Path of the Vampire forum

Charlotte Ruse: Charlotte was hurting pretty badly. She'd not eaten anything since she'd been turned because, as a vegetarian, she'd not managed to bring herself round to the idea of drinking blood. She'd left her house to gofor a walk, take her mind off things, and she'd thought she'd left it long enough and that the sun were down low enough - but it hadn't been and she'd been burned by the sun. She was in a real sorry state and there was only one place she could think of to go. Back to the Asylum. She stood before the door, took a breath and then pushed it open cautiously and snuck inside, looking around for that Kiora woman.

Jonah: The killer stood at the door of the Asylum, rolling his shoulders and stomping off muck from the sewers. He was going to change before heading to the cats to start gathering supplies for Ty. That and he wanted to drop off a few items. As free of dirt and grime as he could get, he pushed the door open, intending to head directly for the elevator and his room. As he walked in though, there was someone that he did not recognize. Very clearly not human, the only one's that could be inside were of their bloodline, so he made the assumption that it was a new Vedarian. "Hello," he grunted in an attempt to be friendly.

Charlotte Ruse: She'd not gotten far inside the building when she heard the door open behind her again, which made her freeze on the spot. She closed her eyes and hoped that whoever it was wouldn't want to speak to her, or better, that it were Kiora herself. A grunt of hello came from behind her and her shoulders sagged in resignation and fear as she turned around to see who was there. It definitely wasn't Kiora, judging by the voice, but a man. And her and men, didn't normally go well together. Her eyes found the man's legs and then travelled upwards, and upwards, and upwards - widening as they went. What in the hell was she staring at?! A shrill scream rippled from her throat and she ran blindly away from him deeper into the building, not realising she'd released her powers at him at the same time.

Jonah: Jonah stepped towards the figure as it screamed and something...shifted in him? His height and weight were the same. His boots landed with the same force, but he felt strange. Calling out to her, he reached out, "Wait..." and trailed off as a flesh colored hand attached to the end of his arm came in to view.

Charlotte Ruse: She found a sofa and dove behind it, pulling her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and burying her face in her knees - rocking slightly. She'd known about vampires, she'd been paid to 'tell' on them - but she'd never seen anything like THAT before!

Jonah: Whatever was going on with him would have to wait. He'd scared another Vedarian and he didn't want another one that hardly spoke to him. Walking slowly towards the room he thought he saw her disappear in to, he called out. "I'm not going to hurt you. Just didn't know who you were."

Charlotte Ruse: She curled up tighter and tried to stay silent, hoping he'd move on to another room. Apparently, there were monsters in the night - and this one was coming to get her!

Jonah: He frowned and moved through the room. Her footsteps were no longer echoing and he did not hear the elevator so she was somewhere. Stepping carefully to not be too quiet and sneak up on her, he circled the room.

Charlotte Ruse: Oh god, he was coming, he was coming for her! She could hear his footsteps coming closer and closer and it was like her life - whatever sort of life she had - was ticking away with every single footstep. She was so weak, so burned by the sun, so afraid- that she was physically shaking where she crouched, trying to hide.

Jonah: Jonah was about to stop his search and frowned before circling around the final sofa and seeing the shaking girl there. Running his hand over his bald scalp, he was confused for a moment when there were no claws to rake his head and no ears to bump in to. "I'm sorry for scaring you."

Charlotte Ruse: "Please. Don't hurt me! I..... I'm allowed to be here. .... I think." Her words were all mumbled into her knees, not looking up at the man and trying to look as unassuming and unthreatening as possible.

Jonah: "Are you Vedarian?" He asked. She seemed like one but figured it would be good to ask and let her answer. Open a dialog.

Charlotte Ruse: "I..... don't know. I was looking for Kiora? She said I could be here, after she... after she killed me!" She shivered at that, remembering what had happened a few nights previous. Her voice dropped to a whisper then. "What.... what are you going to do to me?"

Jonah: It took a moment to work out what she had said, the name she used not familiar to him. "Keara?" He cocked his head, confused at her question. "Nothing. Unless you need help?" It was obvious she was burned but he did not know if she needed assistance.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head as he said Keara, having got her name wrong again. Her head lifted up to look at the man and she blinked and frowned. That wasn't the same monster who'd been standing in the doorway before. She looked all around and then crawled towards him a few paces so she could whisper really quietly. "Where..... where did the monster go?" Her eyes remained wide and as she asked, she continued to look around for the 'monster' in case he came for her and this man.

Jonah: "What monster?" He asked. His form had been the pale beast for so long that most did not react to it or consider it a 'monster'.

Charlotte Ruse: "It was really pale, almost white. There were long ears like bats ears, ugly snarling face and really long, horrid and scary looking claws. It was.... It was AWFUL to look at!" She said, her voice full of expression and emotion, just saying how much she believed that thing to have been a monster!

Jonah: He frowned. "That was me..."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked up at him and couldn't help but give him a big smile that lightened her whole face and made her eyes sparkle as she shook her head. "Don't be silly. That thing was terrifying and disgusting and ugly - like something out of an old horror movie like Nosferatu. You're just a man, normal." She laughed lightly, but nervously still, not able to stop from looking around in case the monster crept up on her.

Jonah: His frowned deepened but there was little he could do to change her mind. He didn't know why he looked like that normally and he didn't know what happened to make him not look that way. "You're safe here."

Charlotte Ruse: She snorted at that, but got up and onto her feet, dusting down her knees and straightening her perfect outfit out. She was very careful with how she dressed and had a very precise way of dressing. She delicately held out her hand to the man and smiled at him. "My name's Charlotte, and you are?" She still glanced around, and couldn't help but stand quite close to him, hoping he'd protect her if the thing came back again.

Jonah: He shook her hand in his large one, offering a firm handshake. "Jonah. Nice to meet you."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and smiled up at him. "And, are you.... are you a.... a vampire too?"

Jonah: "I am. I take it you're...new?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and took another step closer to him "Yes. I was.... killed on Friday."

Jonah: It was a common belief that they were 'killed' but one that Jonah did not subscribe to. "Look pretty alive to me."

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... was stabbed." She frowned and looked at the ground and her feet. "I died. I... remember."

Jonah: "How're you here now then?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... don't know. That, Keara woman. She said she did something. Gifted me new life or something. I don't really remember properly. She said a lot of things, in a really weird way"

Jonah: He moved around to the sofa and sat, gesturing for her to join him if she was comfortable. "What do you know about what's going on?"

Charlotte Ruse: She hesitated for a minute and looked around then joined him on the sofa tentatively. She was still ready to run if that monster showed up again, but this man was being nice to her. Or her version of nice, cause he wasn't trying to beat her to death. Yet. Her ankles crossed over one another and her knees were put at an angle to her bum on the seat in a perfect and demure feminine pose. "About what's going on where?"

Jonah: "With you." Jonah was aware that Keara was difficult to understand from time to time and based on her actions so far, it seemed that this girl might be confused about quite a bit.

Charlotte Ruse: "I'm dead, and that Keara woman thinks me her daughter. I'm supposed to stay out of the sun and drink..... drink blood." She shivered all over at that last one and paled in disgust.

Jonah: He nodded, she was confused about some things it seemed but wanted to let her work it out on her own, trying to be an ear for the moment. "How'd that happen?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Huh?" She looked up into his eyes questioningly.

Jonah: "How did you meet Keara?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh! She.... stabbed me. Killed me. She thought I was someone else and seemed very surprised at my wig." She frowned, still not sure about that. "She wouldn't let my death save whoever she was looking for. I don't think. I don't know though"

Jonah: The explanation was confusing to the killer but he nodded, not konwing who it was that Keara might have been looking for. "And since then?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Since then what?" She asked, confused.

Jonah: "What have you been doing?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I've not been feeling well. I've just stayed at home mostly"

Jonah: He looked at her burned body and frowned. "Have you fed?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "I can't! It's..... horrible!"

Jonah: Her reaction was surprising but he understood it. Though he had never struggled with it, he knew many that had. "How have you tried?".

Charlotte Ruse: "I haven't. I'm a vegetarian!" She hoped that would mean something to him, because it hadn't seemed to mean anything to the woman.

Jonah: His frown deepened. It was dangerous for them to go hungry. Not only did it increase the chance of them doing something careless, it made it easier for them to be sent to the Shadow Realm, an unenjoyable prospect for someone as young as her. "There are other options.." He trailed off, not sure how much to get in to and not wanting to scare her off again.

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh?" And in response, her stomach actually rumbled. There was barely a pint in her after she'd bled out from the stab wound and not eaten since.

Jonah: He stood and towered over her even more while she remained seated. Offering a hand, he smiled slightly and nodded.

Charlotte Ruse: She seemed to shrink back and away from him when he stood, and when his hand moved she flinched. However, instead of a fist hitting her though, a palm was offered to her. She looked from it to his face and back again, then reached out and tentatively took his hand and stood up too.

Jonah: After helping her to her feet, he let the hand go. She was skittish enough as it was and didn't want her even scared of him the way others were. All in the line were important to him and it was...difficult to help them if they would not let him near them. "Have you seen the shop?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head, her fingers linking together just under her chest as she stood and looked at him.

Jonah: He turned and walked towards the elevator where the little shop was currently located. In the display, he pointed to the blood pack. "It's still blood but...it was donated to help someone that needed it. And you do."

Charlotte Ruse: She'd followed him over to the shop and peered into the display, but as he pointed to the blood pack she paled and backed away again, shaking her head. "Blood is blood whether it comes from a shop or a vein. Just as steak is steak whether it comes from a supermarket or if I killed the cow myself!"

Jonah: "If you were in the hospital and you needed a transfusion, would you take it?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head.

Jonah: "Why?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Because I'm not a Jehovah's witness"

Jonah: He laughed, thinking she meant that as some sort of joke. "So it's different if it's in a hospital?"

Charlotte Ruse: "No, it's different cause that's medicine and it's life saving and it's like, a transfusion."

Jonah: His tone stayed steady but he tried to add some force to it to get across the seriousness of the situation. "You need this. Not having it may not kill you outright...but it can save your life."

Charlotte Ruse: She flinched a little at the change in tone but stood there still, looking at him with a tiny shake of her head. "I... can't. Putting it in my mouth, swallowing it down?" She looked ill and gagged a few times at the thought.

Jonah: "Well, there's still other options." He moved forward and held his hand out. Normally he would have done this without permission but it seemed likely to scare the girl off more than help her. "Let me see your arm."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked at him and tried to judge his character for a moment, trying to work out if she could trust him or not. In the end, she figured she really didn't have much to lose anymore, so offered him her hand as he'd asked.

Jonah: Taking it, he turned it palm up and pushed his nails against her skin. It wasn't until he scratched her but did not pierce her skin that he realized something was wrong. "Um..."

Charlotte Ruse: She pulled her hand back and away from him as he scratched her and pressed her back up against the wall to get away from him. She clutched her arm to her body and stared at him accusingly. "What.... what were you doing?!"

Jonah: "I don't...Sorry. Something's wrong. I can normally...give blood." He stepped away from her as well, looking down at his hans in confusion and restudying their human like appearance.

Charlotte Ruse: She was now hugging herself and looking at him in a confused and scared way, not sure whether to believe him or not. He was after all, a vampire. And all the stories and books and such made out they were liars and manipulators.

Jonah: She was curling in to her self and for whatever reason, he would not be able to help her. "There are some of us, we can heal each other. I can get you one..."

Charlotte Ruse: "But.... why didn't you? If you say you can - why didn't you?" It was an accusing tone in her voice, her suspicions unable to be pushed aside.

Jonah: "I don't know..." His attention was split between his hands and the woman. She had been scared of him and turned and ran and then...he didn't look how he normally looked. His eyes narrowed in concentration. "You stopped me..."

Charlotte Ruse: She blinked and looked at him in confusion. "I..... what? I didn't."

Jonah: "What path are you?" The question was not accusatory, merely inquiry and he tried to stay calm and friendly.

Charlotte Ruse: "What.... what's a path?" She asked, confused and not sure what it was she was being blamed for.

Jonah: She was either very new or very confused by Keara because he found it hard to believe that the shadow had not attempted to explain anything to the girl. "You have...abilities now. Your path...determines those."

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... what?!" She blinked, completely confused. "Like, how you said you thought you could heal? And how Keara made me vanish from here and appear somewhere else?"

Jonah: He nodded. "What have you been able to do?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "Nothing. Maybe I'm just not special?"

Jonah: "Doubtful." Jonah knew much about the paths but his knowledge was still lacking in many areas. "What were you thinking when you ran."

Charlotte Ruse: "What the **** is that!" She blinked and looked at him honestly.

Jonah: He chuffed and tried to put two and two together. she was scared, she wanted to get away, she didn't...want to be hurt? Jonah had never been cut off from his powers that he knew of but knew that the power existed. Nodding, he decided. "Telepath."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked at him with disbelief. "What? Telepath? Like, mind reading and talking mind to mind and stuff?"

Jonah: He nodded. He'd been pacified before but had still been able to heal people. This...was different.

Charlotte Ruse: She chuckled and shook her head and eyed him, trying to project some words into his head. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?!" She didn't think it would work, because she didn't believe it - however, it did work.

Jonah: "Keara wouldn't have chosen you if you were stupid."

Charlotte Ruse: She blinked and stared. Blinked some more and goldfished it for a minute before her voice finally worked, but at a whisper. "But..... I didn't say anything!"

Jonah: He tapped the side of his head.

Charlotte Ruse: "Nooooooooooo!" Her mind, was blown. She'd just spoken to the man, to Jonah, without using her voice. She'd projected words into his head. That was insane!

Jonah: He held up his hands, wincing as she yelled. "Hey, it's ok, it's ok."

Charlotte Ruse: She was totally overwhelmed by this information and the fact that she had powers. So overwhelmed in fact, that she used another of her powers on poor Jonah.

Jonah: His head pounded and he stumbled back from her. "Just...calm down..."

Charlotte Ruse: "Huh? What? But... this is inSANE!"

Jonah: He shook his head, trying to get rid of the buzzin in his head but it wasn't going anywhere. Blinking as his eyes slowly refocused, he nodded. "Little bit."

Charlotte Ruse: She slumped to the floor and drew her knees up to her chest again, looking at him. "What's wrong?"

Jonah: He didn't want to upset her more so sat across from her but evaded the question. "Headache. It'll be fine."

Charlotte Ruse: "We can get those? I'd have thought we'd be immue." She frowned, looking at him. "So, if I'm a telepath - what are you?"

Jonah: "Killer." He said without thinking, his mind still rattled from the assault.

Charlotte Ruse: Her eyes went wide at that and she stared. "Wh.... what?"

Jonah: "I'm a ki...I'm strong and can fight. I...protect us. All of us."

Charlotte Ruse: "No. You said, you said you're a killer! Have you.... who have you... Why?!"

Jonah: "It's just a name for the path."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked at him and frowned. "And have you? Killed anyone?"

Jonah: He paused for a moment before nodding. "To protect our kind."

Charlotte Ruse: The look on her face changed as she stared at him, to one of disgust at that fact.

Jonah: "What?"

Charlotte Ruse: "You're a murderer!"

Jonah: "I've done what I've had to do."

Charlotte Ruse: "When is it ever right to take another life?" She demanded. "What gives you the right to say who should die and who shouldn't, as well as why?!"

Jonah: "We are hunted for being what we are. Sometimes, you have to take extreme measures to protect yourself." He looked her over and shook his head, her tone not sitting well with him. "I guess you don't know anything about that yet."

Charlotte Ruse: "I...." She frowned and looked at the ground and whispered. "I used to help them. They paid me, I needed the money. It was just a phonecall!"

Jonah: His eyes narrowed again. "Say that again?"

Charlotte Ruse: She could hear the tone of his voice, the hard edge there as he asked the question and she shrunk in on herself some more. "I was scared, hungry. I needed the money for rent and such."

Jonah: "And now?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I'm still scared, and hungry"

Jonah: "Are you going to turn to them again?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... don't know. It was a good way to get money"

Jonah: "If you need money, I can offer you a job."

Charlotte Ruse: "I have a couple, they just don't pay very well. and I just had a large, outlay I had to make. So I'm starting from scratch again. Besides, I was.... I was doing good. Helping to protect people."

Jonah: "Outlay?" He looked at her confused. "And you were hurting others."

Charlotte Ruse: "Yes. And no, I wasn't. I made a phonecall when I saw someone on their lists."

Jonah: "Whad do you think they did to that person?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shrugged her shoulders. "Not my problem. They were... vampires. And vampires never did me any good. And the things they said they did....." SHe shook her head. "They got what they deserved"

Jonah: "What did we ever do you?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I saw the pictures of the injuries, and of the dead. I heard the stories. I was doing my civic duty and protecting people." And she couldn't help but think that she had done the right thing after a few things this man and Keara had said.

Jonah: "So you know that every person that you turned in deserved whatever happened to them?"

Charlotte Ruse: "They said they did. That's how they knew who and what they were. Cause they'd be caught hurting people"

Jonah: He laughed an unhappy laugh and shook his head, no idea what to say. Standing he shook his head at the girl. "I hope you're given more of a chance than you've given others."

Charlotte Ruse: She frowned, looking up at him. "What.... what do you mean? What.... are you going to do?"

Jonah: "Nothing. Not unless you continue to threaten our safety. You don't need the money anymore, I offered you a job."

Charlotte Ruse: "I have two already, or I did. I don't know if I can still do them. Not now." She frowned and smoothed out her hair. "What job? For how much?"

Jonah: "Depends on what you can do. I pay based on ability. It's a bookstore I own."

Charlotte Ruse: "And it's open at night?"

Jonah: He nodded.

Charlotte Ruse: "Might be easier than the courier job I have just now...." She considered and looked at him. "And what... what would you want? For being nice to me?"

Jonah: "You're family. Just...help keep us all safe."

Charlotte Ruse: "How many is 'all' and how do I know who's who?"

Jonah: "It's...everyone like us."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh. You don't just mean 'family' then? Or is everyone 'family' with like, one main Dracula type at the centre of it all?"

Jonah: He shook his head. "No. Just...all of us."

Charlotte Ruse: "You think everyone needs protecting? Are they all worth it?"

Jonah: He canted his head to the side and threw a version of her words back at her. "Who am I to say they aren't."

Charlotte Ruse: "So.... you would sacrifice yourself and put yourself in danger for someone you didn't know?" That was just something that was unheard of to her. The way she'd grown up and the life she'd experienced - you looked after yourself and didn't put yourself out for anyone. You couldn't rely on anyone else to come to your aid and if you were in trouble, you got yourself out of it. No ifs, ands or buts.

Jonah: "I have and will again most likely."

Charlotte Ruse: "Why would you do something like that? No-one would do it for you. They certainly haven't ever done it for me!"

Jonah: He crossed his arms and shrugged. "It's what I'm called to do." His skin grew pale and his ears and nails lengthened as he stood before her, his feral form returning.

Charlotte Ruse: Her eyes widened as he suddenly transformed back into the monster that had scared her so before. She scrambled to her feet and put the little shop display between them as she stared and pointed. "What in the hell?! What are you doing? Why.... why do you look like that?!"

Jonah: "Look like what?" He asked. "I'm not doing anything."

Charlotte Ruse: "You.... you're a monster! The one from before. You said you were, but... I didn't believe you! Go back. Turn back. I don't.... I don't like you like that. It's scary and upsetting!"

Jonah: He looked back down at his hands in confusion, the pale skin and long nails having come back. "I don't know how..."

Charlotte Ruse: He said before that she'd done something, before he'd asked what sort of path she was on or something. She figured that maybe it was her who'd made him look normal so concentrated and tried to turn him back. She tried all sorts of things to exert the supposed power she had, and nothing seemed to be working, because still he remained monstrous. She was annoyed, frustrated and upset as she stamped her foot and demanded. "Just STOPPIT! I don't like it!" And with that, her mindblock power activated and pulsed out towards him.

Jonah: The change was more obvious to him this time and he could feel his form shifting and the minor blockage that stopped him from using his powers. He looked back down at his hands in confusion. He was...doing this to himself?

Charlotte Ruse: She blinked as he looked down at his hands and his whole body shifted back to 'normal' again. "I.... I really am doing it. Aren't I?!" She said in a shocked whisper, looking at him in awe. "But..... how? Why?"

Jonah: He shook his head. "I don't know."

Charlotte Ruse: "What? Why not? I'm the new one, you're supposed to know these things! Why do you look like a monster and how am I making you look normal? Are there other monsters out there? How do I make them change too?"

Jonah: "If you think I knew, do you think I'd look like this?"

Charlotte Ruse: She flinched at the snapped comment andjust stood quietly, not sure what else to say and wondering where Keara was and if she could make any sense of this.

Jonah: "I'm sorry...I think...I think I need to go." He turned and halted, facing her again. "The shop is in the mall. Second floor. The Book Nook."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh." She frowned, her fingers worrying at themselves as she looked around the building she was standing in. She was feeling very lost and alone and had no idea what to do just now. She'd obviously upset the man, and she felt horrible for that, but the thought of being alone with powers, as a vampire - scared her shitless. But she didn't say anything about it. She just nodded her head in silence.

Jonah: "Stay safe in the Darkness, Charlotte." He turned then and went to the elevator, locking himself in his room.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and watched him go, then looked around and just sank into a seat and curled into a ball with eyes fixed on the lift and the main front door.

Charlotte Ruse: Charlotte had failed, massively. She'd woken up covered in blood and with people screaming in her face. She didn't have a clue what was going on, but with the sirens coming ever closer, she needed to get out of there. Voices shouted and told her to stop, gun shots rang out and she felt searing pain shooting through her - but still she ran in blind panic until she reached the asylum and burst through the doors. She kept on running, all the way up the stairs and into a corner, where she slid down a wall - leaving a bloody smear - and wept in fright and pain and horror.

Jonah: Jonah heard a thump against the wall of his cell and frowned. The sewers were not as pleasant to stay in as they had once been and the Eyrie was still not part of his routine yet and since he wasn't staying with AJ anymore...he ended up back in his room in the asylum often. It was well enough, he had to do major cleaning of the place after his outburst and it gave him time to think and be alone. Opening the door, he peered down the hall and saw the small woman. Remembering how she had reacted last time she had seen him like this, he wasn't sure if there was anything he should do but he couldn't merely watch and not try and offer some assistance. "You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: She looked up at him, and didn't know that she looked like something out of Carrie. The whole of her left hand side was a bloody and mangled mess with bullet wounds in her thigh, shoulder and everywhere in between. Then there was the blood covering her face and hands, blood that wasn't hers, and of course the makeup that was once again smudged and smeared everywhere. Her voice was tiny and pathetic as she shook her head and flinched with pain. "No.”

Jonah: When she looked up at him his frown deepened. She was hurt, that was obvious. And based on the scent pouring off of her, not all of that blood was hers. Stepping completely out of his room he joined her, kneeling beside her. "What happened?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... don't know. There were just, people screaming, sirens, blood..." She frowned and looked down at herself and whimpered. "Am I going to die?"

Jonah: He shook his head and stood, offering his hand to help her up. "Doubtful. Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked at his clawed hand and shrank back from it before looking up to his face and back a few times. Finally, she took his hand with her right and stood up, nearly falling over with the pain she were in.

Jonah: Seeing her slip, his other arm went around her, supporting her. "Can you walk? Or do you want me to carry you?" That she had flinched at his visage didn't faze the killer. She was injured and she needed help and that was all that mattered in the moment.

Charlotte Ruse: She was thankful for his support, especially when she saw the blood she'd spilt all over the floor and wall. "I'm sorry for making a mess" She mumbled, leaning on him heavily and trying to take another step. However with the adrenaline now gone, she couldn't put any weight on her leg. "I.... I need help. Please."

Jonah: His arm went under her leg and scooped her up, carrying all of her slight weight. "It's fine. Not the worst mess this place has seen." He tried to smile at her but his brow remained furrowed. Nudging his door open, he brought her in to his cell. The rooms were still in disarray though most of the serious damage was fixed by this point.

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh!" She groaned slightly as he jarred her wounds, though obviously not on purpose. She tried to relax and get into a position that wasn't as painful, but it was nigh on impossible. She looked around as she was brought into another area and blinked at the mess. "What.... happened?"

Jonah: "Doesn't matter right now," was his simple answer. His couch had been destroyed and he hadn't had time to replace it yet but the mattress and frame were still in good working order so he took her to it and lay her down. "I'm going to run some hot water for you. Don't...go anywhere. Ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head, sure she couldn't go anywhere even if she wanted to. As she lay there, she looked around and tried to think about what might have happened, and couldn't help but wonder if it had been her fault from the other night.

Jonah: The primary concern was getting her clean of the blood and comfortable. She was young in this life and did not yet know how to ignore the pain. Understandable but she would need to learn. The water was steaming when he turned it off and came to her and picked her back up. He was too concerned for her safety to be embarrassed but his sense of modesty had not left him. "I will help you in to the room and then I'll wait outside, can you manage it from there?"

Charlotte Ruse: She was beginning to panic as he picked her up and took her to the bathroom. She had no idea what he intended and she was in no state to fight him off. In fact, even in the best of health, she didn't think she were any match for him! However, her fears were allayed as he spoke and she nodded her head. "Yes. I... think so. Thank you"

Jonah: "If you need me, I will be right outside." He sat her on the toilet seat, close enough to the bath that she would be able to get in and out with little difficulty. Pulling a towel down, he sat it near as well. "Do you have clothes somewhere here?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I...." She frowned and shook her head as she thought about it and realized she didn't have anything here to wear. "Thank you"

Jonah: He frowned and nodded, pulling his shirt off. It was a simple t-shirt but would hang light a nightgown on her. Folding it and placing it near the towel. "I'll stay here til you get out, then I'll see if I can find you something." The scars on his chest were faded in the unnatural light of the room but were still ropey and thick, especially the hearts on his shoulders and pecs. "Right outside if you need me." He stepped out of the door and shut it behind him, leaning against the jamb and waiting

Charlotte Ruse: She blinked and looked at him as he stripped off. It was the first time she'd seen a man in any sort of undress and it was, odd. Her eyes roamed over him curiously, until he was gone from the room - and then she had to think about her own predicament. Carefully, she stripped off her clothes - letting out a slight moan or groan as something tugged or pulled in the wrong way. Her fingers explored her body, making sure that everything was in place and no operation scars were destroyed. It seemed she'd been lucky this time and all of her modifications were unharmed. She managed to slide herself from the toilet into the bath and gasped as the heat and water touched her flesh and made it sting - but she washed and rid herself of all the blood until it looked like she was actually sitting in a

Charlotte Ruse: bath of pure blood. It was horrible and it was making her retch, and she just wanted to be out of it. She tried to push herself up and out of the bath, but the wound in her shoulder was making her weak and the pain wouldn't let her push down. She tried to get a leg underneath herself, but she just couldn't bend in the right way. She was, to all intents and purposes, stuck. And that scared her more than anything else!

Jonah: He heard her bathing for a while and thought about what to do. Maddra had a key to this cell but did not have any clothes over here. Keara's apartment was just a few doors over and he doubted that she would be upset if he raided an outfit for her childe but that was still problematic. Possibly the girl had a place of her own in the city and once she was settled, he could go and retrieve clothes for her. Maybe. Lost in thought, it took him a few moments to realize the sound of sloshing water had ceased and there was no sound of her moving about the room. It was doubtful she was seriously injured, they were vampires and she should be tough, but he was in his protective mode. Knocking on the door, he called to her. "You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Ummm.... yes?" She didn't want him in here, seeing her naked and bathing in blood. That was hardly the best way to show off her new body - and she wasn't sure she actually wanted anyone to see her body yet because she had 0 confidence. She gritted her teeth and managed to slide her right leg up, to get her foot under her other thigh while her good hand reached forward to grab the tap and pull. With her right leg underneath herself, she pushed up and pulled with her arm and got herself up. She was hardly stable, and her left leg gave out so that she tumbled out of the bath and crashed to the floor with a grunt and a moan and a curse.

Jonah: He relaxed slightly at her reassurance but tensed again at the crash. His hand was on the door handle but he paused again. "Are you sure?"

Charlotte Ruse: She groaned and rolled into a sitting position and grabbed the towel to cover herself. Her fingers ran over her body and found that the back of her didn't have as many holes as the front did. "Is.... there a hospital we can go to?" she called out questioningly.

Jonah: "No," his answer was firm but that she even had to ask meant that she didn't understand. "It raises too many questions."

Charlotte Ruse: "But...." She frowned, her fingers exploring her side. "I think there's a bullet still inside me"

Jonah: He sighed. "We can get it out or it'll come out on its own. The hospital will make things worse."

Charlotte Ruse: "You have medical training?" she called out, using the towel to dry herself off as best she could.

Jonah: "No, but I've dug enough bullets out of myself to know how to do it."

Charlotte Ruse: She didn't like the way that was phrased. 'Digging it out' sounded far too painful for her liking. She pulled herself up onto the toilet again and retrieved her phone from her discarded pocket so she could check her appearance. Her face was scrubbed so there was minimal make-up left and she redid her hair. She took his T-shirt and her heels and slipped them on. However she put both her arms through the neck hole of the T-shirt and then wrapped the arms around the front and tucked them into the top so that it made a really nice looking dress with her heels. The bullet wound in her shoulder was very obvious dressed like this, but everything else was hidden. She got herself up, and limped to the door and opened it. "Do... I look ok?"

Jonah: She came out wearing a dress...thing that he only vaguely recognized as his shirt, but looked clean and fresh and in less pain than when she had entered. He nodded, "You look fine," but concern was still on his face. "What about that bullet?"

Charlotte Ruse: She curled her nose and looked a bit scared. "Digging out sounded painful, too painful. But..... you said that it would come out on its own?"

Jonah: "You're a vampire now. It'll heal." His hands weren't on her yet but he kept them ready to support her if she fell again. "Do you want to stay here or go to the foyer or..." he trailed off, not knowing where she would be comfortable.

Charlotte Ruse: She looked around his place and wasn't sure where you could actually sit - other than the bed. "I don’t mind. I don't want to put you out at all...."

Jonah: "It's fine. I'm..." he looked around, trying to think of an excuse. "Remodeling."

Charlotte Ruse: "Have you.... remodeled before?" She asked, looking around at what looked like a tornado had been through as opposed to a well thought out and arranged remodeling.

Jonah: "Not really...don't normally spend much time here."

Charlotte Ruse: She was feeling a little shaky again and needed to sit down before she fell down. However, she wasn't entirely sure what was safe to sit on and what wasn't. "Do.... you mind if we sit?"

Jonah: "That's fine." He gestured to the bed for her to sit on and found a chair that wasn't smashed and eased his frame on to it, testing to see if it was stable and finding it so.

Charlotte Ruse: She hobbled across the room, wobbling a little a couple of times as she went. however, she made it to the bed and perched herself on the edge of it. She crossed her bad leg over the good one and tried to relax. "About.... about the other night. I'm sorry. I.... didn't know what I was doing. I still don't to be honest. About, well, anything. I didn't mean to upset you"

Jonah: The killer shrugged. "It's fine. It was just...unexpected." He did not go in to further detail about his concerns, not wanting to dump more information than necessary on her. "How has the shop been?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Did it... hurt you?" She didn't understand her powers or any of it, and it was something that had been bugging her. "I mean, your whole body shifted and changed!"

Jonah: He shook his head. "No...I don't think so." Pointing to the many scars on his body, he added, "Hard to know what hurts these days though."

Charlotte Ruse: "What, happened? And why don't you feel pain anymore?" She knew she was staring, but she couldn't help it

Jonah: "I do. I just...ignore it. And which ones?" His whole body was crisscrossing scars, many from fights with paladins and monsters. Just as many had long stories though. The hearts, the deep gashes on his throat, the long lines across his eyes. They normally garnered questions and had the most...interesting stories.

Charlotte Ruse: She shrugged her shoulders and looked him over. "Whatever story doesn't hurt you to tell it"

Jonah: He pointed to one of the hearts. "I got these when I was still new. Captured by another vampire that killers were...evil and did this to teach me to 'love'."

Charlotte Ruse: She frowned and nodded, listening to anything he wanted to tell her.

Jonah: He lifted his neck, pointing to the thick scars collected there. "Turned myself in for violations. A...friend helped teach me control. I think...60 strokes to the neck, had my eyes gouged 7 times. Don't remember a lot of it anymore."

Charlotte Ruse: What in the hell was she a part of. What sort of violations was it he'd felt the need to punish himself for?! Someone had tried to teach him love by gouging out a heart in his flesh? She REALLY didn't like what she was hearing about these people.

Jonah: He shook his head and looked at her, "You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Mmm Hmmm" She nodded her head, not saying what was going through her head at that moment and keeping it hidden.

Jonah: "Can I get you anything?" He doubted that she had been able to replace the blood that she lost and was getting concerned by her quietness.

Charlotte Ruse: "Thank you, but I don't think so. Nothing seems to, sit well with me anymore." She sighed softly.

Jonah: He nodded and frowned. "Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you'd like." Standing, he began to pull weaponry and supplies from the closet and dumped them in to the large duffel bag he carried in the sewers.

Charlotte Ruse: Her eyes went wide as she saw all the things he had and was pulling out. "What..... What on earth are those for?!"

Jonah: "Most I'm going to sell." He slipped his hammer in to the cargo loop of his jeans and slung his rifle across his back. "These are for use though."

Charlotte Ruse: "Use? Against what?" In her head though, she was asking against 'who'.

Jonah: "Been in the catacombs recently, fighting the monsters there."

Charlotte Ruse: "What? Monsters? There are more?! Or are you just fighting others like us?"

Jonah: "We're not monsters..." He sighed and trailed off. He had never really believed that they were but recently it seemed like perhaps they were no better than the beasts he fought against. "Zombies and other things."

Charlotte Ruse: She just stared at him and then burst out laughing, thinking he was joking.

Jonah: He canted his head, confused by her laughter. "What's funny?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Zombies? Really? You're kidding right?" The look on his face had made the laughter die in her throat. That face, certainly didn't look like it was joking.

Jonah: "Ever wonder why Gambondale is locked down? Or the Mausoleum?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "I've never heard of Gambondale, nor a Mausoleum."

Jonah: "The Quarantine Zone?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head, completely at a loss as to what he was talking about

Jonah: He frowned. "When you're feeling better, I think I need to take you to a few places."

Charlotte Ruse: "To..... to show me monsters?!" She'd paled again, looking really quite frightened

Jonah: He nodded. "You need to know what's going on."

Charlotte Ruse: "I don't know if I want to. It all seems a bit.... well, scary to be honest." She sighed softly and looked at the floor, her fingers stroking over her bare legs. "I don't think I like this" She whispered.

Jonah: He sat the bag down and crossed over to her, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'll keep you safe."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and gently leant in against him, just needing that support regardless of how scary it might look. "We're not in Kansas anymore Toto, and we're definitely through the looking glass now!"

Jonah: Surprised by her touch, he hugged her regardless. "It'll be ok."

Charlotte Ruse: "How? How will it be ok? This is all so.... different. I've been shot, multiple times, and you act like it's normal. Then you tell me there are monsters, and I have super powers. Then you have a small arsenal there, and it's all...... different and beyond what I'm used to!"

Jonah: "You get used to it in time. It's not a bad life."

Charlotte Ruse: She sat up and pulled back from him, reaching out with her fingers to trace over his chest and the scars there. "Really?"

Jonah: He nods, flinching at her touch but not pulling away.

Charlotte Ruse: She pulled her hand back and away as soon as he flinched, looking ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.... I mean.... How is it a good life when this has been done to you?" She shuffled away from him a little, giving him his space again as her eyes returned to the floor.

Jonah: "It's fine. I'm just...not used to people touching me." He was not as bad as Keara but it was still strange to have other people initiate contact. More so after losing AJ. "Others endure worse. Humans have too."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head, remembering her own upbringing and relating. "Yes, I understand that one." She tucked her fingers under her thighs and then sighed. "But still.... what's so good about it?"

Jonah: "Well...we can live forever."

Charlotte Ruse: "So? Just means someone can hurt us forever"

Jonah: He shook his head. "You're a Vedarian now. You have to be strong. You won't be able to be hurt forever if you are strong."

Charlotte Ruse: "I don't believe that. You can't become strong enough to not feel pain. Bodies don't work that way."

Jonah: "Do they only need blood to survive?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I...." She frowned. "What?"

Jonah: "Have you eaten anything since you were turned?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I tried, but it didn't sit well with me. I tried sipping water and all sorts of food. But I couldn't keep it down. I think, I might have a bug of some sort."

Jonah: "How long has it been?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Ummm. Well, I was turned last Friday. So almost a week?"

Jonah: "Without food or water?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head.

Jonah: "So you should be dead soon..."

Charlotte Ruse: "Ummm. No?" She frowned and removed a hand, lifting it to scratch at her head, not sure what he was getting at. "I mean. You said not. She did too. I think. I don't remember"

Jonah: "How long can you survive without water?"

Charlotte Ruse: "But, you said we were different?"

Jonah: "Then why can't I be strong enough to ignore all this?" He gestured to the scars.

Charlotte Ruse: "Because...." She frowned and thought about it. "That's not, human. If you lose your feeling, your compassion, your emotions.... why would you want to live forever?"

Jonah: "Who said I've lost my compassion?"

Charlotte Ruse: "You kill things." She said, thinking it over. Cause he had shown her a lot of compassion tonight.

Jonah: "I do what is necessary to keep all of us safe."

Charlotte Ruse: "This is just all so..... different!" She looked up at him, looked into his eyes in a searching, scared, desperate manner. "I just feel so lost!"

Jonah: He tried to smile down at her. "You've got Keara and me and the rest of us now."

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "I've not seen her since she.... did it. And I've no idea who the 'others' are." She frowned as she studied his face. "And why do I have you? You don't know me from Adam"

Jonah: He shrugged. "You're family now."

Charlotte Ruse: "but....." she frowned, cause that made no sense. "I could be anyone. And you're just going to... accept me? Just like that?"

Jonah: "Until you prove that I shouldn't, yes."

Charlotte Ruse: She just stared at him, not believing what she'd heard. She played it over and over again in her head, and every time she heard the same thing. He accepted her. She felt the tears welling up in her eyes and her lower lip begin to wibble - and then both of her arms were wrapped around him tightly and her face was pressed to his chest as she hugged him and wept.

Jonah: The embrace was unexpected but he did not flinch this time. His hands went to her back and patted her gently, just holding her.

Charlotte Ruse: She couldn't stop weeping. She'd never been accepted anywhere or by anyone. And now, in death, she'd found it. He might not know what she was, but he'd accepted her as she looked and seemed - and that was more than she'd ever had before and she couldn't quite believe it.

Jonah: Her tears were concerning him, worried that she was injured worse than she seemed or he had done something incorrect. "What's wrong?"

Charlotte Ruse: "N...n.... nothing" She stammered out.

Jonah: "Tell me...please?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head and let him go, still sniveling. "I'm just...... happy." She mumbled, looking around for a hankie.

Jonah: "You sure?" His face was still concerned but he did not attempt to force her to continue the embrace.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and simply used the back of her hands and her fingertips to wipe her eyes. "Yes. It's just..... no-one's ever been nice to me like you have. They've especially never accepted me! So for you, someone I barely know, to do so.... you're something special. You know that right Jonah?"

Jonah: He cocked his head again and shrugged. "I'm just me."

Charlotte Ruse: She reached out and put her hand on his and smiled at him. "And you're special. Don't ever think you're not"

Jonah: He nodded, unsure of what she meant but willing to let her think it. He knew all too well that he was not. "You can stay here as long as you'd like, ok? Door's always open to you."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and left her hand where it was. "Thank you. Though.... I might have to do a bit of tidying first." She managed a chuckle as she looked around the place.

Jonah: "Sorry...I...was upset a few weeks ago..."

Charlotte Ruse: "No, no. It's, well, it's the least I could do. And, what was wrong? What happened?" She thought about it, and he'd said a few weeks, not days. So it wasn't her that had caused this. So that was something.

Jonah: He sighed and sat back down on the bed. A lot had happened and he hadn't really talked to anyone about it. "I...had a girlfriend..."

Charlotte Ruse: She turned herself around to look at him, curling her good leg under her bad and bringing her hands into her lap. She sat demurely and watched him, listening and just letting him talk and open up.

Jonah: It was embarrassing but he continued, thankful for the fact that he couldn't blush. "We hadn't been together long but she was my...first. I found out she...was with someone else and I wanted her to be happy... Things ended badly and I came back here when I was upset."

Charlotte Ruse: She frowned at that and shook her head. "That's horrible! What a horrible, horrible woman! I'm so sorry for you Jonah, you deserve so much better!"

Jonah: "It's my fault. I should have been better..." Though he did think this way quite as bad, he still found the fault in himself, especially in the events following the revelation.

Charlotte Ruse: She snorted and shook her head. "No. I can't see how that's your fault. You didn't get them naked and shove them together. She did it herself, and she's the one to blame. She should have been better for you!"

Jonah: "She wanted something that she didn't think I could give her. And in the end...I broke my promises to her..." He wasn't looking at her, he had found a neutral spot somewhere past her to focus on as they got deeper in to his feelings.

Charlotte Ruse: "What did she want and what promise did you break?" She asked him gently.

Jonah: "I was too...stable. She wanted to find out what it was like to do something...wild." Pausing, he composed himself to address the second question. "She had warned me she might do this. I told her I would endure, she got mad at me, told me I wasn't being honest. I promised I'd let her explain though, if it ever happened...and I promised I wouldn't end things in a letter." He frowned and met her eyes again. "When it came out...she wasn't here. I...sent an e-mail. I wished them the best; I thought she wanted to be with him..."

Charlotte Ruse: 'What a whore', was the only thing going around in Charlotte's mind. Who warned a boyfriend they might cheat on them?! "I'm sorry, but you shouldn't have been put into that situation." She said softly. "She should have controlled her libido and stayed faithful, or broken it off to be with another. You don't just say 'heads up, I'm going to spread my legs for anyone I fancy and you have to deal with it'. That's just..... so wrong!"

Jonah: "That's not what happened...She was still adjusting and figuring things out.

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head at that. "You called her your girlfriend, which puts you in a relationship together. She still went with someone else. That's all there is to it really. She was in the wrong for cheating on an amazing guy like you!"

Jonah: He laughed, "I'm not amazing. We're still friends. It just...there were problems."

Charlotte Ruse: "What problems?"

Charlotte Ruse: "And I think you're amazing" She mumbled as an afterthought

Jonah: He gave her a small hug, "Thanks. And just...figuring each other out. We are both...young."

Charlotte Ruse: She gently hugged him back and then looked him over. "How old are you? And figuring what out?"

Jonah: "26. And just...what we want. She's not from here. Her life was...different before."

Charlotte Ruse: "She was a prostitute?" She asked innocently enough, though there was venom behind her words. "And 26 isn't young."

Jonah: He frowned. "No. She was from Saudi Arabia."

Charlotte Ruse: She snorted at that. "The place that forbids drinking, stones women for sex before marriage and sentences people to death for cheating?

Jonah: He nodded

Charlotte Ruse: "Yup, cause her behavior makes perfect sense then!" She shook her head and sighed at how ludicrous that all sounded.

Jonah: His eyes narrowed. "I care about her and she is my friend. What's done is done."

Charlotte Ruse: "Well..... fine." She backed down immediately and closed in on herself again, mumbling softly. "It just doesn't add up is all, and it sounds like she's playing you"

Jonah: He sighed. "We're not together anymore so it doesn't matter."

Charlotte Ruse: "Just... I don't want to see you hurt again" She said softly.

Jonah: "I'll be ok. I endure. It's what I do."

Charlotte Ruse: "It's not a decent life if you simply have to endure it. Everyone deserves to find some happiness"

Jonah: "Maybe."

Charlotte Ruse: "Why only maybe?"

Jonah: "I don't know." He frowned and looked away from her.

Charlotte Ruse: She just sat quietly, watching and studying him as he turned away from her.

Jonah: He breathed deeply. "Sorry."

Charlotte Ruse: "Nothing to be sorry for." She said, giving him a little smile and hoping he'd turn back and she'd not pissed him off so much he'd cast her away.

Jonah: "Do you need anything before I go? I do need to get to the catacombs." He was not mad at her, just upset at himself and now needed to work out even more aggression.

Charlotte Ruse: She sighed and looked at the ground, shaking her head. "No. I'm sorry"

Jonah: "Why are you sorry?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I've upset you and chased you away"

Jonah: He laughed. "Not at all. I just...I do this every day."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh." She looked at him as he laughed, wondering if he were laughing at her. "Can I do anything for you?"

Jonah: He put his hand on her hair. "Get to feeling better and let me take you to the QZ sometime."

Charlotte Ruse: She froze as his hand came towards her, expecting it to hit her. However when it simply lay against her hair she blinked in surprise at how nice it felt. "How long? For the wounds I mean. How long before they heal do you think?"

Jonah: "Soon I imagine. Week tops. Can I bring you some blood packs at least? You need to eat..."

Charlotte Ruse: "I don't have a choice in that, do I? There's no other way around the whole, blood thing"

Jonah: "Not really."

Jonah: "Feed from humans, animals, packs, or pay for blood heals."

Charlotte Ruse: She sighed softly and nodded, wondering how that one was going to go when it came to it. "Ok. Thanks."

Jonah: "Do you want me to get you some?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head again. "Please. I guess, I'm just, going to have to get used to it." She sighed

Jonah: "I'll be back shortly then." He left her alone in the room long enough to get 10 packs from the shop on the first floor before coming back, his arms full. He paused and thought about how Zodiac had made her drink. Putting them in the fridge, he left one out for now and started to boil some water before putting the pack inside, heating it up. He had nearly no dishes in the room but a clean mug was found and he filled it up, steam wafting off of it, he sealed it back and returned it to the water, bringing the heat down, and taking the cup of blood to the girl.

Charlotte Ruse: She sat and waited, watching as he left and returned and then cooked for her. He came back over to her with a mug that was steaming away and had a foul smell coming off it. "Thank you"

Jonah: Sitting back on the edge of the bed, he offered the warmed liquid to her. "I don't know if it'll make it any easier to take but...a friend showed me this and I thought it might help."

Charlotte Ruse: She took the cup from him with a smile and a thank you. But after that, she just sat there holding it and staring at it.

Jonah: He watched, waiting for her to drink.

Charlotte Ruse: She didn't look at him, but she could feel him there, watching and waiting. She didn't want to let him down, not when he'd been so nice to her. Her hands were shaking noticeably as she lifted the mug to her lips and then tipped it slightly. The blood touched her lips and she felt them clamp shut and her throat close off and she physically couldn't take any into her mouth. She lowered the mug down again and tried to smile at hi, hoping he'd think she'd drunk some.

Jonah: He could see the blood on her lips but she needed to drink more. Before he left, he wanted to make she had at least a pint in her. Nodding encouragingly, he smiled to get her to drink more.

Charlotte Ruse: The look on his face told her it wasn't enough, and he seemed to be egging her on to drink more. There was no two ways around it and she was going to have to finish this mug off. She took a deep breath and held it, closing off her nose and then lifting the mug straight to her lips at speed. Her mouth opened and she drained it all down, gagging on the final couple of gulps that threatened to throw it all up.

Jonah: That she was having trouble keeping it down was obvious and he went to her, petting her hair again. "It gets easier."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head, not sure if she was soothed by the fact it got easier, or horrified. Why would anyone think it normal or natural to gulp down cups and cups of blood?! However she smiled a close lipped smile at him and nodded her thanks, before putting a hand on his knee gently. "I don't want to keep you from your business. You shouldn't worry about me."

Jonah: He nodded and wrote his number on a pad of paper. "If you need me, you can reach me here. I won't be back til tomorrow probably."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and took the paper. "Thank you. I'm sure I'll be ok."

Jonah: "There's more blood in the freezer. Take as much as you need."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded again as her stomach churned and made her feel fairly ill. "Thank you" She wasn't entirely sure this blood was going to stay down, but she'd be damned if she were throwing up in front of him.

Jonah: Moving his hand from her hair, he went to the door. "Stay safe in the Darkness, Charlotte."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and watched him leave, waiting until the door closed behind him before running to the toilet and vomiting.

Jonah: Jonah had done as much as he could in the raid, fighting until he could not move anymore. The hammer was heavy in his hand but he was unwilling to set it down now so he held it as he made the walk back to the Asylum. He could have tomed to the Eyrie but he did not want to stay there. Really, toming there would have been the smartest thing to do even if he was going to go to the Asylum because of their nearness but he enjoyed walking through the sewers now. Sooner than he expected, he was at the large building and on the second floor, heading to the room. It wasn't until he was in the door that he thought about the fact that he had left Charlotte there and he was showing up covered in all manner of filth. there was little that could be done about it now though. Setting the hammer down and dropping the bag, he called out to her, "Charlotte? You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: After emptying her stomach contents into his toilet, she'd cleaned up after herself as best she could and then set about the rest of the apartment. She wasn't sure what she could do or if he'd appreciate it, but it was the least she could do for him. It had taken her a while, but the place looked a load better than it had before - but then she was aching all over. So she'd left and gone back to her own place for a sleep and relax. She'd no idea how long she'd slept for, but at least a day had passed when she'd woken. She couldn't help it, but her first thought was to wonder if Jonah was home yet from the raid. A couple of her bullet wounds had healed while she'd slept, and this was a marvel she couldn't wrap her head around at all and she wanted to share the news with him. So she'd gotten up, showered and dressed in her red pencil skirt, grey gypsy top that sat on her shoulders and showed off her chest, a little red corsage and her red heels. Finally, she cinched her waist with an under bust corset over her top and skirt and clipped out and over to the asylum where she went up in the elevator and knocked on his door.

Jonah: Not hearing her, he wandered through the small cell. The packets of blood were still in the fridge and he frowned, disappointed and worried about her. She was a big girl though, she could take care of herself. And she was well enough to have cleaned everything up. He was a little sad that she was not there to greet him. For some reason, he had been looking forward to it, especially after his time in the raid. Sighing, he stripped and left the mess of clothes in a pile and went to the bathroom, cleaning off the muck and grime. The water was loud enough that he did not hear her knock, enjoying the heat on his muscles.

Charlotte Ruse: She waited for a couple of minutes, but there was no answer and she sighed. However, he had said she could wait there so she thought about just walking in. A couple more minutes, and there was no sign so she tried the door - which opened easily in her hand. She smiled and walked on in and looked around, noticing that everything was just as she'd left it. Except for one thing. There was a large pile of clothes and a bag in a heap, and she stared at it as her heart sunk. He was here, and quite possibly naked. She needed to get out, but her legs wouldn't work and her telepathy was misbehaving so that she was projecting her thoughts of him naked and her panic at being caught there by him, to him.

Jonah: The hot water streaming down his neck, Jonah started to think about...himself...naked? And he was worried about it? He shook his head, trying to clear his head of the confusing thoughts, assuming it was a result of the difficult day he had. Clean, he began to dry off and opened the door, walking in to the bedroom still dripping wet.

Charlotte Ruse: He walked right into the room she was in and her eyes widened and stared at his whole body. It took her a minute, she couldn't help but look, before she lifted her hands and covered her eyes and began apologizing profusely. "Jonah! I'm sorry, so sorry! It's so rude of me, to just walk in. I'm sorry. I did knock. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to look, I mean, you look good, but no, wait, I'm sorry!" She just shut up, and left her hands over her eyes as the feeling of shame and embarrassment crept over her and she wished she could just crawl into a hole and vanish

Jonah: The towel over his face, wiping the water from him, he did not see her but heard her and he quickly bunched the towel at his waist. His eyes wide, he wrapped the cloth around him the best he could. While it wasn't that difficult, he was a large man and the fabric was stretched tight around him. He began to stammer out as well, "I'm sorry...I didn't hear you come in..."

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... uhmmm.... I'll leave. I'm sorry!" She turned and finally her feet and legs decided to work. her hands still up over her eyes, she began to hurry back the way she'd come and towards the front door.

Jonah: "No...it's fine...just...let me get some clothes on." He moved to where he kept his jeans in a drawer, sorting through it with one hand as he kept the towel up but found nothing there. "Um...did you organize my clothes?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I tidied!" She called out to him, still reeling from what she'd just seen as she fumbled with the door. Her hands were betraying her and her brain seemed to have forgotten how a door handle worked!

Jonah: He looked around and still could not find any pants. He yelled back, "Did you see any jeans?" The killer was not the tidiest person in the world but he normally was good about making sure he had enough clean clothing.

Charlotte Ruse: Her head met the door and she sighed, nodding. "Think about your drawers as if they were you. Underwear and socks are in the half sized drawers on the top. Then it's Jumpers. Then it's T-shirts. Then it's Jeans and Trousers." She gave up trying to leave and instead headed for a seat in the little living room area instead, sitting down very demurely and ladylike in manner.

Jonah: He opened the drawers as she directed him and shook his head, not understanding the system but acknowledging that the clothes fit better in to those locations. Pulling together a quick outfit, he joined her in the main room. The couch had been uprighted but he was not sure if it would be inappropriate to sit beside her so remained standing for now. "Thank you...for this. It looks much better."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head, not able to actually look at him so found something very interesting to look at on her skirt. "It was the least I could do, after all you'd done for me. It was, well, a thank you. And now, I'm sorry - for barging in."

Jonah: "It's fine. I'm sure it's nothing you haven't seen before." It was a lame attempt at a joke, a comment on the fact that she was attractive and could likely see a guy naked if she wanted to, but as it passed his lips he realized he probably should have bitten his tongue.

Charlotte Ruse: Her hand reached up and smoothed out her hair as she cleared her throat. She didn't know what to say to that, because it was the first one she'd ever seen that wasn't her own. She wasn't confidant enough nor comfortable enough to make a joke and brush it off, so instead she just sat there in an awkward silence, trying to think of something to say.

Jonah: The silence drug on after his comment and he remained standing. Finally, just to try and ease the tension that had come over the room, he asked, "So...why'd you stop by? You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head. "Mm Hm. I just, wanted to say hi, and let you know that some of those wounds had healed, and just to see how you'd done in the fighting, and to see if you were ok and to say thank you, and stuff...." She kind of petered out at the end of her rambling, her voice just failing her at the end as she crossed one leg over the other and finally looked up at him with a little smile.

Jonah: He smiled back at her slightly. "I told you they would." At the mention of her wounds, he remembered the multiple full packs of blood he had found. "Have you eaten?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I....." She wanted to lie, to not let him down and not worry him. However as she looked at his face, she couldn't do it and so just shook her head.

Jonah: "Why not? I thought it was ok..."

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head again at that and sighed. "I'm sorry. No. I.... well, I threw it up."

Jonah: His body sagged and Robert's words floated back through his mind, that he was not a good sire to his childe. While this young girl was not his, he was still protective of her. "It's...fine."

Charlotte Ruse: He visibly sagged and she felt like she'd let him down and physically wounded him, like she'd failed him. Her hand reached out and wrapped around a couple of his fingers and gave them a squeeze. "I'm sorry. I did try. But, I guess, with my body never having eaten meat - it just can't cope. Not to mention, the thought of it turning my stomach! I'm sorry. I'll try harder. Please don't throw me out and give up on me!"

Jonah: That she thought he would just give up on her hurt him even more. "Why would I do that? Am I that bad of a person?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head and frowned. "No. Just.... well.... that's what happens to me. I let people down, I'm not what they want, so they thow me out and it's like I'm dead to them. It's me, not you!"

Jonah: He pushed his own depressing thoughts aside as she spoke and moved to her, putting his hand in her hair and brushing it out some with his claws. "Hey...don't think like that. You're fine how you are."

Charlotte Ruse: She managed a small smile and then leant into him just a little bit and sighed. "We'll see!" Then she remembered and fished out her phone, bringing up the sightings page and showing it to him. "I found this. It has my name on it. Do you know what it is and what it means?"

Jonah: He took the phone and his smile faded yet again. "It's...somebody saw you try and feed from a human."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked at her phone and then back to him with a frown. "And so they are offering $50 to find me?" She was puzzled. "How do you know someone saw me.... feed. It doesn't say any of that there." She hated that she'd attacked that person in her sleep, that had led to her shooting. She really did need to somehow find a way to feed so that she didn't hurt anyone.

Jonah: He navigated through the screen to the violations page where her name was showing at the top of the list. "Seems like it. We'll just need to keep you out of sight for a little bit."

Charlotte Ruse: "What? Why? Why can't they find me?" She was puzzled and confused, and it just wasn't making sense to her.

Jonah: He sighed and sat beside her. "You know how you got shot the other day?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head, turning in the seat to look at him more fully.

Jonah: "If people find you...they'll do that...but more. Has Keara told you about the Shadow Realm?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "No. She's not told me much of anything. She was too busy trying to kill someone to spend much time with me. I've had a couple of emails, but nothing else. And.... why? Why would someone want to find me and shoot me?"

Jonah: "Because you put us in danger. If you get caught feeding or doing...anything vampiric...you make humans more aware of us and they try and kill us."

Charlotte Ruse: "And that's who put my name up on those two lists? The humans?" She frowned, looking at her phone again

Jonah: "I don't know who is paying for your location but...a vampire found proof that you were seen feeding and they reported that evidence. That

Jonah: That's why you're on the violations page."

Charlotte Ruse: "So...." She thought it over and sighed. "So other vampires want to hurt me?"

Jonah: It was hard for Jonah to explain it after the fact. He wished that he had had opportunity to lay everything out beforehand so she could better understand what was going on...or that Keara had. "You have broken a law and put us all in danger...there's a punishment for it...if people decide your offense is bad enough."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh." She frowned and shook slightly at the thought of being 'punished'. Her legs were drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. "Who decides? What laws are there? What.... punishments?"

Jonah: He put his arm around her, drawing her in to a small hug. "There's really only one law. Don't get caught." Thinking for a moment to determine the best way to describe the punishments, he nodded when he finally decided. "For a long time, it was...time out. Now, I'm trying to help shift some of that." He smiled at her, "Something more like community service."

Charlotte Ruse: She let herself be drawn to him, because despite how he looked and how afraid of him she'd been before, he was actually really nice and kind. In her life, kindness had been sorely lacking so she wasn't going to shy away from it when it was offered. In fact, she was going to cling to it anywhere it showed itself. "Time out? In that place you said before? The shadow place?" She shifted a little bit so she could get closer to him.

Jonah: He nodded. "Yeah. It's...not fun. It hurts to be there. If you're strong though, you'll be able to come back." He squeezed her again. "I doubt it will get to that point though."

Charlotte Ruse: "Why won't it? Someone's looking for me already! I mean, look at the lists. They aren't the same. It's not like everyone on the naughty list is being hunted for. But they are wanting me. Looks like I've been judged and they want to put me in that place." She shuddered again, more violently this time as her voice quietened. "How much does it hurt?"

Jonah: "It depends. It's a...hard thing to explain." The hand around her, went to her hair, brushing it out and trying to comfort her, the motion a comfort to him as well. "Well...you might have also made some enemies when you were a human."

Charlotte Ruse: "I don't understand. I just did my job. That's all. I don't understand!"

Jonah: "Char...you kinda did what's happening to you now."

Charlotte Ruse: "I..... no I didn't. I made a call. That's all. Against what I was told were monsters. I saw the pictures Jonah. I saw what vampires had done to humans!"

Jonah: "I believe you did what you thought was for the best. Now, someone is doing the same thing."

Charlotte Ruse: "Fine" She said and got up. "I'll go and hand myself in then. Looking at the website, I just put in where I am and then they'll come for me. Right?"

Jonah: "You could but if you want to do that, there's a better way."

Jonah: bah hit enter too soon))

Jonah: "You could, but if you want to do that there's a better way." He stood after she did and let his hand drop from her. Stepping away slightly, he thought that she no longer wanted his touch so gave her space.

Charlotte Ruse: She sighed and looked at him, shaking her head. "Course I don't want to hurt or go to that shadow place. But you said it's what's right, and you keep bringing up about how I called the hunters on vampires, like, like you can't forget or forgive. The way you say it, the way you look at me when you say it...." she shook her head again and stumbled slightly. Her head was spinning and she felt really dizzy and ill through lack of blood, and her legs were threatening to give out under her from the stress.

Jonah: He stepped away from her, withdrawing in to himself. "I'm sorry. That's not what I was trying to do..." Seeing her stumble, he reached out to her but paused, unsure if she wanted him to touch her now.

Charlotte Ruse: She saw movement as she fell and reached out to him, catching his hand as she went down so that her knees hit the floor gently, instead of face planting onto the tile. "I'm sorry I'm no good!"

Jonah: Instinct kicked in and as she hit the ground, he scooped her up and cradled her. "You are fine."

Charlotte Ruse: She curled against him, still shaking in fear as well as shaking her head. "I'm not. You said I'm a danger, and in danger. I don't know what to do." She whispered. "I'm so scared!"

Jonah: He continued to hold her tight to him. "It's ok. I can teach you. It'll be ok."

Charlotte Ruse: "Teach me what?" She whispered.

Jonah: "What to do, how to live this life."

Charlotte Ruse: "It's too late, isn't it? They already want me hunted!"

Jonah: He shook his head, "Not at all. We can fix this. Do you believe me?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... don't know." She mumbled against his chest. "How do we fix it?"

Jonah: "First, we teach you how to feed." He did not set her down yet though, unwilling to let her go until he knew she was ok

Charlotte Ruse: There seemed to be no two ways around it. She was going to have to learn to drink blood. So all she did, was nod her head silently.

Jonah: "You need to decide how you want to do it. We can get blood packs or animals or humans. It's your choice though."

Charlotte Ruse: "Maybe, something weaker than.... than human? Maybe. Ummm.... maybe it's just too rich? I mean, I've not eaten animal for years upon years. It will take time for my body to adjust. I've heard the same happening when a vegetarian eats a burger for the first time"

Jonah: Jonah nodded. That left only a few options. Chickens, rats, or rabbits. The sewers were not the best place for her, the hunters and paladins could hurt her. The chickens were in the city but...he thought that might be too hard for her. That left the rabbits. Out of the city, if she struggled, no one would see, it worked in a few ways. "Have you been to the hunting grounds?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head, having never heard of the hunting grounds before.

Jonah: "Are you good to stand?" While he wanted to teach her, he was willing to wait until she was able to stand on her own.

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh. Yes. Sorry." She took it that he wanted to put her down and didn't want to touch her anymore. So she quickly twisted around and out of his arms to stand there quietly and wait.

Jonah: Nodding as she moved, he offered his hand to hold hers. "It's a bit of a walk but it's pretty easy to get to."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked at his hand and then up to him quizzically. "You want hold my hand? In public?"

Jonah: The question caught him off guard and his hand hung awkwardly out before he let it fall back to his side. She was right, it would be awkward for her to be seen with him. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking. You don't have to."

Charlotte Ruse: It took her a minute to realize that he thought she meant that he'd be the embarrassment, when she'd meant herself. "What. I. No." She frowned, not sure how to vocalize what was in her head. She stepped a little closer to him and reached her hand to his and linked her fingers in his long, claw like ones. "I'd be honored to be seen with you" She mumbled softly, giving his hand a squeeze.

Jonah: He had started for the door to let her out so was surprised when her hand slipped in to his. Turning, his face was confused and his brows shot up. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a problem..."

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head and gave him a little smile. "You're not the problem. I just thought you wouldn't want to be seen with me. Cause, you know. I'm being hunted. And, well, people don't normally hang around me."

Jonah: "Why wouldn't people want to hang around you?" It did not make sense to him. She was a nice girl, even if she was a little sensitive.

Charlotte Ruse: She shrugged her shoulders. "I never, fitted in" It was true, it wasn't the full story, but it was the one she planned to say on that one.

Jonah: It made sense to him. While he was never a total outcast, his large size even as a human had made it difficult to be part of any cliques. "Well, you do now." Leading her through the Asylum, they headed south towards the wilderness.

Charlotte Ruse: She couldn't help but smile as he said that, and squeezed his hand a little tighter as her steps brought her closer to him as they walked through the Asylum and out into the street. She couldn't help but cast sidelong glances all around as they walked, not only to keep track of where they were going and to remember the route, but also in case someone who was hunting her suddenly appeared to hurt her.

Jonah: The trip was quiet and he could feel how tense she was but hoped that it would ease as they left the city, following the winding road. The trees were thick enough out here that it was always dark and the stars were difficult to see. Pushing aside some brush, his hand left hers for long enough to rest on her back and lead her in to the hunting grounds. "This is it..."

Charlotte Ruse: He was leading her into the forest and she was getting more and more nervous the darker it was getting. He let go of her hand and she felt the panic building inside of her. However, his hand rested on her back and the bushes in front of her parted to reveal an opening that had been hidden away. He said they were here, so she walked on in and found that the place opened up into a slight clearing that wasn't quite so wild. She gasped a little as she came out in the clearing and looked around. "It's so, peaceful. It's lovely."

Jonah: He nodded in agreement. As much as Mircea's lesson had taught him control, this was where he had practiced it and come to know himself. "Here, more than anywhere else, we can be ourselves." The sewers were similar to this place but held too much of a stigma to really be seen as a positive place to spend one's time. He didn't want to interrupt her moment of happiness but neither did he want her to go hungry for longer than she had to. "We're looking for rabbits."

Charlotte Ruse: She bit down on her tongue to hold back the comment about the poor little bunny rabbits, and actually bit her own tongue with her fangs. Her jaw snapped open and her hand lifted to her mouth as she mumbled "Ow!"

Jonah: Canting his head, he looked confused. "You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: She looked a bit embarrassed as she gave him a sheepish smile. "I bit my tongue."

Jonah: "That can happen. The teeth are hard to get used to." Standing beside her, he scanned the brush and the field before pointing slowly and whispering, "There."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked around while sucking on her tongue, following where he was pointing until she spotted the rabbit and nodded, not sure what to do next.

Jonah: Her hesitation was obvious and he waited a moment before asking, "Do you want to get it or me?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I... ummm.... it's too fast isn't it? Soon as I get close, it will just, run!"

Jonah: "Try and see what happens."

Charlotte Ruse: Try he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to walk up to a rabbit, catch it, and drink it's blood! However, she didn't want to let him down again, so she nodded her head and walked towards the rabbit. Of course, as soon as it caught her scent, its head went up and looked right at her - then scarpered into the undergrowth and vanished. She couldn't help but think 'told you so', but she said nothing, just stood there and didn't look back towards Jonah.

Jonah: He watched her and frowned, confused as to why she had just...walked up to it and then let it get away when it took off. "Go after it," he called out to her encouragingly.

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... what?!" She turned around and looked at him then. "You realize, I haven't got a clue what I'm doing here?"

Jonah: It took a moment for that statement to really click with him. For Jonah and most of those he had taught, instinct eventually kicked in and the feeding just...happened. It seemed like they were not there yet though. The rabbit was long gone by the time he joined her side and he put his hand in hers again. "Come on, there will be another one. I'll show you first."

Charlotte Ruse: She grinned as he took her hand, it just happened and she couldn't hide it, and nodded her head. "Thank you!"

Jonah: They walked in silence for a few moments and he squeezed her hand when he saw a rabbit in part of the clearing before releasing her hand. Bringing a finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet, he moved away from her a few steps, his eyes locked on the tiny creature. Checking to make sure Charlotte was watching, when he looked back, the rabbit was looking up, ears cocked, like it had smelt him. Gritting his teeth, he moved quickly and sprinted at the little animal, moving beside it as it hopped and pulling it up, snapping its neck as he did.

Charlotte Ruse: She squeezed his hand back and then watched as he approached, chased, caught and..... she let out a cry as if she were in pain herself as he snapped the poor things neck. She felt tears pricking her eyes at the death of the poor animal, and she rolled her lips into her mouth to try and stop herself from crying properly.

Jonah: Carrying it back, the look on her face made him pause. She had been a vegetarian and had reacted poorly at the thought of hurting things and...he had just done that. He steeled himself with the thought that it was necessary and that she needed this to feed so she could survive. Holding the rabbit out to her, he waited for her to take it and feed directly or a sign that she wanted him to open it up for her.

Charlotte Ruse: She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but the poor little, fluffy, brown thing that was lying so limply in his hand just killed something inside of her. Her hand reached out, shaking, and gently ran over its fur and the tears fell. "I'm sorry. So sorry. You poor, poor bunny!"

Jonah: He frowned as she touched the creature and didn't know what to do. She needed to be able to feed.

Charlotte Ruse: She looked up at him and sighed. "What happens now?"

Jonah: "Well...you feed." Pointing to a fleshy spot of the creature that would give the most blood, he added. "You just...bite."

Charlotte Ruse: "WHAT!" She stared at him, then at the bit he was pointing at, and then back to him. "But, fleas, dirt, myxomatosis..... you want me to put that in my MOUTH?" She was horrified. She'd really not thought it through properly.

Jonah: "It's...we don't have to worry about that anymore..." This was looking more and more like it was a bad plan from the start and Jonah's face fell, not knowing how to help her be able to take care of herself.

Charlotte Ruse: "But.... How do you reconcile that in your head?" She asked, totally flabbergasted. "That you're putting.... excuse the language... poo in your mouth!"

Jonah: "I'm...putting poo in my mouth?" He was honestly confused about what she was talking about. Sure, the things belly was not the cleanest thing in the world but he did not see anything on it.

Charlotte Ruse: "Yeh." She nodded her head. "It's hardly, sanitary is it? Living out in the woods and running and lying on the ground and on who knows what!" However, the look on his face hadn't gone unnoticed and she knew she was disappointing him. She had to push everything in her mind to the side, ignore it and pretend it wasn't there. "You.... really want me to do this?" She looked up at hi, her eyes locking onto his as she blinked away the remaining tears that lingered there.

Jonah: The confusion on his face grew more apparent as she spoke and he could not make her ideas compute. When she finally asked him, he hesitated. He did, he knew that it was what was best for her but...what if she couldn't do it. "I...think that you should. If you can."

Charlotte Ruse: She took the step towards him and closed the gap, still looking at him. "For you..." She mumbled and then faced the bunny in his hand. She could feel her throat closing, the bile rising from her stomach and the disgust strengthening in her mind. Her fingers caressed the poor thing that was lying there dead, and she knew she couldn't let it have died in vain. It was what she'd begged from Keara, so it would have been hypocritical for her to cast off the bunny now. She found a bit of it, just beside its thigh, and lowered her head towards it. Her mouth opened as her fingers parted the fur, and then there was no delaying it. Her fangs found the flesh and dug in, her eyes closed tightly and her lips locked on it and sucked. It took a moment before the blood sprang into her mouth, and her immediate reaction was to recoil. It took all her strength of character to stay in place and actually suck some more. Her mouth filled over and over with the warm, thin, irony liquid that she forced down her throat. She couldn't take anymore after a number of mouths full, when it began to get harder to draw any blood from it. She stepped back, gasping, and saw a little blood dribbling over its fur. She stared as her legs wobbled and she dropped to the grass holding her head. She felt like she was about to faint and she was fighting every instinct that was screaming at her to throw up!

Jonah: He almost didn't hear what she said and dismissed it as a misheard statement. He was helping her and, in his mind, had not earned the right for her to do something for his benefit. When she pulled away, he looked around, wondering what to do with the little body. "Do you..." He was going to ask if she wanted him to bury it, if that would make her feel a little better, but she was on the ground and he dropped the tiny body and joined her. "Are you ok? What's wrong?"

Charlotte Ruse: The little body dropped nearby her and her eyes found the blood again as if she were rubbernecking. She couldn't help but stare, despite the fact that the more she stared, the worse she felt until she actually did pass out at the sight of the blood.

Jonah: She seemed to not hear him and then she was laying there and he blinked, shocked by the fact that she had just passed out. "Um...Charlotte?" He didn't know what to do in this situation and moved to her. She couldn't be dead for a few obvious reasons but this...wasn't right. He shook her and called again, "Wake up."

Charlotte Ruse: She was out cold and heard and felt nothing until there was movement and her eyes fluttered open to find the word moving. She blinked and held her head, groaning softly. "What.... happened?" She looked around and found Jonah's face staring at her with what she read as a worried look. It was a bit of a shock, seeing his.... unique features looking at her so closely - but her brain quickly clicked in and reminded her of where she was, why and with who. "Oh god! I'm sorry! How embarrassing!"

Jonah: "It's fine. You're ok." His hand was on her shoulder and he kept it there, not wanting her to sit up too soon so keeping her down in case she tried to sit.
Charlotte Ruse: Her hands lifted and covered her face up with total embarrassment, though she still talked through them. "Did..... I throw up?"

Jonah: He put his hands on hers and moved them from her face, shaking his head. "Nope, so...improvement?"

Charlotte Ruse: She managed to give him a tiny smile as he moved her hands from her face and then nodded. "Yes. It.... seems to be staying down. Thank you. Can... well... does it come in another form? Like, not inside the bunny still?"

Jonah: "I think....I can figure something out like that. Stay here for a little bit, ok?" He waited for her answer that she would before leaving for a few minutes and returning with a glass full of red liquid.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and sat herself upright and then waited. When he returned, he had a glass full of red liquid and she stared. The first thought that went through her head was 'where in the hell did he get a glass from' while the second thought was 'OMG, I'm going to faint again'. The sight of that thick red liquid in the glass made her feel quite ill and light headed again. A hand lifted and covered her eyes while she took some deep breaths and waited for him to reach her.

Jonah: He had celeritied to the asylum and then back to the hunting grounds to get and fill the cup with rabbit blood. Holding it out to her, he hoped that it would be easier for her to accept.

Charlotte Ruse: She could smell the cup as it got closer to her. So, keeping her eyes closed, she reached out her hand and waited for him to put it in. Then, still keeping her eyes closed, she brought the glass to her lips and necked the contents as fast as possible. She then wiped her mouth and put the glass behind her back so that she couldn't see it. Her stomach gurgled and churned, but it stayed down - even if she felt horrible at what she'd done. With no sign of blood anywhere, she was able to stay upright and smile at the man in front of her by way of thanks.

Jonah: As she knocked the mix back, he nodded, hoping that she would be ok. When her eyes shut, he was worried that she would go down again but when she finally looked at him and smiled, he smiled back. "Good job." His eyes were warm and he was honestly proud of her.

Charlotte Ruse: "It would seem.... I can't stand the sight of blood." She chuckled and shook her head. "What sort of fricking vampire am I!"

Jonah: "A perfectly good one." He moved to her and offered a hug. "Like I said, you'll be fine."

Charlotte Ruse: She got to her feet and slipped into his embrace, resting her head on his abdomen. "I hope so!"

Jonah: Brushing her hair out with his claws as she leaned against, he added. "I know so."

Charlotte Ruse: A little hiccup rippled through her body and she chuckled gently. "I think I was hungry!"

Jonah: "And now?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Now? Well, not so much. A hole has been filled." She smiled happily, giving him a squeeze.

Jonah: He hadn't known how long she had gone without blood but took her statement to mean she was completely full. Stepping away, he offered her his hand again. "Do you want to go back to the asylum?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Do we have to? So soon? Couldn't we, well, just walk in the woods for a bit? The air is so nice and the breeze feels amazing on my skin!" She was feeling elated, almost a bit high on the blood and it was as if all her senses had suddenly come alive.

Jonah: He chuckled. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to. I would love it." He squeezed her hand. "Don't spend much time here anymore." Trying to be playful he added, "especially not with pretty girls."

Charlotte Ruse: In her elation, she lifted the hand she was holding and kissed the back of it softly and then nodded. "Excellent!" Then the last bit registered and she stared. "You..... think I'm pretty?"

Jonah: The kiss to his hand was unexpected but he just smiled until she questioned him. "Sorry...I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Charlotte Ruse: "no. I.... was shocked."

Jonah: "...Why?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Well, that you would think that is all. I mean, I do my best, but I didn't think anyone would think..... that"

Jonah: "Well...you are," he had not meant for his comment to be problematic but it bothered him that she thought so little of herself. "I'm sure you don't have to try that hard."

Charlotte Ruse: She just smiled at him and shook her head, because if he only knew what she'd gone through to look like this, he'd think again. She let go of his hand and slipped her hand through his arm instead and then began to walk in a random direction. "So, no monsters here right? None of those you were talking about the other night?"

Jonah: "No, no monsters here. Just...lions and bears and wolves."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh my!" She chuckled softly, but pressed herself to his side even so and began to look around more fully. "I called animal control because of the things in the woods. I looked out of my window once, and there was a proper lion walking by. Not just a mountain lion. There were all sorts of tracks and trails for animals which shouldn't be here!"

Jonah: "That would be us..." He trailed off, not sure if he should explain further. "Did the lion have a mane?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head. "Yes. And what do you mean that's us?"

Jonah: Well, she hadn't seen him. He wasn't sure if he thought that was a good or a bad thing. At least he hadn't scared her. "Yeah. Us. It’s…a power. To turn in to an animal."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh!" She frowned and then grinned. "I wonder what I'll be then!"

Jonah: "I can't wait to find out either." He squeezed her hand tighter and continued to walk with her, following her lead. "Where are we headed?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I have no idea!" She chuckled. "I just fancied the fresh air and good company..... If that's ok?"

Jonah: "That's fine. Where are you going to meet them?"

Charlotte Ruse: She pinched his side firmly and just looked at him pointedly and said nothing.

Jonah: "Oh..." He trailed off. "I'm not that good of company...."

Charlotte Ruse: "I think you're wonderful company myself." She mumbled softly, feeling that embarrassment rising again. But he'd been so nice to her, she wanted him to know she appreciated his charity and kindness.

Jonah: "Well thank you." He wasn't sure how to respond to the compliment and just walked in silence with her for a bit.

Charlotte Ruse: She could feel his awkwardness and so sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you"

Jonah: "You haven't. I promise." He squeezed her hand. "It's just...difficult."

Charlotte Ruse: She frowned and stopped, looking at him. "What's difficult?"

Jonah: "I...just trying to be social. I'm not...used to it." Turning to look at her more fully, he frowned. "You haven't done anything wrong. Just...the stuff with AJ. I don't want to mess up again."

Charlotte Ruse: "I'm sorry. Am I forcing you to be around me when you'd rather be by yourself?" She took a step back and dropped his arm, thinking he wanted space. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable, or feel.... obligated to do anything. I'm sorry!"

Jonah: He stepped back towards her. "No...it's not that. I like spending time with you. I just...don't want to bring you down."

Charlotte Ruse: "How would you bring me down?" She asked, not moving as he stepped closer again. "You, well, you make me smile"

Jonah: "I do?" He was honestly surprised but it made him happy. He was helping her.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and shuffled her feet. "Yeh, you've seen me smile at you!"

Jonah: "I have...I just...wasn't sure."

Charlotte Ruse: "Of what? If it was gas?" She chuckled, trying to lighten the moment

Jonah: "I don't know. Just...you being nice."

Charlotte Ruse: "You have about as much confidence as me huh?"

Jonah: He laughed. "Maybe not. I don't see why you don't though."

Charlotte Ruse: "And what about you? When you went off to think the other day. Cause of, what I'd done to you. How did that go?"

Jonah: "I....don't know. I'm still trying to figure it out..."

Charlotte Ruse: "Can.... I help?"

Jonah: "Maybe. But...not right now." He offered her his hand again. "Let's just walk." His smile was reserved but honest, he really did enjoy spending time with her.

Charlotte Ruse: She studied his face for a moment and then nodded and took his hand again, walking in silence with him for now.

Charlotte Ruse: Charlotte had really enjoyed her previous night’s experience. The drinking of the blood had been a bit traumatic, but she couldn't deny how much better she'd felt afterwards. The walk through the woods, hand in hand and shoulder to forearm had been.... well, she had to say it had been magical. He'd even walked her all the way home to Swansdale when the time had come to part and she'd spent a number of hours bouncing off the walls with a grin on her face. She was acting like a stupid school girl with her first crush, and she had to keep reminding herself that there wasn't a chance that he'd feel the same so she wouldn't get her hopes up. She sat and did her hair in her usual fashion, all tied back with her blonde swirl above her forehead, and the rest cascading down her back, and then picked a dress that stopped above her knee, large red heels and a silver bracelet, finished with hoop earrings - then set off for her night and wondered what it would bring.

Jonah: Jonah had gone to the shop after leaving Charlotte safe in her home. After the peaceful evening, he did not want to go back to the sewers and while the Asylum was his home, he did not want to be alone. The early shift was there, a student from the university. He spent enough time there now that there was little reaction on his appearance from the staff. Going to his office, he changed in to a clean outfit and rested through the daylight hours.

Charlotte Ruse: Her mind wandered and she wondered what he'd done during the day while she'd slept in her bed and recuperated from her final wound and let her mind reconcile some of what she'd learnt that night. However, tonight was a new night and she wondered what was in store. There was so much that kept happening and that she had to learn, she had no idea. Her heels clipped on the pavement as she walked, humming a happy tune to herself and letting her feet take her wherever they wanted.

Jonah: He had slept longer than intended and woke to his phone ringing. Answering it groggily, he didn't recognize the scratchy voice on the other end. "Jonah?" "Speaking." "I can't come in today." It registered who was calling then and he sighed, the illness obvious in the voice. "It's fine, get to feeling better." Scrolling through his contacts, he came to Charlotte's number and waited. She was the only one that might be able to work, he couldn't work the register most nights because of his appearance. He didn't want her to think she was manipulating her in to seeing him though. Not knowing what else to do, he called and waited to see if she would answer.

Charlotte Ruse: Her phone buzzed and jingled in her bag, and her feet paused as she swore quietly. She'd just broken into a place to see what she could nick, and she'd forgotten to put her phone onto silent. She could hear the guards calling out and heading in her direction, so she ducked down behind some machine or other and dragged out the phone, answering without looking in a hoarse and snappy whisper. "Hello? Yes? What?"

Jonah: The irritation in her voice was obvious and he regretted calling immediately. "Never mind. It's fine. Something just came up at work." He started to hang up on her but waited for her to respond, not wanting to be rude.

Charlotte Ruse: Her eyes went wide as she recognized the voice and she felt horrible for how she'd spoken to him. However a gunshot rang out as a guard thought he saw her and she ran back to the door to escape. "Sorry! No!" She whispered to him as she ran, finally bursting from the warehouse into the street to find an alley to hide in. Once she was sure she wasn't followed, she went back to the call. "I'm so sorry Jonah. Please. Forgive me!"

Jonah: The sound of a gun echoed over the call and his eyes went wide. "Are you ok? Do I need to come get you?" He was already out of his office and looking for keys to lock the door as he asked.

Charlotte Ruse: "Sorry. No. It's ok. I just suck!" She said with a sigh. "But you said there was a problem at work?"

Jonah: "I'm sure you don't suck." He said, still messing with the door. "It's just...someone called in sick and I can't work the front unless I have to."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh, you want me to work?" She asked, pushing off from the wall she'd been leaning against, straightening herself out and then looking around to see which way she needed to head to get to work.

Jonah: "You don't have to if you have plans. I know it's short notice. I'll stay up here though, in case you need any help."

Charlotte Ruse: "Nothing important that can't be changed" She said, unwittingly projecting an image of her on stage singing and performing into his head. "I'll be there soon! You need anything on my way over?"

Jonah: The sudden image flashed in his mind and he wasn't sure where it came from but it halted him. "Are you sure? I don't want to interrupt..."

Charlotte Ruse: "No no" She said quickly. "You're the boss and I need the job. I'm almost there now anyways." She said, turning the corner of the street that led to the store.

Jonah: She was coming because he thought she would get fired if she didn't. Jonah didn't realize he came across like that kind of boss or friend. "Oh, ok. Well, I will see you shortly." He hung up and sat behind the counter, his face drawn.

Charlotte Ruse: He hung up on her and she felt like crying. As soon as it had come out of her mouth it had sounded wrong, and now she'd annoyed him. Her hand clenched around her phone in annoyance and then rammed it into her bag. She all but ran the rest of the way to the store and burst in through the door, looking around for him. "Jonah? Jonah are you here?"

Jonah: He was in the stacks, sorting through some books and putting them on the shelves when he heard the door chime. "Be with you in a moment." Setting them down, he stepped out his facets business friendly as it could get. The smile became honest when he saw it was her ten faltered. "Sorry..." He wasn't sure what he was apologizing for but felt that between interrupting her night and whatever he had done to her, it was the most appropriate thing to say.

Charlotte Ruse: She raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. "What are you sorry for?"

Jonah: "Calling you in? I didn't mean to seem like you had to come or you'd lose your job..."

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh!" She sighed and looked around, making sure there were no customers around before walking to his side and taking his hand. "You didn't. It was a.... bad joke." She sighed and squeezed his hand "I'm sorry I upset you."

Jonah: He returned the squeeze and his smile brightened. "Sorry. I shouldn't be so sensitive." Letting her hand fall from his, he gestured to the stacks and went back to shelving books. "So what plans are you rescheduling...if I can ask?"

Charlotte Ruse: She was disappointed when he let her hand go, but she didn't show it. Instead, she removed her jacket and bag and set them into her locker before returning to him and taking up a pile of books to re-shelve. She looked a bit like a librarian as she went from shelf to shelf, reaching up high to put a book on a shelf or bending over, bum in the air, to put one on the bottom shelf, and everything in between. The books rested on her stuck out hip as she wandered around, making it easy to hold a few at once. "Nothing important. Just thought I'd maybe stop into a bar and listen to some music" She said, which was true, it just missed out some details.

Jonah: He did his best not to watch her as she helped him with the books but he could not keep his eyes from tracking over her from time to time, though he refocused his attention on the books every time he caught himself doing it. As she described her plan for the vending he nodded but remembered the thought he had. "Just listen?"

Charlotte Ruse: Well now, that was an odd question. She put the final book on the shelf and then returned for another stack in silence. She found a book that took her out of his sight and then replied where he couldn't see her face and she couldn't see his. "Well, no. I do a bit of a tribute act to an Irish singer that I've, well, styled myself on. So sometimes, when I'm feeling brave, I get up and do a bit of a turn."

Jonah: The time between his question and her answer was filled with enough action that he didn't think it strange. He was glad when she mentioned the Irish singer that she couldn't see him as he frowned, Wolffyn having sung an Irish song on their first date together. He was honestly interested in this girl though so had no sadness to hide from his voice. "Oh really? Who?"

Charlotte Ruse: "She's called Imelda May" She called out from behind the shelves. "She does rockabilly stuff, hence the way I dress you know? It's not 'fashionable' now, but it was once."

Jonah: "I think you dress fine." He thought about the artists name and shook his head. "I don't know her but I listen to some...rockabilly influenced stuff. Volbeat?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Mmmm, no. Not heard of them" She said, peeking out from behind the shelf and smiling at him, then turning to look at the door as it tingled to say someone else had come in.

Jonah: Jonah moved deeper in to one of the shelves. It was unlikely it was one of their few usuals and he did not want to scare any business off. It was a college student in a philosophy. Seeing Charlotte, he asked boredly, "Do you have anything on Eastern Mysticism?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Ummm....." She had to think for a moment, not being completely up to speed on what they did and didn't have yet. However after a moment, she smiled and nodded her head, taking him off to a shelving unit and pointing out a number of books to him

Jonah: The student nodded and wandered in the direction, catching sight of Jonah as he worked and snickered. "Lucky you, able to get a job. Too bad they don't keep you in the back." Jonah gritted his teeth and ignored the remark as he continued to shelve books. His target not responding, the student moved on to the books, sorting through them until he found the one he wanted, dumping the rest on the floor. "Something for you to earn your keep with, freak."

Charlotte Ruse: Charlotte was incensed at the way the student was talking to Jonah. She imagined the student in all manner of pain as he had to live his own life deformed and disabled. Without realizing it, she projected those images into the students head as well as using her overwhelm powers on him so he would feel and experience every single thing that was placed in his mind.

Jonah: The student stumbled, dropping the book and clutching his head, no idea where the images and pain was coming from. Retching, he dry heaved on the floor. Jonah let his own stack fall and went to the boy. "Are you ok? Do we need to call an ambulance?" The boy shook his head. "I don't...know."

Charlotte Ruse: Charlotte couldn't help but smirk as the boy dropped to his knees, suddenly ill. She simply thought it was karma and that perhaps he had food poisoning. She didn't for a second think she'd done something to him. However Jonah's response surprised her. The boy, who'd been so horrible and rude to him, was now being helped by him and it looked like real concern on the man's face. She just stood and stared, unable to comprehend it all

Jonah: The killer helped the boy stand and offered him the book. Jerking it out of his hands, he walked to the counter and slammed it down, his legs shaking. "I don't know what's wrong with this place but I'm not coming back." Tossing a wad of cash at her, he stormed out, still holding his head and trying to shake the images from his mind.

Charlotte Ruse: "Well.....!" She said and simply stared before ringing up the book and putting the cash in the till. She walked over to Jonah and put a hand gently on his upper arm and looked up at him with concern on her face. "Are you..... ok?"

Jonah: "I'm fine. People are just...people." He put his hand over hers and patted it.
Charlotte Ruse: She squeezed his arm gently and sighed. "People are assholes." She stated, matter of factly.

Jonah: He laughed. "That's one way of putting it. Reminds me of something actually." Moving to the computer, he pulled up YouTube and searched for 'Still Counting'. "This is the band I was telling you about."

Charlotte Ruse: She walked with him to the computer and waited while the video loaded. She stood and listened for a minute, smiling and nodding. "I like it. Not exactly rockabilly however." She chuckled as the guitar section came in. When it finished, she brought up and Imelda May song called Mayhem and let him listen.

Jonah: "Some of their other songs are more obvious. The Johnny Cash comparisons with the lead singer." He nodded as he listened to her song. "Interesting. I like it." As the song finished he looked up to make sure no customers were coming in and pulled up 'Lola Montez.' "I think you'd like this one..."

Charlotte Ruse: She leant against him almost subconsciously as they watched the video, smiling at his comments. As the next tune came up, she chuckled. "I've heard this one. Still not rockabilly though. Here, look...." She leant across him and pulled up another video. This one by The Baseballs, singing Umbrella.

Jonah: Jonah nodded along with it. It wasn't really as hard as he liked his music but he wasn't going to say it was bad. His nails tapping on the keys, he pulled up the Wikipedia page for the band he had been describing, high lighting the section where it said they were influenced by rockabilly. He bumped her hip with his, "That's all I meant."

Charlotte Ruse: She smirked and highlighted the word 'influenced', which meant they weren't actually rockabilly. However, another customer came in at that point, did a loop of the shop, and then just left again. She chuckled at the woman's back and shrugged. "Oh well"

Jonah: He held up his hands, admitting defeat as the customer came in. He couldn't tell if the quick loop was due to his appearance or boredom but he shrugged. "It happens a lot."

Charlotte Ruse: "Yeah, browsers who just need to warm up for a second." She said and then turned around to face him, perching herself on the desk and crossing her legs. "So, while we're alone.... what else do I need to know to survive?"

Jonah: The counter was cramped and as she crossed her legs, she brushed against him. That and the way she paused in her sentence made his stomach drop with nervousness but it settled when she finished. "Um...you know the basics now. Did you wonder anything specific?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Well, I don't know. That's the thing, not knowing things and not having a clue means that I don't have any idea what to ask. Like, I didn't think to ask about powers until you told me about them. I didn't know about the whole, keeping us secret until you told me. Not a clue." She smiled as she watched him, not realizing in the slightest that the slight bouncing of her leg was rubbing against his thigh.

Jonah: He wanted to be helpful but her leg on his was making it difficult. Moving back slightly, he turned to try and hide his response. "Well...keeping us a secret is the big thing..." He tried to think of something to tell her about. "Do you know about the sewers?"

Charlotte Ruse: "Yeah, I know that one now that it's too late." She sighed softly, wondering why he'd turned away from her and feeling a bit hurt that he had. "You told me you like it down there, but nothing else about it."

Jonah: "It...can be dangerous. There are paladins that hunt is there. I...hunt them back." His reaction had settled and he leaned against the wall, facing her again. "I can take you sometime but until you're stronger...you shouldn't spend too much time there."

Charlotte Ruse: "I can't see why it would be appealing, being down in the sewers." She scrunched up her nose, puckering her face in distaste at the thought. "But, you did promise me a trip to see a 'monster'"

Jonah: "It's...kind of like the hunting grounds. We can just...be." He laughed at the look on her face. "That I did. Maybe after this shift we can go."

Charlotte Ruse: "Yes, but the hunting grounds are really beautiful and peaceful, and don't smell of crap." She chuckled and hopped off the bench. She bent down and leant into him, her hair brushing his hip as she reached for the stock book to note down what had been sold.

Jonah: He took another half step back, bumping in to the wall as she knelt, not looking at her as she did so. "True..." Waiting for her to stand, he chewed on his lip for a moment. "There's something else you...may want to know. It's...awkward though."

Charlotte Ruse: She rummaged around for a bit before she found the book and then stood up again. Putting it down on the counter, she leant over it and then she noted in it what had been sold and for how much. When he said there was something else she might want to know, she stood up and turned around, smiling up at him. "Oh? And why awkward?"

Jonah: "I just...don't want you to think..." He trailed off, honestly unsure of how to broach the subject now that he had brought it up. Looking to the door, people were walking by but no one was walking in. Sighing, he met her gaze. "It's about...sex."

Charlotte Ruse: She blinked and her face fell, while she felt that same embarrassment and unease creeping in. "I.... ummmm....." Her feet shuffled and she stepped away from him, suddenly aware of how close to one another they were. "Ummm.... sex? What?"

Jonah: "It's...we....I mean you..." Nox, how to explain this. "You can't get sick but...you can get pregnant...and it could kill you..."

Charlotte Ruse: She just stared at him in complete horror. "What?!"

Jonah: "A monster called a fadebeast... That's what vampires have..." His eyes were wide and panicky and he tried to explain himself. "You're...you're just a pretty girl and I thought you should know...in case..."

Charlotte Ruse: "In case what?!" She looked at him, completely horrified. "In case I'm a slut?!" She was really hurt by what she thought he was implying about her and she needed to get away. She turned on her heel and headed for the backroom and her locker, tears pricking her eyes.

Jonah: Her words stung and he stood at the front of the store for a moment. Locking it so they wouldn't be interrupted, he went to the back and found her. Taking a deep breath, he started. "I do not think you're a...slut. I just...you're an attractive girl and if you...wanted to...have sex with someone, I thought you should know...so you could be safe..."

Charlotte Ruse: She heard him come through the door and turned her back to him, wiping her eyes with a piece of toilet roll she'd snagged before sitting down. She honestly didn't know how to respond to him, how to broach such a subject, but she couldn't help but think that he thought so little of her.

Jonah: Standing there, he hated that she wouldn't look at him but took his punishment silently.

Charlotte Ruse: She took a deep breath and steeled herself, still not looking at him. She couldn't look at him, it was too embarrassing to look at him right now. "I..... I've never..... you know?" She felt he deserved some sort of explanation, and the words were just sticking in her throat.

Jonah: "That's...fine." He was not in any position to judge for not having sex having not done the act until recently. "I just...I'm sure someone will ask you out and...I just thought you should know."

Charlotte Ruse: She snorted at that and shook her head. "No, they won't. I'm not the sort of girl people want to date." She mumbled, wiping her eyes free of the tears.

Jonah: He walked to her and put his hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. "Of course you are. You're smart and pretty and funny. Don't sell yourself short."

Charlotte Ruse: She turned as he tugged on her shoulder, and looked up at him, smiling a tiny smile. "You're kind to say so, but it doesn't change the truth of the matter."

Jonah: "What was not true about what I said? You're all those things."

Charlotte Ruse: She stood up and headed for her bag, taking out her makeup to fix her face. "Well.... I don't know. No-one's ever shown an interest." She shrugged, feeling awkward.

Jonah: "I'm sure they will." When she was done fixing her make up, he offered his hand. "Come on, I already closed the store. I can take you to see monsters...if you want to go with me."

Charlotte Ruse: She retrieved her coat and bag and then took his hand, just smiling at him and not believing him for a minute. "Sure. Let’s see these monsters of yours!"

Jonah: Jonah was merely wearing a t-shirt and jeans and led her through the mall and outside. It was cold but did not faze him. Heading north to the Quarantine Zone, they came to the southern fence and paused. "Well...are you ready?"

Charlotte Ruse: She pulled the jacket about her, shivering in the cold a little as she walked with him. When they got to the wall she felt a little nervous and then nodded her head. "Ummm, yes?"

Jonah: "Do you have any weapons?" He hadn't thought before this moment that she would need them but he had a few stashes that could easily be gotten to once they were inside. He knew that he would be fine fighting these creatures barehanded if he needed to but did not want her to be in unnecessary danger.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and patted her purse. "Just a little something to defend myself with. Nothing massive. Why? Am I going to need it?" She looked around a little worried about what was about to happen

Jonah: "Just...keep it out." He squeezed her hand. "I'll keep you safe. Now, you ready?" Not really waiting for an answer, he put his hands under her arms and scooped her up, launching her over the fence before jumping over himself.

Charlotte Ruse: She screamed as she flew through the air, having not expected to be tossed like a welly over the fence. Hands and legs flailed as she soared and then fell, her eyes closed as she waited to splat on the ground.

Jonah: He thudded to the ground beside her and scanned the block around them. Nothing was approaching them yet. Offering his hand to help her up, he asked, "You ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: She didn't bother taking his hand and got herself up, annoyed at having been thrown over the fence like a bag of potatoes and without a single warning. "Fine." She said as she dusted herself off and righted herself, looking around.

Jonah: The hand was motionless as she stood past it and it dropped to his side. He had upset her and he wasn't sure how he had done it. Looking around, he did not see any of the creatures. "This way," he said in a monotone voice and headed towards the abandoned fire department, not offering his hand again for fear that she would reproach him again.

Charlotte Ruse: She followed where he led, looking around constantly to see if she could spot these monsters he’d been talking about.

Jonah: When they got to the building, he stepped inside, holding the door open for her. As he did, a low groan echoed towards them as did shuffling steps.

Charlotte Ruse: She went to walk inside as he held the door open, but the groan pulled her up short. Her eyes went wide as she peered into the gloom within and couldn't stop herself from sidestepping into Jonah and nestling against him for protection. She'd never heard a noise like that before and it spoke to something within her - and scared her!

Jonah: He put his arm around her, surprised that she was leaning against him but not going to fight her on it. "It's ok..." The zombie shambled closer, its body riddled with wounds and its clothes tattered. Still groaning, it seemed to sense them and moved more quickly.

Charlotte Ruse: As the zombie shuffled into view her eyes were as wide as a whale's gaping mouth and her fingers wrapped and held tightly to his T-shirt for safety and protection. "Oh. My. Goodness! It's a monster! It really is a monster!"

Jonah: Her fear was almost palatable and he stood more in front of her. "It's ok," he whispered. The zombie continued its slow progress and Jonah was unsure what to do. If he let it get to them, she might get hurt but she might collapse if he moved away from her.

Charlotte Ruse: "What...." She whispered, frowning as she stared at it. "What is it?"

Jonah: "A zombie." He answered matter of factly. This could be a learning experience he realized. "Have you ever used your gun before?"

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head and pulled out her gun from her bag, looking at it blankly - though her other hand refused to let him go. She looked up at him and was about to answer, when a shot rang out and she felt a searing pain in her leg. She cried out and looked down, seeing her blood running down from under her dress as her weight sagged against him. "What the....?"

Jonah: He turned and saw a human outside, standing in the street with a rifle aiming at her head. Losing himself, he sprung away from her, claws hardening and slashing as he landed, catching the hunter's face. He stumbled back and tried to bring his gun back up but Jonah caught it and squeezed, cracking it. The human ran away then and the killer would have gone after him but he heard a thumping noise and turned to see the zombie on the girl, beating at her with rotting fists.

Charlotte Ruse: She'd fallen to the ground when he'd sprung away from her, the surprise of it and force of it, not to mention the fact her leg was on fire. She only just saw the carnage that he wrought on the one who'd shot her, before the sight of her own blood made her head swim, her stomach flip, and then she was out cold again.

Jonah: Jonah roared to intimidate the monster and ran at it, tackling it off the girl and hammering at it with his own fists. It clawed and bit at him but he ignored the pain in his rage. When it was finally a pulp before him, he looked back at Charlotte, hesitant to touch her with his stained hands but not wanting to leave her laying there. Calling her name, he hoped it would be enough to wake her. "Charlotte?"

Charlotte Ruse: She'd not been aware of the zombie on top of her, beating on her. But his voice seemed to trickle into her mind, slithering into all of the cracks and crevices and hug her from the inside. She rolled from her back to her side with a slight groan, her dress riding up to show off her thighs as she did.

Jonah: Seeing her move, he was comforted for a moment before she groaned and failed to respond to him in any other way. "Charlotte? Come on, let's get you up." He looked around again. He should have gone to the asylum first and gotten weapons. If anything happened to her, it would be his fault.

Charlotte Ruse: She managed to sit herself up, not sure why she was aching all over. She looked down at herself and saw the blood again and began to swoon. However, it had only been the smallest of glances before she'd shut her eyes, so she managed to hold herself upright and not pass out this time. Her hands felt around looking blindly for her bag so that she could retrieve a hanky to wipe up the blood.

Jonah: He didn't know what she was looking for but when she closed her eyes, he knew she was avoiding looking at the blood on her. Pulling his shirt off of him, he wiped it away. "It's ok. I got it."

Charlotte Ruse: She froze, even knowing it was just him touching her - because the wound was right at the top of her thigh and he'd just rubbed his hand and a piece of cloth right the way up her leg. She slowly opened her eyes and peeked at her leg, breathing a sigh of relief as there was just her pale flesh staring back at her. Quickly she found her scarf from within her bag and wrapped it around her leg. Drawing it all the way up once it was wrapped, she tied it tightly to stop any more blood from leaking out - totally missing the fact that the entirety of both legs was showing, and possibly more depending on the angle. Satisfied that the wound wouldn't bleed for now, she looked up at him and saw the mess he was in - and the blood on his face - and looked away quickly, steadying herself against fainting

Jonah: Too focused on making sure she was ok, he was not paying attention to the possible immodest position she as in. Seeing that she was tending to her own wound, he nodded, reassured that she was ok...until she looked at him and fainted. He remembered then that he was covered in blood and gore. As she looked away, he took the shirt back and did his best to wipe everything away. "Sorry..."

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "No, it's ok. I'm sorry, after all you've done - I can't even look at you to say thank you." She sighed and looked at the ground. "I'm so sorry Jonah. I just seem to fail and disappoint you at every turn"

Jonah: "You're doing fine." Hooking his clean as he could manage finger under her chin, he made her look at his now blood free face. "As long as you try, you're not a disappointment."

Charlotte Ruse: She looked up into his face reluctantly, not wanting to see the disappointment in his face. However, she did look and she saw none of it there. She looked into his eyes as if searching his soul and smiled at him, imagining what it would be like to kiss him - but the face she kissed was the human face, not the face he wore now. And unfortunately, she projected that image into his mind just as it was in hers.

Jonah: He returned her smile and as their gaze held, an image slowly formed in his mind. Her lips pressed to his, his hand in her hair with her hand on his back but...it was not him as he was now. She was kissing the man she had met in the Asylum. He had been in this form long enough that he was comfortable with it. "Are you...thinking about me?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I.... what?" If she could have blushed, she would have done. "No more so than usual?" She hazarded.

Jonah: "You...think about me often?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I... well....." She was in trouble now and there was only one way out of it. Her head turned and stared at the doorway and widened her eyes. "Is that another zombie coming?!"

Jonah: Keeping a hand on her to make sure she stays safe, he turns to look for the monster that has frightened her but doesn't see anything.

Charlotte Ruse: "Was there?" She asked, peering on in and hoping he'd forget what they'd been talking about.

Jonah: He looked in the darkness again, frowning but still not seeing anything. "No, I think we're ok for now." Turning back to her, he was worried that she was scared of the monsters attacking her again. "Do you want to get out of here?

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and reached up to him, hoping for some help in getting up. "Yes, with the bullet wound, I think I'm good for nothing right now I'm afraid. I'm sorry"

Jonah: He helps her to standing and then pulls her the west of the way in to her arms. "You're fine." Though he cannot give her the fantasy that she dreamed of, he presses a small kiss to her forehead before heading towards the fence and jumping over.

Charlotte Ruse: She leant against him and went wide eyed as he kissed her forehead. "Thanks!" She said with a stammer, closing her eyes as they jumped the fence.

Jonah: Still holding her, he walked towards the district he had walked her to the previous night. "Do you want me to take you home?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head. "Please. I'm absolutely exhausted!"

Jonah: Walking purposefully towards Swansdale, he did not set her down, worried that her leg would give out. "Is your apartment safe?"

Charlotte Ruse: "I..... don't know what you mean. Why wouldn't it be safe?"

Jonah: "I just...wanted to make sure you felt safe there."

Charlotte Ruse: "Well, I did. But now, now you have me worried and paranoid!"

Jonah: He frowned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just...I don't stay in my apartment too often and didn't know if you might feel better there."

Charlotte Ruse: "How's it different to my apartment if you're not there?"

Jonah: "I..." He paused, wondering if she meant that he made her feel safe but not wanting to press. "It's...a little harder for vampires to get in to than a regular apartment."

Charlotte Ruse: "Yes, but if they get in, then it's still just me against them. And I wouldn't stand a chance against someone like you!"

Jonah: He didn't have the heart to tell her that if she was being hunted, he would probably be helping. If it came to that, he'd ask her to turn herself in. For any group of hunters other than Tytonidae...he would protect her. "I can stay on the couch...if you'd like."

Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head. "I'll take the couch. I'm smaller than you are and it makes more sense. Just let me grab a bag?"

Jonah: They were at her apartment now and he was still holding her. "Do...you want me to let you down?"

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and hooked out her keys. "Please."

Jonah: He frowned and sat her down, letting her open the door and standing in the hall. He had held her for too long, he thought, and had annoyed her.

Charlotte Ruse: She stood on her one leg and opened the door and then limped inside. She shoved the door to - because her place was a mess - and then limped around to pack a little overnight bag. Her toiletries were packed, as were her syringes and drugs, then something to sleep in - her little red, silk, lace teddy, it was the most modest thing she had, and then a change of clothes for the next day. Once everything was packed and sorted, she limped back over to the door and left, locking it behind her and looking up into the man's face. "Sorry I took so long!"

Jonah: He had kept his back to the door, maintaining as much of her privacy as he could manage. "It's fine." Thinking that she didn't want her to hold her again, he wasn't sure if she even wanted him to help support her."

Charlotte Ruse: "So, where's your place?" She asked, moving her weight off her bad leg as he made no move to help her. She was stuck with her bag and a bad leg - and she just hoped there wasn't far to go, because he didn't seem keen on helping her out.

Jonah: Something must be really wrong if she did not remember where his cell was. “Back in the asylum, where I gave you the blood.”

Charlotte Ruse: "Oh, in the asylum? Yes, I know it. I've.... been there a couple of times to be honest." She finished off softly. It was however, miles away so she nodded her head to his offer. However, it seemed like he was only offering cause he felt he had to and not because he wanted to. So rather than ask to be carried as she thought she needed, she simply offered him her bag with a shy smile. "Do.... you mind?"

Jonah: He took the bag and wrapped it and slung it on to his back, keeping his arms free. "Is your leg ok to walk?" He did not want to imply that she was weak but he had heard her hopping in the apartment and wanted her to know that, if she was willing, he would carry her.

Charlotte Ruse: "I thought I'd try" She said, thinking it was a test of strength he was offering her. "But honestly? Probably not. Sorry. Let you down again!"

Jonah: "You shouldn't push yourself too much." He held his arms out to her so he could carry her.

Charlotte Ruse: She couldn't help but smile as he opened his arms to her. She limped forwards and set her hands on his chest, waiting to be lifted.

Jonah: Scooping her up, he cradles her to him again. "You don't mind this...do you?"
Charlotte Ruse: She shook her head, readjusting herself and leaning against him. "Not at all. It feels.... safe."

Jonah: Something warmed inside him at her words but he held her a little closer. "I'm glad."

Charlotte Ruse: She felt his arms tighten a little bit and she smiled, her head resting on his shoulder as he walked through the city towards the asylum

Jonah: Content with holding her, he doesn't break the silence for a few blocks. "I'm sorry it turned out like this...I didn't want you to get hurt."

Charlotte Ruse: "It's not your fault!" She said adamantly

Jonah: He shrugged, jostling her slightly. "Still...I should have kept you safe."

Charlotte Ruse: She kept quiet as the jostling hurt her slightly, but her fingers caressed his chest gently as she shook her head. "You're not omnipotent. Hunters are around, and will get me if they get me. Especially those hunters from the internet right? That's what you said?"

Jonah: "There's a chance..." Trailing off, he knew that he would have to tell her eventually that he was part of those that would hunt her if it was necessary. He wasn't even a hunter then and look at the problems that it had caused with Wolffyn. Not now though.

Charlotte Ruse: She smiled softly. "It's ok though. I know if you're there, then you'll do all you can to save me and protect me. I have faith in you!"

Jonah: "I will, I promise." He meant the promise honestly. If they decided to hunt her, he would talk to her first, get her to turn herself in as he had done so many times. She was a good girl and would understand.

Charlotte Ruse: Her smile grew as she nodded her head, just enjoying being in his arms and feeling that safe feeling, not impressed that they were close to the asylum now.

Jonah: Bumping the door open, he takes her up the stairs and to his room. Once inside, he sets her on the couch. "Do you need anything?"

Charlotte Ruse: She looked around and pondered, "Bathroom to change in? Blanket or duvet to sleep under?" She figured the arms looked comfortable enough to rest her head on.

Jonah: Offering her arm, he helped her through the bedroom and in to the bathroom. "Get cleaned up and changed and I'll have the rest ready for you when you're out."

Charlotte Ruse: "My bag?" She asked as she sat on the toilet to rest and wait for him to give her some privacy.

Jonah: Shrugging the bag off of his back, he sets it down and closes the door. The bed has clean bedding on it and he won't need much on the couch. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he waits for her to call for help.

Charlotte Ruse: She got herself stripped off and then with her eyes closed, she cleaned up her wound as best she could, and leaving it open to the air as it had scabbed over. She had a wash and then dried off with the towel, removed her make up and let her pins out of her hair so it hung down and slightly curled and tousled. She slipped on the figure hugging lace teddy and looked down at herself, suddenly feeling VERY exposed. However, she was decent, mostly, and covered, barely - so she'd have to do. She repacked her bag with all of her belongings once her ablutions were completed she stood behind the door and steeled herself before limping on out and into his sight.

Jonah: As she came out of the door, he rose to pick her up again but paused, blinking. She was...beautiful and for a moment, he had no thought of his past and the fears that had grown in him due to Wolffyn and now AJ. "You're...lovely." Remembering that he was supposed to help her, he moved without thinking and picked her up, his arms under her bare legs. The cover of his bed was thrown back and he sat her on the mattress.

Charlotte Ruse: She shuffled a little as he complimented her, and then she was in his arms and she was paranoid. Her *** was very definitely exposed there, in that position - but luckily his head wasn't in the right place to see, she didn't think. He took her over to the bed and she began to protest. "No no no. I'm on the couch. Look at the size of you. You'll never fit on it and would be more comfortable in your bed!"

Jonah: When she tried to sit up, his hand went to the center of her chest, keeping her down. "You are hurt and this is my home and I say you sleep here."

Charlotte Ruse: His hand. Was on. Her boobs. And she just stared up at him with wide eyes, not even hearing what he said.

Jonah: Looking down at her, he thought that her dilated pupils were just due to the events of the evening. And then he realized where his hand was. Pulling it away, his own eyes were wide and he wasn't sure what to say.

Charlotte Ruse: Her hands lay on her stomach as she lay there really awkwardly, with him sitting there just as awkwardly. "So....." Was all she could manage.

Jonah: Getting the words out as quick as he could, he said. “You sleep here, I’ll stay on the couch.” Standing he went towards the door and paused, unsure if he should say good night after what he had just done or just exit completely.

Charlotte Ruse: "Jonah.... I...." She frowned, pulling the covers over herself. "Are you sure? I don't want you to be uncomfortable"

Jonah: Looking at her, he frowned. Walking back over to the bed, he sits on the edge and hesitates before putting his hand on her cheek, moving a lock of hair out of the way. "I am sure. I will be fine. Anytime you want, this bed is yours. Ok?"

Charlotte Ruse: Her head rolled a little bit and pressed into his hand before she shook her head. "I can't throw you out of your bed. I feel bad for it, like, really bad. Honestly, I can't do that to you"

Jonah: "You're not. I'm volunteering." He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead again. "Now get some rest."

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and lifted her hand to cup his cheek as he kissed her forehead. "Thank you Jonah. You're the nicest person I've ever met you know!"

Jonah: "I'm just me." He sat back up and put the covers over her more fully. "If you need me, I'm right in there."

Charlotte Ruse: "Doesn't mean you're not also the nicest person I've ever met!" She said firmly as the covers were wrapped around her. "And if you need me, I'll be right here" She said with a smile.

Jonah: He smiled and nodded as he shut the door. Lying on the couch, he made himself as comfortable as possible before slowly nodding off.

Charlotte Ruse: Charlotte shivered in the elevator as it climbed the floor. She was away from the fire and so she was now well aware of how cold it was in here. Finally, the door opened and she headed back to his cell, slipping inside quickly. He was still asleep on the sofa and she frowned at how uncomfortable he looked. But she was cold and tired, her chat with Peter having calmed her and settled her mind. So where she'd been unable to sleep soundly during the day, she planned on getting some more just now. Through to the bedroom she went and quickly slipped under the covers, shivering, and trying to warm up as she drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

Jonah: The click of the doors opening and shutting were enough to draw Jonah the rest of the way out of what had been a very unrestful sleep. His body had shifting to be able to withstand the sun, a boon to the business since he could do some work during the day, but it had messed with his sleep schedule. Between that and the couch, when he came just barely out of his slumber, he knew he needed more. Groggy, he stood and stumbled towards his bedroom. It was night and the occupant would likely already be gone as he would be in just a few short hours. Easing his heavy frame to bed, he slipped in to sleep as well.

Charlotte Ruse: She was fast asleep and deeply under the sandman's spell when he got into bed with her. She barely stirred and nothing registered in her at all.

Jonah: In his sleep, he could sense another weight in the bed. Moving towards it, heavy arms wrapped around her and drew her close out of habit, his face in her hair and his legs curling up to draw her tight to him.

Charlotte Ruse: She felt herself moving in her sleep, and readjusted and wriggled to get comfy in her new position. Though something in her head was telling her this was wrong, and something wasn't right.

Jonah: Content with someone in his arms, Jonah stilled. Though he did not need to, he breathed as he slept and, as his head resting against hers, cold air travelled across her ear with every small exhale.

Charlotte Ruse: There was a draft on her ear that was waking her up little by little until her eyes finally blinked open. She found herself unable to move, and the panic began to build. The more awake she became the more she realized where she was and what was going on. She was in bed, and someone was in bed with her, and holding her tight. Her hands found his and tried to peel them off her, trying to get away and not knowing who or what it was behind her.

Jonah: The struggle made him stir slightly and he mumbled in his sleep, "Shhh, I've got you...will keep you safe." His arms stayed tight around her and he stroked her hair with his cheek.

Charlotte Ruse: The voice was Jonah's, which made her panic a little less. However, he was still in bed with her, without her permission. Her fingers found his wrist and she pinched it hard while projecting into his mind her complaint. "Jonah! Let me go! What are you doing in bed with me?!" Then she wondered to herself.... and what was he wearing... and her eyes were like saucers again as she froze with worry.

Jonah: The pain was not enough to wake up but the thought in his head was. Sitting up, he slid her arms out from around her as best he could, rolling over. The blankets at his waist, it wasn't clear if he was wearing pajamas or not. "I'm...sorry. I woke up and thought you were gone..."

Charlotte Ruse: She drew the blankets to her chest and sat up, looking at him worriedly in case he'd been trying something. "But, you were holding me. You couldn't have thought I was gone while you were holding me?"

Jonah: He shook his head, looking away from her. "I don't know. I just...laid down and fell asleep..."

Charlotte Ruse: "I think.... I have to go." She said, getting up with the sheet still wrapped around her.

Jonah: As she moved away, he nodded silently, the sheet going with her and leaving him sitting in the bed in only sweat pants, looking at his hands, not understanding what had happened.

Charlotte Ruse: She grabbed her bag and disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door behind her and sitting herself on the toilet, looking at the floor and trying to work out wtf. She was so confused about what was going on inside her head and she just needed to sit for a minute.

Jonah: Once the bathroom door was shut, he stood and went to his closet and searched through clothes as quickly as he could. Not finding what he wanted, he went to the dresser she had organized for him and found an outfit. Changing, he sat on the bed and began to pull his boots on. He needed to leave, he needed to not hurt her or anyone else.

Charlotte Ruse: Her hands rubbed at her face and her fingers ran through her hair, and the movement couldn't help but remind her of the times he'd comforted her by running his fingers through it. Part of her had been thrilled at the feel of him holding her - once she'd realized it was him. But by then she was already in a panic and had just wanted to be let go as the paranoia ran through her mind. Now, she was hiding in a bathroom and she could hear noises of him moving about on the other side of the door and it was all just a mess - and she had no idea what to do or say.

Jonah: He started for the door but couldn't leave her thinking that she was trapped in the bathroom. He stood by the door and spoke. "I'm...sorry. I'm heading out... I understand if you don't want to but...my offer still stands. Can stay here, I'll find someplace else to stay for the night." Not waiting for an answer, he left the bedroom and headed for the door.

Charlotte Ruse: "I...." She started, but then his footsteps were retreating and she frowned. She didn't want him to leave. Certainly not like this. She stood up and left the sheet where it was. Opening the bathroom door she hurried through the cell towards the front door and him. Catching up to him, she didn't think, and instead just threw her arms around his waist and held on. "Please. Please don't leave me. I'm sorry I upset you. If... if that's what you want. You, you can have it. I guess. I mean...... please. Just don't leave me!" She honestly thought he was leaving and abandoning her, washing his hands of her and leaving her to her own devices in this new life that terrified her. She would literally do anything right then not to be left alone, that's how desperate she was.

Jonah: She half tackled him in to the door and he stumbled in to it. He didn't really understand what she was saying but it sounded like she was saying she didn't want him to leave but could if he wanted to. "Char...I thought you wanted me to...I thought that's why you hid in the bathroom..."

Charlotte Ruse: She let him go and stepped away from him to let him turn around if he wanted to. "No. I.... well, I just thought I should. It, well, you scared me. I didn't know what was happening when I woke up, and panicked. I didn't know, well, what, ummm, your intentions were. And, well, you know?"

Jonah: Turning around he nodded. "I know. I shouldn't have been there. I honestly didn't know..."

Charlotte Ruse: She didn't care that she was standing there in her nightie with him staring at her. She just didn't want him to leave her, and she didn't know what was going on with her - and she wondered if it were her hormone levels. She just nodded her head and stood there, waiting for him to say or do something else.

Jonah: He could tell that she was upset but thought that it was still about what he had done. "I'm sorry...I won't let it happen again. I promise."

Charlotte Ruse: "That's not..... No." She stammered. "It's fine. I.... ummm...." She sighed softly and shook her head. "Need to get dressed."

Jonah: He nodded and went back to the door. "I understand. I'll give you your privacy. Stay safe in the Darkness, Char."

Charlotte Ruse: he obviously just wanted to get away from her and she really couldn't blame him. So she didn't try to stop him anymore and just nodded with a dejected look on her face. "Take care."

Jonah: "You have my number. If...you need me..." He turned the handle and stepped out in to the hall, heading for the sewers.

Charlotte Ruse: She nodded her head and didn't say anything else. She watched him leave and then headed back to the bathroom to get changed so she too could leave, and not return.