The texts had been a quick, light exchange. One that surprised her and made her smile at the same time. She hadn't heard from Elliot in quite some time and had chalked it up to him being annoyed that she had quit working at the hostle. The few times she had poked her head in to the pub it had been swamped and she hadn't been able to see his lanky form over the crowd so she'd gone off on her way again. Either to work at the bookstore or her other job as a personal assistant. Although Levi had been acting strange lately and giving her heaps of unexpected time off.
Though it was that generosity that allowed her to be at 'home', cleaning and tidying things up in preparation for company. The apartment belonged to Elliot and when he'd given her a key, he'd apologized for the fact that it was empty. She hadn't lied when she said it wasn't a problem. He was kind enough to let her stay there rent free, so she used her meager savings to decorate the place. All of the furniture was second hand, but it was cozy and it matched. A plain blonde wood coffee table nestled between a beige microfiber couch and matching love seat. There was a pale green microfiber recliner that faced the two couches making a cozy sitting room. And several throw pillows and blankets added a touch of homey color to the room.
The bedrooms were equally sparse with a double bed and dresser in each one, as well as a floor length mirror hanging on the wall. The only difference between the rooms was the colors that had been chosen, each one having it's own theme. The kitchen cabinets were stuffed with plates, glasses and mugs, pots and pans filling the cupboards, and cutlery in the drawers. She wasn't much for cooking, but if some one else ever came here they would lack nothing.
The most expensive and prized item in the kitchen was her coffee pot. She stood in front of it now and brewed a pot of her favorite drink. She had met Elliot over a late night cup of coffee and they had a tentative acquaintance since then. Thinking about how they had met had brought to mind that she was supposed to text him when she was free. They needed to talk, and she had tons of questions. You're going to get him killed. Said a voice inside her head, one she tried to ignore with all her might. No I won't. He'll be fine. she shot back, unable to believe she was arguing with herself. I told you about vampires and where am I? I told you this would happen. continued the voice, much to her growing annoyance. She poured a coffee and sighed. Shut up. I don't know where you are, you disappeared like every one else.
Setting her jaw, she picked up her cup and her phone, sending a text to Elliot. I'm free if you are. Still at the apartment. Looking forward to seeing you. Also made some coffee if you want some. She hit send before she could ramble any more, trying not to let her nerves get the best of her. The few friends she had would call her crazy, but she had to know the truth. She just hoped Elliot would be honest with her. And if he wasn't, she hoped that he didn't kill her.
She ran a nervous hand over her ankle length black skirt, giving herself a mental pep-talk. Every thing would be fine. Elliot was, if not her friend, at least a gentleman. She hoped that would keep him from tearing her in to pieces. She knew keeping their secret was the most important thing to them. And yet she, a human, knew about their kind. About the city. She only hoped Elliot would realize she wasn't a threat. She glanced to the door, running a thin hand over her white and red streaked hair with a sigh. It had only been two minutes since she sent the text, she really needed to calm down.
She ran a hand through her candy cane hair and headed in to the kitchen once more. She couldn't cook much, but she could at least make some cocoa. It was cold out and if her guest didn't drink coffee, maybe he would drink cocoa. If he could drink any thing at all, she mentally reminded herself as the pot crashed on to the stove. The noise made her jump and she exhaled slowly as she stared at the pot. It will be fine. Elliot is a nice guy. The litany ran through her mind as she made cocoa and waited for his arrival.
Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
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Dhara
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Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
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Lancaster
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
The clothing in Elliot’s closet had slowly begun to evolve. Three years ago he was a simple backpacker who travelled the world with only one semi-large backpack. The clothes that he wore consisted mainly of two pairs of jeans, four shirts, four pairs of underwear, two pairs of socks, and one very good quality brown leather jacket. If something broke, he would replace it with another shirt or another pair of jeans from one of those big department stores somewhere. He rarely spent more than ten dollars on an item of clothing.
To begin with, Elliot hadn’t really known how to expand his wardrobe but had been forced to, given his forays through the catacombs and the sewers, in the raids and the hunting grounds. When he worked only at the pub he’d still stuck to dark-coloured jeans and his plaid shirts, normally rolled up to the elbows. Sometimes he’d kick around in his favourite band shirts. Now that he ran four businesses, however, and was expected to look the part, sometimes, for the banks and the accountants and so on, his wardrobe had gained a few things that seemed completely out of place. Ties which he never wore. Shoes that were polished rather than scuffed. Jeans that weren’t just dark denim, but black. Linen. With creases down the centre. And jackets. Elliot was actually quite fond of the jackets. Suit jackets – though he never wore the full suit.
He was in an afterhours meeting with an accountant when he got the text message – a meeting that was nearly finished. Elliot glanced at the phone but didn’t answer straight away; he kept his smile and made sure that the accountant was happy, before sending him on his way. Only when Elliot was alone – probably ten to fifteen minutes later – did he answer.
I’m on my way.
And it was a good thing, too, to move from one meeting to another without stopping to pause and think in the middle. There were too many other things on Elliot’s mind that he didn’t particularly want to think about until he had to deal with them directly.
He was wearing his black pants, threaded through with some kind of shiny polyester, a plain white shirt, and a black jacket. Simple, and yet professional enough. His hair was still its unruly self. Rather than gather grime and much by going through the sewers to get to the Quarantine Zone, Elliot pulled out his tome and made use of the Den and its many portals. He only had to cross to Corvidae from the abandoned pub, though he had lingered at home for a while before he’d taken the portal.
It was perhaps half an hour after Dhara had sent the text that Elliot knocked on the door. It was his own apartment and he could just walk in if he wanted to, but he didn’t. He knew Dhara was home. It was better to be polite.
To begin with, Elliot hadn’t really known how to expand his wardrobe but had been forced to, given his forays through the catacombs and the sewers, in the raids and the hunting grounds. When he worked only at the pub he’d still stuck to dark-coloured jeans and his plaid shirts, normally rolled up to the elbows. Sometimes he’d kick around in his favourite band shirts. Now that he ran four businesses, however, and was expected to look the part, sometimes, for the banks and the accountants and so on, his wardrobe had gained a few things that seemed completely out of place. Ties which he never wore. Shoes that were polished rather than scuffed. Jeans that weren’t just dark denim, but black. Linen. With creases down the centre. And jackets. Elliot was actually quite fond of the jackets. Suit jackets – though he never wore the full suit.
He was in an afterhours meeting with an accountant when he got the text message – a meeting that was nearly finished. Elliot glanced at the phone but didn’t answer straight away; he kept his smile and made sure that the accountant was happy, before sending him on his way. Only when Elliot was alone – probably ten to fifteen minutes later – did he answer.
I’m on my way.
And it was a good thing, too, to move from one meeting to another without stopping to pause and think in the middle. There were too many other things on Elliot’s mind that he didn’t particularly want to think about until he had to deal with them directly.
He was wearing his black pants, threaded through with some kind of shiny polyester, a plain white shirt, and a black jacket. Simple, and yet professional enough. His hair was still its unruly self. Rather than gather grime and much by going through the sewers to get to the Quarantine Zone, Elliot pulled out his tome and made use of the Den and its many portals. He only had to cross to Corvidae from the abandoned pub, though he had lingered at home for a while before he’d taken the portal.
It was perhaps half an hour after Dhara had sent the text that Elliot knocked on the door. It was his own apartment and he could just walk in if he wanted to, but he didn’t. He knew Dhara was home. It was better to be polite.
[Wearing]
C U R E D || siren - enhanced empathy - sweet blood - liar liar
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
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Dhara
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
The cocoa was just coming off the stove when the knock came at the door. Curious, she wasn't expecting any one but Elliot, and he owned the place. Setting the steaming pan to the side, she moved silently to the door, her bare foot barely touching the cool wood of the floor before being lifted again. Her tiny steps were quick and light, and a small hand soon wrapped around the knob of the door to pull it open. She looked up, then up again, a smile lighting up her face and warming her amber eyes. She stepped back and waved a graceful arm towards the room, hoping he approved of the meager furniture.
"Elliot. Come in, come in. It is wonderful to see you again." She paused and quietly shut the door after he had entered. "I hope I didn't interrupt any thing?" It was a mark of her nervousness that her German accent over powered the blend of Australian that usually tinted her words. She bustled to the kitchen, calling over her shoulder to him. "I made some cocoa, would you like some?"
She really didn't given him a chance to answer. A bundle of nervous energy, she leaped lightly on to the counter, balancing carefully on the edge so she could reach the heavy mugs kept in the cabinet. She placed two of them further back on the counter before hopping down and landing on the floor in near silence. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the hot pan and poured a measure of coca in to each mug. Rummaging around, she found two candy canes, sticking one in to each drink, attaching the crook of the treat to the edge of the mug.
She picked up the mugs, her shoulders lifting slightly as she drew in a long, calming breath and exhaled slowly. She tried to think how to approach the question as she padded quietly out to the living room. She set the mugs down on the coasters, pleased her hands didn't shake. Grinning up at him, she curled up in to what was clearly "her spot" on the couch, moving the book that lay on the arm so she wouldn't knock it to the floor. She nibbled on the inside of her cheek as she stared up at him with wide eyes. "Have a seat?" She offered lamely, realizing she'd done nothing but babble at him since he came through the door. She picked up her mug and took a sip, trying to steady her nerves. After all, it's not like she had to blurt it out, she could be calm and casual about this.
"Elliot. Come in, come in. It is wonderful to see you again." She paused and quietly shut the door after he had entered. "I hope I didn't interrupt any thing?" It was a mark of her nervousness that her German accent over powered the blend of Australian that usually tinted her words. She bustled to the kitchen, calling over her shoulder to him. "I made some cocoa, would you like some?"
She really didn't given him a chance to answer. A bundle of nervous energy, she leaped lightly on to the counter, balancing carefully on the edge so she could reach the heavy mugs kept in the cabinet. She placed two of them further back on the counter before hopping down and landing on the floor in near silence. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the hot pan and poured a measure of coca in to each mug. Rummaging around, she found two candy canes, sticking one in to each drink, attaching the crook of the treat to the edge of the mug.
She picked up the mugs, her shoulders lifting slightly as she drew in a long, calming breath and exhaled slowly. She tried to think how to approach the question as she padded quietly out to the living room. She set the mugs down on the coasters, pleased her hands didn't shake. Grinning up at him, she curled up in to what was clearly "her spot" on the couch, moving the book that lay on the arm so she wouldn't knock it to the floor. She nibbled on the inside of her cheek as she stared up at him with wide eyes. "Have a seat?" She offered lamely, realizing she'd done nothing but babble at him since he came through the door. She picked up her mug and took a sip, trying to steady her nerves. After all, it's not like she had to blurt it out, she could be calm and casual about this.
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Lancaster
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
Elliot shook his head when asked whether he had been interrupted. Yes and no, but it didn’t matter. Rarely was anything of grave importance; everything could be interrupted. Well, instead of a grand moment of inspiration when a song is just there at the edge of memory, and one has to get it down immediately or risk losing it. That had to be one of the only times Elliot would ever be cranky at being interrupted. Everything else? Everything else could be found again, repeated. Most of the time.
Elliot had of course already seen the interior of the apartment since Dhara had decorated it. He’d brought Aliyah up in a spontaneous moment of kindness, which he now realised could have been a gross misconduct. A breech of manners. If Elliot was a landlord and Dhara his tenant, she should be given all the rights that tenants should have, by law. Which is – warning, whenever the landlord decided to pop around. Going so far as to tell a complete stranger to take the spare bedroom? Well. Elliot decided that he would have to make sure Dhara was definitely okay with it.
Because, even from across the room, Elliot could tell that the pixie-like musician was nervous. If it were a smell, she would reek of it. But it wasn’t a smell – just a peculiar buzz to the atmosphere that he can feel, like the vibration of a guitar string, slightly off chord. He laughed when Dhara asked whether he wanted cocoa, but proceeded to make it without waiting for an answer. A breathed sure rumbled past his lips, and he made sure to keep the easy smile on his face. His shoulders were hunched. It was what he tended to do when in nervous company. Unless he were specifically trying to scare said company – which was rarely the case.
The tall man very happily sat down, hoping that by doing so, his company might relax just a little. He even reached out to take the warm mug of cocoa into his long-fingered hands. There was a clink of metal against porcelain – the very new, glinting Amaranthine ring on what would appear to be his wedding finger. He leaned forward, his elbows upon his knees.
”I’d ask how you are, Dhara, but you seem nervous,” he said. Even for someone without his extra ‘senses’, they’d have to be blind not to notice. His voice rumbled calmly, its deep cadence dripping with reassurance.
”Is everything okay?” he asked. This wasn’t how he intended to start. But maybe the problem was that she was unhappy with the arrangement he’d set up – that she liked living alone and wanted no one else in her space. Maybe it made her nervous to admit it – so he thought he might be killing two birds with one stone.
Elliot had of course already seen the interior of the apartment since Dhara had decorated it. He’d brought Aliyah up in a spontaneous moment of kindness, which he now realised could have been a gross misconduct. A breech of manners. If Elliot was a landlord and Dhara his tenant, she should be given all the rights that tenants should have, by law. Which is – warning, whenever the landlord decided to pop around. Going so far as to tell a complete stranger to take the spare bedroom? Well. Elliot decided that he would have to make sure Dhara was definitely okay with it.
Because, even from across the room, Elliot could tell that the pixie-like musician was nervous. If it were a smell, she would reek of it. But it wasn’t a smell – just a peculiar buzz to the atmosphere that he can feel, like the vibration of a guitar string, slightly off chord. He laughed when Dhara asked whether he wanted cocoa, but proceeded to make it without waiting for an answer. A breathed sure rumbled past his lips, and he made sure to keep the easy smile on his face. His shoulders were hunched. It was what he tended to do when in nervous company. Unless he were specifically trying to scare said company – which was rarely the case.
The tall man very happily sat down, hoping that by doing so, his company might relax just a little. He even reached out to take the warm mug of cocoa into his long-fingered hands. There was a clink of metal against porcelain – the very new, glinting Amaranthine ring on what would appear to be his wedding finger. He leaned forward, his elbows upon his knees.
”I’d ask how you are, Dhara, but you seem nervous,” he said. Even for someone without his extra ‘senses’, they’d have to be blind not to notice. His voice rumbled calmly, its deep cadence dripping with reassurance.
”Is everything okay?” he asked. This wasn’t how he intended to start. But maybe the problem was that she was unhappy with the arrangement he’d set up – that she liked living alone and wanted no one else in her space. Maybe it made her nervous to admit it – so he thought he might be killing two birds with one stone.
C U R E D || siren - enhanced empathy - sweet blood - liar liar
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
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Dhara
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
Her eyes moved to the ring and she studied it for a moment, taking in the implication with a smile that was growing wide enough to split her head in half. "Congratulations!" She burst out enthusiastically, waving a tiny hand at his ring, most likely drawing attention to something he wasn't even thinking about. "I am very happy for you. I hope you and your new wife have a long, happy union." She smiled and took another sip of her cocoa, then sighed slowly.
She picked invisible lint off her plain black skirt, her bare toes curling so they vanished beneath the fabric. Elliot had keyed in on her nervousness. It was no surprise really. While the young musician was usually bubbly and bright, there was always a restrained calmness about her. But tonight, a person would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to see that she was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. She kept staring at her skirt, fingers worrying the fabric before she looked up at Elliot again.
"Yes. No. I mean yes, every thing is ok. Ali is very sweet, what little I've seen of her." She felt like a bad flatmate as she was so rarely home. Every so often, Levi would suddenly give her a week or more off with pay, then she'd go back to the office like nothing happened. It made her curious, but she was slowly learning what things she could and could not bug Levi about. And the unexpected vacation time was definitely on the no list. She licked her lips and sipped her cocoa, then swapped the mug out of the coffee, only to find the liquid was stone cold. She set the mug down with a dismayed smile, then gazed at Elliot again. Here went nothing, in for a penny, in for a pound.
"I am hoping you will be honest with me here... I know vampires are real. I know they are in Harper Rock. I even know that there are different traits with each one. What I don't know, not for certain is this. Elliot, are you a vampire as well?" She spoke in a rush, but luckily each word was clear and concise. Now she simply stared at him, feeling her heart pounding in her throat, and her mouth suddenly gone dry with nerves.
She picked invisible lint off her plain black skirt, her bare toes curling so they vanished beneath the fabric. Elliot had keyed in on her nervousness. It was no surprise really. While the young musician was usually bubbly and bright, there was always a restrained calmness about her. But tonight, a person would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to see that she was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. She kept staring at her skirt, fingers worrying the fabric before she looked up at Elliot again.
"Yes. No. I mean yes, every thing is ok. Ali is very sweet, what little I've seen of her." She felt like a bad flatmate as she was so rarely home. Every so often, Levi would suddenly give her a week or more off with pay, then she'd go back to the office like nothing happened. It made her curious, but she was slowly learning what things she could and could not bug Levi about. And the unexpected vacation time was definitely on the no list. She licked her lips and sipped her cocoa, then swapped the mug out of the coffee, only to find the liquid was stone cold. She set the mug down with a dismayed smile, then gazed at Elliot again. Here went nothing, in for a penny, in for a pound.
"I am hoping you will be honest with me here... I know vampires are real. I know they are in Harper Rock. I even know that there are different traits with each one. What I don't know, not for certain is this. Elliot, are you a vampire as well?" She spoke in a rush, but luckily each word was clear and concise. Now she simply stared at him, feeling her heart pounding in her throat, and her mouth suddenly gone dry with nerves.
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Lancaster
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
At first Elliot was confused. Congratulations? For what? Wife? Sure, yes, maybe, but how did Dhara know? It only took a second for Elliot to glance down at the new ring and realise; it was a dead giveaway. A thing that he hadn’t worn before but which he wore now. He laughed – because wearing the piece of jewellery was almost a rebellion against his nature. Technically, the piece of jewellery itself was a lie. It didn’t signify what everyone else thought it signified. But at the same time, it did. Of course it did. The reason he and Pi had agreed to the rings was for that reason, and that reason alone: so that people would see them, see that they were married, and back the **** off.
If people followed social etiquette, that was.
Elliot laughed, but he didn’t contradict Dhara as far as the ring was concerned. And anyway, the girl had moved on to other topics; to Ali and her sweetness. How everything is okay as far as the home front was concerned. What came next surprisingly didn’t have Elliot leaping out of his seat in anxiety. The woman lived in the Quarantine Zone, for ****’s sake. Of course she was going to know something, somewhere. Of course it wouldn’t have been long until she found out about vampires. That was a given. And, Elliot having been the one to offer her this place to stay – of course he was prepared to admit he could have been part of the reason why she did.
Maybe he wasn’t. But the fact of the matter was, Elliot Lancaster gave no shits about whether Dhara knew or not. Generally, he upheld the Masquerade only insomuch that it wouldn’t get him or those he cared about killed; he upheld it because it was easier to do that than not. People called him a coward and weak, and in some ways he was.
Again, he laughed.
”Yes. Yes I am,” he said. There was no other way to answer it. He was obliged to tell the truth, forever and always. This was a truth that he both liked and didn’t like. He liked being able to give it up. But he didn’t like what it made him. Telling others what he was only made it truer. He sat back in his seat, and crossed one leg over the other; long fingers pushed hair out of his eyes.
”How exactly did you know?” he asked, curious.
If people followed social etiquette, that was.
Elliot laughed, but he didn’t contradict Dhara as far as the ring was concerned. And anyway, the girl had moved on to other topics; to Ali and her sweetness. How everything is okay as far as the home front was concerned. What came next surprisingly didn’t have Elliot leaping out of his seat in anxiety. The woman lived in the Quarantine Zone, for ****’s sake. Of course she was going to know something, somewhere. Of course it wouldn’t have been long until she found out about vampires. That was a given. And, Elliot having been the one to offer her this place to stay – of course he was prepared to admit he could have been part of the reason why she did.
Maybe he wasn’t. But the fact of the matter was, Elliot Lancaster gave no shits about whether Dhara knew or not. Generally, he upheld the Masquerade only insomuch that it wouldn’t get him or those he cared about killed; he upheld it because it was easier to do that than not. People called him a coward and weak, and in some ways he was.
Again, he laughed.
”Yes. Yes I am,” he said. There was no other way to answer it. He was obliged to tell the truth, forever and always. This was a truth that he both liked and didn’t like. He liked being able to give it up. But he didn’t like what it made him. Telling others what he was only made it truer. He sat back in his seat, and crossed one leg over the other; long fingers pushed hair out of his eyes.
”How exactly did you know?” he asked, curious.
C U R E D || siren - enhanced empathy - sweet blood - liar liar
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
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Dhara
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
"Oh. Well... right then." She said quietly. The tension left her shoulders and she sat back against the couch, taking him in. Her fidgeting hands folded in to her lap, now still. She had her answer, and she would do with it what she did with all the other. Not say a word. Her head tilted slightly as she regarded him, processing his question for a moment before speaking. "Well... I found out about a few others. And I used to have this friend... so I asked him. And he said he thought you were but he couldn't be sure. Any ways, I've wanted to ask for a while, but it is kind of a rude question to ask you know?"
She chuckled, shifting on the couch to draw her legs up and tuck them beneath her. You could just barely see the tips of her toes peeking out from under the black fabric. She played with her cocoa, her fingers tracing along the rim of the mug. She wanted to reassure him that his secret was safe with her. But she also sensed that she didn't need to tell him. After all, he already trusted her by giving her the keys to this apartment. And he had hired her when she first came to the city. Plus there was always the case of 'the lady doth protest to much'. Give him to much assurance and he might distrust her simply because she was being overly reassuring. It was a tangle, but she decided to take it on faith that he would trust her. She took a lazy sip of her cocoa, nestled in to the couch and looking at him again.
"I suppose we'll see a lot more of each other now. I mean since I work nights and all. I could stop in for coffee." She chuckled softly, "I mean if it's not a bother. I didn't intend to disappear on you. But with working two jobs it leaves little time to socialize." She chuckled softly and a half smile curved her mouth. "If you don't mind me asking... how did it happen? How did you become a vampire?" She knew it was a rather personal question, and she wouldn't blame him if he decided not to answer. After all, there were plenty of things she refused to talk about.
She chuckled, shifting on the couch to draw her legs up and tuck them beneath her. You could just barely see the tips of her toes peeking out from under the black fabric. She played with her cocoa, her fingers tracing along the rim of the mug. She wanted to reassure him that his secret was safe with her. But she also sensed that she didn't need to tell him. After all, he already trusted her by giving her the keys to this apartment. And he had hired her when she first came to the city. Plus there was always the case of 'the lady doth protest to much'. Give him to much assurance and he might distrust her simply because she was being overly reassuring. It was a tangle, but she decided to take it on faith that he would trust her. She took a lazy sip of her cocoa, nestled in to the couch and looking at him again.
"I suppose we'll see a lot more of each other now. I mean since I work nights and all. I could stop in for coffee." She chuckled softly, "I mean if it's not a bother. I didn't intend to disappear on you. But with working two jobs it leaves little time to socialize." She chuckled softly and a half smile curved her mouth. "If you don't mind me asking... how did it happen? How did you become a vampire?" She knew it was a rather personal question, and she wouldn't blame him if he decided not to answer. After all, there were plenty of things she refused to talk about.
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Lancaster
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Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
Elliot watched Dhara carefully. She seemed relieved, as if she had expected some other reaction from him. Of course he was surprised, but only slightly. Only in the way that she had asked – but he didn’t usually keep company with humans who didn’t know what he was. It wasn’t out of choice, really, but it really made life a whole lot easier if they knew. It was something that he and Pi would always disagree on, of course. And he knew that he had to be careful, lest he bring a hoard of hunters down on their heads—vampiric hunters or otherwise. But nothing untoward had happened, yet, and he’d been lackadaisical in his approach to keeping the masquerade the entire time he’d been this way. What is it, now … a full three years? Just over.
He had not touched his drink, even though he had agreed to wanting one. His long fingers still held the mug, absorbing its slowly evaporating warmth. The scent of it tickled at his nostrils; it was such a human thing, really. He lifted it to his lips and took a mouthful, swallowing slowly as Dhara answered his question and then asked one of her own. He answered her question first, before addressing everything else she said. He answered it honestly – and he didn’t try to evade it, because his own story would be of use to Dhara. A warning, of sorts.
”I was backpacker, as you know. It was… I dunno, my second or third night in the city? I was at a bar. I ordered a steak sandwich, I was starving. There were a couple of women talking to me… and I witnessed something I shouldn’t have. Pi – you might have seen her around Lancaster’s – she killed someone. There in the pub. She did it so quickly… it was hard to believe it had happened. No one else noticed but me. I tried to leave, and thought I had got away. Long story short – I got cornered in an alleyway. I was drained and nearly killed, for what I saw, by a woman called Phoenix. And then Pi came along and fed me her blood, and brought me back to life,” he said. He took another mouthful of his drink, before depositing the mug on the counter.
”So be careful with what you know. If others find out you know, and that you’re human…” he shook his head. It wouldn’t end well for Dhara. ”You might not be as…. Well, you might not have someone there to save you,” he said. He was going to say you might not be as lucky as I was, but the words had snagged in his throat. Either because he couldn’t lie, or because they just didn’t feel right. He felt guilty, for thinking that he might have preferred to die. With all that he has now… he still struggled. It was a struggle he hoped he would never have to share with Pi. She knew, but not to what extent.
”And anyway, who was this friend of yours? And why do you think that now that you know what I am, that we’ll be seeing more of each other?” he asked. The former question he asked because he was unsure how he felt about someone telling others that he was a vampire – whether they were sure of it or not. Did he really care, if he’d have done the same himself, given the opportunity? And the latter question because, really, nothing much had changed. Unless, for some reason, Dhara had a penchant for wanting to hang around with vampires.
He had not touched his drink, even though he had agreed to wanting one. His long fingers still held the mug, absorbing its slowly evaporating warmth. The scent of it tickled at his nostrils; it was such a human thing, really. He lifted it to his lips and took a mouthful, swallowing slowly as Dhara answered his question and then asked one of her own. He answered her question first, before addressing everything else she said. He answered it honestly – and he didn’t try to evade it, because his own story would be of use to Dhara. A warning, of sorts.
”I was backpacker, as you know. It was… I dunno, my second or third night in the city? I was at a bar. I ordered a steak sandwich, I was starving. There were a couple of women talking to me… and I witnessed something I shouldn’t have. Pi – you might have seen her around Lancaster’s – she killed someone. There in the pub. She did it so quickly… it was hard to believe it had happened. No one else noticed but me. I tried to leave, and thought I had got away. Long story short – I got cornered in an alleyway. I was drained and nearly killed, for what I saw, by a woman called Phoenix. And then Pi came along and fed me her blood, and brought me back to life,” he said. He took another mouthful of his drink, before depositing the mug on the counter.
”So be careful with what you know. If others find out you know, and that you’re human…” he shook his head. It wouldn’t end well for Dhara. ”You might not be as…. Well, you might not have someone there to save you,” he said. He was going to say you might not be as lucky as I was, but the words had snagged in his throat. Either because he couldn’t lie, or because they just didn’t feel right. He felt guilty, for thinking that he might have preferred to die. With all that he has now… he still struggled. It was a struggle he hoped he would never have to share with Pi. She knew, but not to what extent.
”And anyway, who was this friend of yours? And why do you think that now that you know what I am, that we’ll be seeing more of each other?” he asked. The former question he asked because he was unsure how he felt about someone telling others that he was a vampire – whether they were sure of it or not. Did he really care, if he’d have done the same himself, given the opportunity? And the latter question because, really, nothing much had changed. Unless, for some reason, Dhara had a penchant for wanting to hang around with vampires.
C U R E D || siren - enhanced empathy - sweet blood - liar liar
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
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Dhara
- Registered User
- Posts: 687
- Joined: 30 Jun 2014, 22:42
- CrowNet Handle: Music@Midnight
Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
She sipped her cocoa and listened to him speak. It wasn't the first time she'd been warned that what she knew could get her killed. She'd also been told she was too nice and that would get her killed. It seemed like this city was a dangerous place to be a human. She hadn't missed the way his voice caught, how he changed his sentence. It made her wonder if he had issues with being a vampire. It wouldn't be the first time she had heard that it was a curse. She supposed she had been lucky so far, nothing really terrible had happened to her in her time here. She usually tried to be very careful about where she went and who she was with.
"I'm sorry, Elliot, I can't answer that. It would be breaking a promise and I won't do that. I hope you understand." She gave him a small smile and moved on to his second question. "As for why we might see each other more? I work two jobs. At the bookstore in the early evening, then I work for Levi over night. If I can remember, I'll drop in to say hello."
She set her cocoa aside and brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, head canting slightly to the side. "If you don't mind me asking, was it a huge change? Becoming a vampire I mean? Some people have said it is, and some have said it's not. What's your honest opinion?"
She settled back in the couch as if preparing for a long night of conversation. And truly, if he would allow it, her curiosity would have her asking questions until the sun began to rise. That was just one more thing on her ever growing list of things that would get her killed.
"I'm sorry, Elliot, I can't answer that. It would be breaking a promise and I won't do that. I hope you understand." She gave him a small smile and moved on to his second question. "As for why we might see each other more? I work two jobs. At the bookstore in the early evening, then I work for Levi over night. If I can remember, I'll drop in to say hello."
She set her cocoa aside and brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes, head canting slightly to the side. "If you don't mind me asking, was it a huge change? Becoming a vampire I mean? Some people have said it is, and some have said it's not. What's your honest opinion?"
She settled back in the couch as if preparing for a long night of conversation. And truly, if he would allow it, her curiosity would have her asking questions until the sun began to rise. That was just one more thing on her ever growing list of things that would get her killed.
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Lancaster
- Registered User
- Posts: 2392
- Joined: 02 Dec 2011, 00:35
- CrowNet Handle: Lancaster
- Contact:
Re: Candy Canes and Cocoa (Elliot)
Elliot arched a brow. He wasn’t sure whether he liked the idea or not – he licked his lips, and canted his head to the side. There were things that he knew he was capable of. Persuasion. A heavy-handed tongue that could, if they had little willpower, get a human to talk. If he were charming about it, maybe he could get a name out of Dhara. But he shook his head, and with it, he shook the thought out of his mind. What did it matter? Whoever it was hadn’t done him any harm. He didn’t have the hounds of hell on his heels. And he wasn’t an avid keeper of the Masquerade. And anyway, it didn’t mean that some human knew what he was, he just meant that some vampire, some other vampire that Dhara knew, also knew Elliot. And wasn’t so good at keeping secrets.
”Hardly seems fair that you get to keep his or her identity secret, but they have no qualms about giving away mine,” he said with a lopsided smile. Not charming. Not angry. Just a statement uttered with only a hint of disdain.
The answer to the second question wasn’t exactly an answer. It just confirmed that the woman was busy and that they could just slip into old habits and see each other just as much as they have been – which is not much at all. It still didn’t answer why she thought that now, they’d be seeing more of each other – unless she’s got some fascination with vampires, and thus will want to be around him more. He shrugged it off.
He then had to laugh. His honest opinion? He couldn’t be anything but honest. Though he wouldn’t tell Dhara that. He nodded and sat back in the chair, his arms resting on the arm rests. He cleared his throat, not too sure whether he wanted to answer the question. But he was under obligation. He glanced at the window, narrowed his eyes, and nodded again.
”Yes. It was a huge change. How could it not be? One day you can eat whatever you want and go wherever you want at whatever time of day you want. The next minute, you’re confined to moving around at night time, you only get nourishment from blood, and you’re told you have to abide by all these ******* rules or you’ll die,” he sucked in a breath, and smiled – a mere curling of his lips but only sadness in his eyes. He had intended to only answer yes, but Dhara had got more than she had bargained for.
”Hardly seems fair that you get to keep his or her identity secret, but they have no qualms about giving away mine,” he said with a lopsided smile. Not charming. Not angry. Just a statement uttered with only a hint of disdain.
The answer to the second question wasn’t exactly an answer. It just confirmed that the woman was busy and that they could just slip into old habits and see each other just as much as they have been – which is not much at all. It still didn’t answer why she thought that now, they’d be seeing more of each other – unless she’s got some fascination with vampires, and thus will want to be around him more. He shrugged it off.
He then had to laugh. His honest opinion? He couldn’t be anything but honest. Though he wouldn’t tell Dhara that. He nodded and sat back in the chair, his arms resting on the arm rests. He cleared his throat, not too sure whether he wanted to answer the question. But he was under obligation. He glanced at the window, narrowed his eyes, and nodded again.
”Yes. It was a huge change. How could it not be? One day you can eat whatever you want and go wherever you want at whatever time of day you want. The next minute, you’re confined to moving around at night time, you only get nourishment from blood, and you’re told you have to abide by all these ******* rules or you’ll die,” he sucked in a breath, and smiled – a mere curling of his lips but only sadness in his eyes. He had intended to only answer yes, but Dhara had got more than she had bargained for.
C U R E D || siren - enhanced empathy - sweet blood - liar liar
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out
some things just don't add up
i'm upside down i'm inside out