he looked. She had no doubt that against another mortal he could be scrappy and though he would likely end up a bit bloody, he would have done some damage as well. However, against a vampire? He would stand no chance. None. He would likely end up the vampire's next meal. Or worse... Dead, depending on who the vampire he saw was. "I didn't mean to make it sound that you couldn't handle yourself." She said with the apology in her tone, her eyes reflecting the knowledge in her eyes. Yes, she was going to do a big no no...

However, before she could tell him, he was asking her a varied set of questions about the Backpacker. She smirked a bit as they came a bit rapid fire at her, then she let out a soft laugh as he asked about a room with her. "Well, like I said earlier, it is a bit like a hostel, but without trying to kill the guests." She said with a playful wink, then she gently tugged on his arm, stopping as she did to bring him to a stop as well before they got to Lancaster's. "You will likely have to room with one or two people, like I said, it is pretty busy there right now, you will have to pay eventually, but it's more like a running tab. The pay would help, but not till you are ready to leave. As for food and alcohol, the Backpacker's is over a bar. They sell all sorts of drinks, all sorts of food. My mentor sings from time to time, there's games. You would never be bored, that is for sure."

She stopped for a moment and looked around, there seemed to be no one in earshot, so she looked back to Marcus and spoke. "I feel I should tell you something, explain to you why I believe you running was the best idea when you saw what you saw." Her voice was quiet and she stepped a bit closer, to someone it might look like she was moving in to flirt or kiss him or hug him. However, she wanted to keep this conversation as private as possible. "The person you saw, there is no way you could have fought them. They would be too strong. What would you say if I told you that what you saw was a vampire?" She glanced around making sure no one else heard her. She couldn't see or sense anyone close... But if need be, she would switch to telepathy. No better way to prove powers than to speak with her mind to someone without the power.

Marcus hadn't expected an apology from Charlie about his ability to hold his own but it was a kind gesture none the less. "Hey, don't worry about it. I was just giving you a hard time about that." He said warmly. "I'm not too big on fights anyway, would probably just as hurt as the other guy in any situation." He was smiling still but that smile faded when he looked into Charlie's eyes. They weren't full of the usual mischief and mirth that had filled them as they joked around that night. Before he could ask she had begun answering his questions about Bunk Backpackers and to his relief her tone had shifted back to something less serious.

Marcus was intrigued by the fact that it was over a bar. That was certainly convenient and though he tried not to drink too often he had his moments where he would drink a little too much, though he could never remember much past a point on those occasions. Luckily he wasn't a violent or obnoxiously loud drunk but apparently a sad one as was pointed out by both his ex and the few friends he drank with back home. Guess his repressed feelings had to come out somehow. He also didn't mind sharing a room, it just gave him more of a chance to network around town and learn the ups and downs of the place. And finally this mentor she mentioned. Charlie had spoken of this mysterious person before and now Marcus might actually get to meet this person. That should be interesting. The mentor of your mentor is your grand mentor? He would have to workshop that a bit more in his head before saying it out loud, didn't want to sound too idiotic.

Suddenly Charlie stopped and Marcus noticed how she looked around checking for anyone near by. Crap, maybe this was all an illusive ploy to get him alone. If that's the case then he definitely fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Marcus tensed up as he noticed Charlie brought up the attack he saw again and stepped in closer to him. Marcus wasn't sure whether to crack wise or remain silent and chose the latter this time. Just watching Charlie and listening intently until she asked that question. Vampires? Marcus faced went blank in disbelief. Did she really think this was funny? "Vampires?" Marcus echoed his own thought, not very eloquent but it was what was going through his head at the moment. "That's not very funny... I mean, I get what you're going for here but it's still a bit soon for that kind of joke." Marcus said, waiting for Charlie to either break into a smirk or laughter. "I'll give you props for the delivery, you had me going for a second with the whole 'is anyone around' look and getting in real close like. Very classy." He said with his signature smirk. "It was just some gang member on the worst trip of his life, I mean, vampires... that would be crazy... scary... impossible. Right?" He looked at Charlie, an uncertain look in his eye. Something about the way she said it was making him nervous and doubtful.

It was no surprise or shock that he sounded disbelieving, still, her face remained as she was, totally serious. He really was so much like her. He made joked about it being a joke just as she had when Killian had told her about vampires, and just like her human self, he was brushing it off as nothing more than a joke. She sighed softly and wondered now if she should push the topic more. She could, and it was really tempting to do so. Her eyes glanced around the area as he questioned wither or not it was crazy. She was probably going to regret this. She hoped she wouldn't, but she made up her mind.

With another sigh, her breath not leaving a cloud in the cold air, she reached out with her mind to his. ~I once thought the same thing, that the idea outside of tv and books and movies was crazy. I can't really say the scary part is any different than what a human is capable of, but yes, crazy and scary... And true.~ She looked at him awaiting the response to her thoughts, her thoughts that she had sent to him. If need be she had a whole host of powers and things to prove that she wasn't lying. She was trusting this mortal with her secret. Yet, with him in such a state of disbelieving, it was possible he would just brush her off as nuts as he had the other vampire he had seen.

Charlie's face was still serious and Marcus was quickly beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable. She just stared at him and he began to wonder what the hell was going on. Then he heard it. The voice in his head. Her voice? Marcus was looking right her and heard her voice but her lips didn't move. His eyes were wide in shock. Was he going crazy? There's no way. I'm hearing things. Did she drug me somehow? He hadn't eaten anything and they've barely touched but she has admitted to being dexterous and sneaky. "What... What did you give me. Why am I hearing things?" Marcus backed up a bit and had a confused look on his face. "I'm sorry, I must be more tired than I thought." He said trying to convince himself more than Charlie.

He was afraid, in denial, and now unsure about how much he could trust Charlie. What if she wasn't lying. God, why is the one person I talked to in this god forsaken town ******* with me? "I mean... You aren't messing with me are you? This isn't funny." Wait, if she was telling the truth and spoke in my head that means she might be one. "Okay, if you're not messing with me. Does that mean you are..." Marcus couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence and grew fearful. He stepped back and reached for his neck instinctively. "Are you telling me the truth, Charlie?" Marcus wasn't sure what do if she was. If she was he may very well be dead. If not, he wasn't going to be happy for the rest of the night and would need to start a tab at that bar tonight.

Marcus remained frozen in place, watching Charlie. His breaths felt raspy and short, his heart beat was beating in his ears, and his hand remained frozen on his neck. He didn't know what to think or what to do. It felt like one of those night terrors where you can't move your body but your mind is somehow still conscious. Her first words had little to no effect on him, after all, who would admit to drugging their target when being asked directly. Her next sentence was an appeal to his logic but his logical thought process was screaming at him that this was obviously fake and she had an ulterior motive all along. Marcus didn't know what to say so remained silent, lowering his hand from his neck. He realized if she wanted to hurt him his hand offered no protection, it was just there based on instinct.

Marcus thought back to the first night again and how it made even more sense to him now. The way that person bit into the victims neck, the hungry look in his eyes, the blood, the overwhelming fear. Vampires preyed on humans and prey naturally were hard wired to fear the predator. Even with this new perspective he threw the memory back into the corner of his mind where he tried to keep repressed memories.

Finally Charlie tried appealing to Marcus's more emotional side by insisting that she could be trusted because she trusted him enough to tell him this. What broke him from his internal struggle was when she said she was completely unable to lie. How can someone not be able to lie? That made no sense. Just like vampires being real or hearing her voice in his head. But the look in her eyes and the tone of her voice was so sincere that he couldn't dismiss this all without being completely ignorant of what he saw on his first night and what he just heard. "You can't lie... So that means you're not lying about not harming me. Right?" Marcus asked. "How do I know any of this is real? I mean, your voice is one thing, but vampires and not being able to lie?" Marcus continued, less disbelief in his voice but not complete conviction either. "How is any of that possible? How can the public not know about this? Why are you telling me any of this if you can be at risk yourself?!" Marcus said the last question a bit more forcefully than he had intended, his concern for her well being now mixed in with the rest of his conflicting emotions. He was struggling with what could be real and what could be a lie. He looked down and tried to calm himself, he wasn't thinking straight. He was completely out of his mind right now. "I'm sorry, just, I think I believe you won't harm me. Now, help me believe the rest." Marcus said looking back up at Charlie not knowing what to expect from her anymore. He didn't even want to begin contemplating the wider implications this could mean if any of it were true.

Marcus was slowly regaining his composure as he realized she was speaking the truth about not hurting him. He suddenly felt bad for quickly distrusting Charlie. She had shown him nothing but kindness and trust this entire night and he reacted in such a horrible way. He looked down in shame but was still on edge about the revelation she had dropped on him. The more he thought about it the more it made sense. The military presence, the mysterious quarantine, the obsession about vampires online, that attack. It all supported her claim that vampires were real and that she was one of them. Her explanation about not being able to lie made about as much sense as everything else at this point and he simply took her word for it.

Marcus was glad she was willing to explain everything and knew they should continue this conversation in private. So he merely nodded his head when she said they could continue this at Lancaster's. He felt another hot wash of shame run over him when she said how it was obvious he didn't want to be in a room with her alone. He wanted to say something but he didn't know where to even begin. He supposed he would begin by not doubting her anymore. An apology was in order too, he hadn't reacted very well to her trust in him about this. Plus he could only imagine how she felt when he backed away and put his hand protectively around his neck like she was some animal waiting to strike.

"Charlie... Let's go then." He simply said, not sure how to even begin the apology. It wasn't often he was speechless but he decided this was a very good excuse for being so. He stepped to the side of the sidewalk and waited for her to take the lead. "Hey, Charlie, I don't think you're a bad person or a monster or anything like that, okay? I don't mind being near you." He said with a bit of a blush caused by the shame he was feeling. It was a horrible attempt at an apology and he wished he could have phrased it better. He only hoped she understood what he was trying to say and not take it the wrong way. He already felt bad enough and knew the night was only going to get longer from here on out.

Marcus stepped in line with Charlie, heading in the direction they were before stopping. He didn't want to say anything else without some privacy so he remained silent. He noticed her small smile and was reassured by that. She then began to go on about how she had her moments but that everyone could be a bad person. When put like that it was all clear to him now. It was just like judging a person by their race, gender, or sexual preference.

"You're right, we all have the potential for evil. I'm truly sorry. It's just, when you told me about yourself I only saw that man from the first night.. Not you." Marcus admitted, feeling a bit better about the whole situation but still felt like he owed Charlie a lot for tonight. Soon they arrived at Lancaster's and Charlie held to door open for him. He usually would insist she go in first but since she was showing hik around it only made sense. "Thanks." He said as he walked in only to be hit with a wave of conversations, music, the smell of food, and the clanking of beers and clicking of billiards being played. It was so full of life and energy he immediately felt comfortable in this environment.

"What say we get some drinks before we continue our conversation? I know I could use at least one drink tonight." He says to Charlie with a charming smile as she enters after him. The thought of whether vampires could eat and drink normal food never even crossed his mind, after all he had seen Charlie eating earlier.