The Question of Intimacy [Aiyana]

[Cedric Costello]

* Aiyana let herself into the place and was adamant in ordering a hot cocoa. Unfortunately when she got it and took a drink, it was all spit back into the cup. She stared at the cup enviously for getting her drink inside it.


* Cedric Costello was behind the piano; another night at work to distract him from the chaos outside of work. The music he played was light, frivolous. It kept the night time crowd entertained. There'd been a marriage proposal, earlier; the couple now danced. They were the only ones dancing, but it brought a smile to Cedric's lips.


* Aiyana drifted her eyes up to the one playing the piano. The playing was good and despite the fact that a couple was still dancing, and the song wasn't over. Aiyana held no reserve in giving a rythmic clap in a gesture of entertainment before she shoved the cup of cocoa to the other side of the table as to not have to glare down into the cup.


* Cedric Costello glanced over at the one clapping. It wasn't often that someone clapped. He was there as the background entertainment; he was there because he was supposed to be. His gaze found the woman who was clapping, the center stage slowly turning in circles. Soon, his back was to her. But his gaze found her again as the stage came back around. He was amused.


* Aiyana wasn't at all abashed about what others considered weird. Rather, she was back to minding her own business after she had done so. Too busy contemplating whether or not she should stay since her original goal had been a bust. Once more, the woman glared across the table at the cup of cocoa like it had wronged her, before her eyes lifted back to the Pianist in a listless way.


* Cedric Costello had to stop playing, eventually. He wasn't the only pianist; he had hired others. Cedric had better things to do with his time, now that he had three businesses to run. He didn't have to make meager cash by playing piano all night. The song finished, the couple sat back down, and Cedric stood, swiping the tail of his suit back into place. He stepped from the stage, and headed straight for the single girl at the table with her cup of... cocoa, or so it seemed. "Excuse me - is it not to your liking?" he asked, glancing up to see which barista was manning the coffee machine.


* Aiyana was slightly surprised to see the man come over, but she didn't make a quibble about it. Instead, she glanced from him back to the drink before shrugging, "I can't tell. My taste seems to be off and my stomach doesn't want to accept it, I'm probably sick." A half truth.


* Cedric Costello had an accent that wasn't quite decipherable. French, a little German. But his English was perfect. Cedric nodded, his mouth falling open in a silent 'ah'. There was a small voice telling him to take care of this woman. To woo her. But the list was decimated, and he couldn't start a new one. He heard his sire's voice in his head; the threat of some kind of chastity belt. He cleared his throat. "Well, I hope that you feel better. If you need anything, the staff will take care of you," he said with a nod toward the counter.


* Aiyana tilted her head at the man, as if she were observing rather than actually a part of the conversation. The Native American nodded slightly before gesturing that he could take the seat across from her if he desired. "You've worked here long than, I take it?"


* Cedric Costello shook his head. He wouldn't sit down. "I have worked here as long as the place has been open. I own it," he said, offering his hand. "Cedric Costello," he said. Anyway, he told himself - he couldn't do anything, now. He never did pick women up at work; he never gave them his real name. He was bound, now.


* Aiyana simply shrugged at his desire to stay standing. She then took the hand and gave it a slight shake. She didn't have any reason to lie to him, so her name came out crisp and clear, "Aiyana." There really wasn't much of a need for a last name. The important part was the first name the 'her', not the family name. And despite the peculiarty of her own Native American name, she had no shame addressing the peculiarty of his name, "Cedric, it's an amusing name. Costello, sounds Latin."


* Cedric Costello laughed lightly, pushing his hands into his pockets as he remained standing. "Amusing?" he asked. No one had ever commented on his name - not to say it was a good one or a bad one. Or that it was amusing. He shrugged his shoulders. "I am from Brussels. I don't know the history of my name. It might be Latin."


<Aiyana> Ah. Brussels Belgium? You most likely might then. Technically, Belgium is a mixture of Germany, France, and Netherlands. However, Belgium was at a time, Spain's colony. Belgium is also a mixture of Germanic, Gaul, and Latin origin from the previous empires.

* Aiyana sounded very much like she were reciting something she had read, without much enthusiasm.


* Cedric Costello laughed. "Yes. I know all this. I grew up there. They have history class, at school," he said. It was a great place to grow up, really - he was bilingual, when much of the world was not. "It is very likely that my father had Latin origins and it's why I have never thought to question it." he said. "And Aiyana? What is the origin of your name?"


* Aiyana nodded. It was true, she should have realized he'd know his own country's history. She said without much adieu or detail to precisely what but rather, "Pure Native American."


* Cedric Costello nodded, now curious. At least when he finally sat down, it was out of curiosity rather than for the potential for carnal satisfaction. "I have... friends, who are Native American," he said. "There seems to be a ... community, in Harper Rock," he said. Now, he was watching the girl carefully; she wasn't drinking. She was sick, or so she said. He recalled the touch of her hand when he'd shaken it - hadn't it been as cold as his?


* Aiyana caught on rather quickly to the fact he was trying to gouge her; and, she was quick to be indignant, "Do not lump me with that relic, if you're assuming what I believe you are. My beliefs are in what is natural." She didn't believe in Sacrificial Victims.


* Cedric Costello arched a brow. "I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about," he said. He had made the mistake of assuming that this girl must be related to those that he knew - but it was not his right to make such an assumption. It was like believing all Italians were related. That all people with the last name 'Nguyen' must belong to the same lineage. "... I'm sorry if I offended."


<Aiyana> If you're talking about who I think you're talking about, you aren't wrong... But I'm not quite the same as that, that's all.

* Aiyana she shrugged, passively.


* Cedric Costello continued to watch the girl, who seemed to flare in anger - indignant - before settling back down again. Cedric nodded, sagely. "Ambrose Acheron?" he said. He'd only met the guy a couple of times. One conversation, though it didn't last long. He didn't ask any other questions, until he was sure they were both on the same page.


* Aiyana nodded. To be honest, she herself had not had much of any contact with this new 'family'. But she had seen enough to know she was not like that.


* Cedric Costello waited for the girl to say something else, but she didn't. A smile touched the corner of his lips, however, as he nodded again. "Then we are ... related," he said with a laugh. It was strange, to think that he would be 'related' to a stranger. Another one that he'd met, at random. It really was a small world. "And why are you 'not the same as that'? The same as what?"


* Aiyana glanced around before leaning in to whisper for only his ears, "I don't believe in sacrificial victims. I believe in the Natural World." She was rather blunt about it. She leaned back and sighed, grabbing the cup to go throw it away since staring at it made her feel pitifully unhappy at not getting to drink it. She headed back to her seat and sat down before eyeing him, "I don't recall you as a relation. And I'm fairly certain I haven't had my way with you and had any child of yours. How are we related?" A little too blunt from the lack of getting to meet those that were supposed to be her new family.

[Aiyana (DELETED 7146)]

* Cedric Costello could only laugh when she came back; at what she said. It was a full-bodied laugh, though there was a hint of frustration in it. "I don't think you'd have had your way with me. I'd have had my way with you, and you wouldn't want to have any child of mine," he said, before he shook his head. "I don't know anything about victim sacrifice. I am...I think you would call me fourth generation. Under Castalia. Who is under Kika, Who is under Ambrose himself."


* Aiyana nodded, "I'm under Machk." She wasn't particularly perturbed enough to learn the details of her placement. She quirked a quizzical eyebrow at him at the way he turned it around and also the mention of children of his. "So you think only men can do that, hm?" Not that she cared, she didn't sound mad in the least.


* Cedric Costello had to laugh. Again. He had heard of Machk before, but had never met the guy. Again, he wondered whether this particular bloodline was an active one; they didn't have little social shindigs, anyway. As far as he could gather. He shook his head. "No. I am fairly certain that Castalia had her way with me. She caught me when I was vulnerable," he said, indicating that he was not vulnerable now. And that his habits were otherwise.


<Aiyana> Castalia, I do believe, is my boss. So perhaps it was bound to happen that we'd eventually meet. So I suppose I should be saying it's nice to meet you, Cedric.


* Cedric Costello nodded. "I see," he said. Again, he could say that it was a small world, but it wasn't, really. Not if they were within the same bloodline. It made sense that they would give jobs to each other - though none had taken Cedric up on his offer. Perhaps none were now in need of jobs. "And you too, Aiyana," he said with a nod.


<Aiyana> Have you... settled in to it all?


* Cedric Costello shrugged, and both nodded and shook his head. "Yes, and no. There are things that I have yet to work out, but I will get there. What about you?"


* Aiyana shrugged, "I don't particularly treat it any differently than before. Though I am quite cross about certain things." She glared at the trash that now held her cocoa.


* Cedric Costello followed Aiyana's glare, and understood. His tongue ran over his teeth. "You hate that you have to give up food. Yes, that's understandable," he said, quite amused. His arms crossed over his chest, and when he turned back to the woman, he had to remind himself that he couldn't take her home. "I have to give up food, too. And sex. Did you have to give up sex?" he asked, head canted to the side.


<Aiyana> I... don't think so? I haven't had sex since, but I haven't really had a reason to try. I don't particularly know anyone here.


<Cedric Costello> "Ah. Well. I'm not sure how it works. Maybe you wouldn't have a problem," he said. There was the idea, then, that none of the women he'd slept with were vampires. Did Ambrose's little rulebook say anything about that? Was it only because they were human that he had managed to kill them with his hellspawn? Would it be the same with vampires? No, he told himself. He probably shouldn't give it a try on someone else in the family. The threat of a 'bloodhunt' still loomed. Perhaps he shouldn't be telling this woman anything - even despite her apparent hatred of Ambrose.


* Aiyana doesn't particularly... hate him... Just doesn't agree or see him as anything particular to her. She shrugged lightly, "I will tell you when I find an unfortunate sap to give it a try on."


* Cedric Costello settled into his chair, though he knew he should get up. Go and something, anything else. Except he was sitting there, appraising the woman in front of him. Imagining what it might be like. "Now why would you say they are unfortunate?"


<Aiyana> I tend to make them cry when they find out I have no intention to chase when they pull away to make me show more depth of affection.

* Aiyana completely honest.


* Cedric Costello arched a brow. "I'm sure you'd have no trouble finding a man who's interested only in a one night stand..."


* Aiyana quirked an eyebrow at him in return, "When did I say one night stands?"


<Cedric Costello> "You didn't. But you insinuated that any sap that you had sex with would be unfortunate, because he would grow attached. I can tell you, first hand experience, that men do not always get attached. Sometimes, they just want a one night stand. So - whoever you choose might not be as unfortunate as you think."


<Aiyana> Hum. That might be. But I don't particularly know anyone, making it a moot point.


* Cedric Costello laughed, thinking she must be young and innocent. "You don't have to know him. That's the point of a one night stand. You find him at a bar - maybe much like this one - and you take him home. His house, preferably, or to a hotel. You have some fun. You leave before the sun rises. You never have to see him again."


* Aiyana certainly wasn't the last thing he thought of her, she quirked an eyebrow like he said something stupid, "I like intimacy. It's a waste to throw away a man I can use repeatedly for carnal pleasures." Frankly stated.


* Cedric Costello shifted in his seat. He didn't think that one night stands were without intimacy. It was just fleeting. Something special was always shared by those who wanted nothing more than pleasure; the pleasure was heightened, almost. He licked his lips, which parted as he leaned forward. Clearly about to suggest something, to offer - but he closed his lips, shook his head. "You will meet people. You have met me. It wasn't so hard, was it?"


<Aiyana> Hm. Might be. I suppose I could always go kidnap some guy off the side of the road.

* Aiyana even though she sounded serious, it was a joke.


* Cedric Costello snorted. "I'm not sure kidnapping would lead to intimacy.”


<Aiyana> Oh? Seems to work wonders in this town. Besides, haven't you ever heard of Stockholm syndrome?


* Cedric Costello nodded. "Sure. It's not a guarantee, though."


* Aiyana she finally cracked a chuckle.

<Aiyana> That might be so.


* Cedric Costello wasn't exactly sure what they were talking about anymore. He glanced up at the counter, at the business around them. "... I should probably go back to work."


<Aiyana> Oh? Yes. That might be an idea, you won't look like a very good boss if you're sitting around talking for too long.


* Cedric Costello smiled, and nodded. "No. But we can talk some more, outside of work. If you would like to," he said. They were, after all, kind-of family. They didn't need any other excuse - and he didn't need to have any other schemes. At least, he told himself he didn't.


<Aiyana> That would be fine. I tend to stay around Ambrose's place, fiddling with the crafting table and forge. Sometimes I'm out scavenging parts though. I'll hope to see you again soon then, I suppose?


* Cedric Costello used Ambrose's place mainly to skip from one place to another; the tomes were handy, as were the amenities, when he needed them. He nodded. "Yes, I think you will see me around," he said. Honestly, surprised that they hadn't run into each other already, closer to home.


* Aiyana tried to offer up a smile before she stood and gave a wave before heading to leave, "Then, next time."


* Cedric Costello bowed a goodbye to the woman before he weaved through the tables, back to the bar - to the office in back, where he would check on everything. He probably had emails that he would have to check, reply to. And he should check his phone. Honestly, he expected one of his 'children' to suddenly appear, out of nowhere. He shuddered, and tried not to think about it.