Path of the Vampire forum

Why she ever decided to come to this party, she'd never know.

Boozy teenagers and young adults surrounded her, house music blasted from a speaker set not far off and red Solo cups dotted aross her peripheral vision like a pox. Calliope stood near the back of the living room in one of the frat houses at Harper Rock West University, miserable about being surrounded by so many people and desperately craving their attention at the same time. Fingers tucked a strand of long dark hair behind her ear and her sky blue eyes watched as a girl much prettier and more popular than her talked up two Adonis-like football players. Jealousy reared its ugly head in seconds and the girl turned to look elsewhere, finding the same scene in every direction.

Calliope longed to be back in her room re-watching episodes of Firefly on her iPad, flipping through her textbooks. Get out of your room, break out of your shell, Call, these are the best years of your life. her mother had texted, a haphazard message doubtlessly sent from the back of her cab on the way to another business meeting. Her mother always had plenty of advice, but little time to give it verbally - their relationship consisted of text messages and brief moments on FaceTime. Still, it had been enough to force the sky and introverted brunette to find a pair of jeans that looked somewhat new and a shirt that didn't have a band logo, Doctor Who or Supernatural reference. She ditched her Toms for a pair of wedges she'd worn to a funeral once - ironic, though she didn't know it yet. She had even painted her eyelashes in a thin layer of mascara and her lips in an equally thin amount of lip gloss.

All of that effort had been put in for nothing, it seemed.

Now she was staring at the door and wondering if she could make it from her spot and across the threshold before one of the few people she knew from her Latin class noticed. Blunt teeth worried her lower lip and chewed, and she started to pick her way through the dancing and gyrating bodies to the door. The second her fingers touched the cool silver of the handle she thought she heard her name being called, and swiftly opened the door and escaped before she had to turn around and be forced to interact with someone in person. Out in the night air, she shuddered at the mere thought of that, and envisioned herself as that GIF of Matthew Macfadyen from Pride and Prejudice, looking miserable while a crowd danced and smiled around him. Yep, that was her to a tee.

With a little sigh the girl made her way down the concrete walkway, through the trees and to a bench where she sat to open an app on her phone and order herself a cab. Uber seemed to be having a glitch but another service she hadn't heard of seemed to be functional and she punched in her whereabouts and name, then leaned back to wait. Her arms crossed and her legs crossed one over the other, staring at the glittering lights of Harper Rock barely obscured by yet another student residence building. The sooner she could get back to her computer, her shows, her privacy the better.

Fingers tapped over her denim clad thigh as she waited for a response from the app – which came quickly enough. A red Volkswagen was on its way to her and its driver, Luke, was to be her chauffeur of sorts. Typically Calliope would rather walk or ride her bicycle on her own, finding her own way around so she didn’t have to deal with other people – and especially so she wouldn’t have to talk to them. It was just like that with hairdressers, all the pressure to engage in small talk when she was so, so very bad at it. The girl cut her own hair for that reason alone, a simple long trim with straight-across bangs that reminded her of how her mother used to cut it when she was small.

She glanced down the dimly lit street that circled around the residences and connected to one of Harper Rock’s busier streets, but didn’t see the VW she was supposed to be waiting for. The minutes dragged on and she frowned a little, glancing down to her phone just as the screen lit up to inform her about the change in car and driver. The little picture that accompanied the information showed a very handsome man, nothing like the balding older man Luke had been. Calliope’s eyebrows lifted and a blush tinged her cheeks, the anxiety immediately settling in. The man she’d be stuck inside a car with was handsome as hell, which made it even worse a predicament for her.

Now she was nervous as the white sedan showed up coming around the corner, inching closer as it hit the 30 km/hour zone that surrounded the university. Calliope stood, brushed dew from the bench off the back of her jeans and walked a little unsteadily towards the car. Her wavering steps were a product both from the alcohol she’d had at the party (something she didn’t take part in often) and her inexperience in the high shoes. When the sedan pulled up to the curb in front of her she glanced to see the driver’s window was down, but she could only just make out his outline in the dark passenger window. Her fingers hesitated on the door handle for a second and she felt another anxious wave, but forced herself to open it.

“Hi, for Calliope?” she asked, slipping in to settle on one of the leather back seats, hand pausing on the seat belt until the driver confirmed he was indeed supposed to be picking her up.

Once she finally managed to settle into her seat and the driver – Cedric – had confirmed it was hers she clipped the seat belt and leaned back, letting out a quiet exhale.

“Oh my gosh, an accident? I hope he's alright..." she said, eyes going wide. "Thanks for pikcing me up...I could have gone with another service if it caused you trouble." She frowned softly, feeling sorry for the driver in the accident even though she didn't know him personally. "As for where I'm going...the nearest late-night restaurant?” she answered, fiddling with the hem of her shirt and casting a shy glance to the reflection in his rearview mirror. “I’m not picky, just drop me somewhere with food,” the girl continued, mumbling. Calliope had no idea where she wanted to go now that the party was over but she knew it wasn’t back to her room, where she’d have to walk through hallways filled with other students and finally pay attention to the slew of text messages her mother had sent since she’d confirmed she was attending the party.

The girl reeked of alcohol even though she hadn’t had a copious amount herself, but she wrinkled her nose a little, vowing to shower as soon as she had something in her stomach to settle the nausea. It was a mix of anxiety and alcohol, she knew, and something greasy would be just the right cure for it. Her eyes glanced out the window and watched as the university slowly drifted away when Cedric inevitably began driving. Calliope tried to think on various appropriate forms of small talk in case Cedric was a talker, stressing over it and deciding she had to make the first move, so to speak.

“So, do you mind the late nights?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t an inappropriate question.

Her arms crossed over her chest as she waited for his reply, her cellphone silent in her lap.

‹Cedric Costello› Cedric laughed and shook his head. “It is not an inconvenience. I own this service, see. To say you should have gone with another one would have lost me money,” he said with a sideways glance. “Luke is fine. His car is not. He won’t be working for a while,” Cedric said. The way this job worked, poor Luke wouldn’t get much compensation; but Cedric would help out in whatever way he could. Even if it meant paying for the car to be repaired, or helping the guy buy a new one. In the end, though, Cedric was a tough man to work for, and his generosity was given only to those who deserved it.

He peered at the road ahead; it wasn’t too hard to decide where to take Calliope. Again, thinking of his own businesses and of expanding his customer base. It hadn’t taken him too long to get to Calliope because his other place of business was literally just down the road.

“I am a night owl,” he said. “I sleep during the day. I don’t mind the late nights,” he said with a shrug. “What is it that you study?” he asked. If they were going to engage in small talk… he only assumed that this girl must be a student. Maybe she wasn’t. But the question would determine that, regardless.


* Calliope found she was calmed by his laugh, which was strange. Normally when interacting with others she was pent up and anxious all the time. "Oh...well....I'm glad you were able to come and I'm glad Luke's okay," she said, chewing the inside of her cheek. Her eyes lifted when he answered her question about the late nights, and the first thing she did was laugh. "I'm definitely a night owl...one could say I'm nocturnal," she said, channelling the charisma she seemed to only have online.

Calliope paused a moment, trying to get used to the fact that yes, she was going to be engaging in small talk. "I study folklore," she answered. "It might sound lame, but...I find it interesting." She paused again, willing herself not to stammer. "I want to be a professor, or a field worker in it someday."


‹Cedric Costello› Cedric’s fingers curled around the leather of the steering wheel, his other hand resting idly on the gear stick. Another glance sideways was afforded only to assure himself that this girl had a flush to her cheeks and a very… human smell to her. Although she was pretty to look at, and Cedric’s mind wandered in its usual desirous direction, it was easier to resist the temptation given the girl’s age. She must have been what, nearly sixteen years younger? Perhaps even more. No, but she was interesting in other ways.

“Folklore. How does one turn that into a field study?” he asked. Was she aware of what lurked the streets of Harper Rock? The fae in the wilderness and the creatures in the Caverns? Was this the kind of ‘field’ study she was talking about? For now, he would pretend like anything to do with any kind of folklore was not real. And thus field study seemed an odd kind of choice.


* Calliope leaned back in her seat, fussing over the collar of the blouse she was wearing. It felt too weird not wearing her standard T-shirt. "We study legends and stories, according to cultures or geographical regions," she said. "Then people go out in the field and take interviews, get as many documents as we can - like for instance in Harper Rock there's an age-old story of vampires." The girl laughed a little. "One of my assignments this semester is to gather all the 'evidence' I can. But, if you're not a field agent, then you're more than likely just teaching it."


* Cedric Costello couldn't help but keep smiling. If only she knew what she was in the car with. "This... I can understand in remote communities. There are tribes in South America, for example, who would still believe and adhere to their folklore. But in a modern city such as this... what documentation would you get? Do you believe that vampires exist?" he asked, keeping his eyes mostly on the road but glancing sideways every now and again. He turned the corner, the mall just up ahead. He hadn't told her where he was taking her, yet.


* Calliope nodded to his comment, getting into full academia mode now - her shyness and awkwardness melting away. "Even in a modern city folklore is deeply rooted - people are superstitious, religious, they believe in Friday the 13th and that the building on 18th street really is haunted or at least they hope it is. People want a story, they want colour, and folklore gives them that...so I don't think it'd ever disappear," she said. "In the new age, especially social media 'evidence' is everywhere. People have posted pictures of what looks like others biting a person's neck, or stories of exsanguinated bodies coming out of the morgue, people without reflections...some even claim to be part of vampire 'cults' but that's mostly just Twilight ********," she muttered.


* Cedric Costello nodded, listening. Understanding. He wouldn't laugh - it was all very true. Cedric may have laughed at those kinds of people before, but now he knew differently. These stories had to be taken with a grain of salt. If vampires existed, what else was out there? Except, she still hadn't answered his question. "Does this mean you are open minded, then? Are you one of those that would hope that it is all real?" he asked. He liked this conversation. It was far better than discussing the weather.


* Calliope gave a soft little smile, as if he was asking her about a lover and what she liked about them. "I'm definitely one of those people..." she replied. "I think there's a sort of magic in it, in that kind of world being out there - even if it's dangerous. It makes life more worth it, us not being the top of the food chain and the predator being something that can be as sophisticated as vampires - eternal humans, just stronger, feeling everything so much more intensely." She sounded like she was reading out of an Anne Rice book.


* Cedric Costello pulled into the mall. There was a parking space reserved for staff, and this was where Cedric parked. Some people might have thought this girl was crazy, to believe in such things. To want them to exist. Cedric, on the other hand, was only growing more intrigued by the second. "There might be sophistication but I would assume there are cons, too. The struggle between monstrosity and humanity. And what if it isn't all as sophisticated as you might think?" he asked. "Is your life one that you would be willing to throw away on the chance that you might enjoy eternity better?"


* Calliope let out a scoff, sounding derisive and not at all as meek and quiet as she typically was. "Honestly I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy anything better - I'm invisible, here. I have my stories and legends but...nothing else. I don't connect with people, I'm not pretty or interesting or any of those things - but as a vampire I'd be interesting, powerful, free...and I'd still have my stories and legends," she mused, giving a little grin. "Anyway, wishful thinking, huh?" Her eyes glanced out the window, looking out at the mall. The smell of food reached her slightly intoxicated brain and she swore Cedric would hear her stomach growl in response.


* Cedric Costello arched a brow as he put the car in park, and turned it off. He pushed a button on his phone to end the service, like they'd reached their destination. If Calliope had it set up properly, her card would be charged automatically, and she'd be asked to rate the service via the app. Cedric got out of the car, mulling over her words, and circled around to open her door for her. Service, with a smile. "You'll find I'm a man of many talents. I have a piano bar upstairs - the food is to die for," he said. He hoped it was - he couldn't actually eat any of it. "And, if I may say so - 'pretty' is reserved for those with no brains in their heads. You are superior to 'pretty'," he said. A decision had already been made. Cedric had yet to figure out how to tell this girl that her thinking wasn't as wishful as she thought it was.


* Calliope gathered her purse and slid the strap over her shoulder when he clicked the button to end the service - but she was surprised when he actually got out and went around to open her door for her. When she ducked out of the car and glanced up at him, caught the sight of his handsome face, she could almost feel her cheeks glowing, and that was before his comment. "I...well...thank you..." she said, sounding like she didn't quite believe him. The girl slipped out of the car and stood, smoothing her hands nervously over her clothing and glancing towards the mall. "I've never been to a piano bar, but that sounds great," she said. "I'm starving."


* Cedric Costello closed the door behind Calliope and locked the car, before heading toward the elevator. He pushed the button for 'up', and pushed his hands into his pockets while he waited. He tried to visualise the menu in his head - there were quite a few nice options. "If it were going to be your last meal - I'm not an axe murderer, I swear - what would you like to eat?"


* Calliope leaned back against the wall of the elevator, trying not to sweat over being in this thing with this handsome man she'd only just met - a crush was definitely building. For a girl with absolutely zero experience with guys, though, a crush was an easy thing to build (no offense, Ced). "Hmm...I think, some really amazing pasta and wine. I really enjoy Italian," she said, nodding firmly. "Something with fresh ingredients and the best parmigiana..."

* Cedric Costello grinned. Perfect. "That can be arranged..." he said. Again, it probably sounded like he had some plan in mind to murder this girl when she least expected it. Which, kind of, was what he had planned. Except there'd be eternal life on the other side. "The chef, he makes the best alla amatriciana. Do you like chilli?" he asked. The bar was only on the first floor so the elevator didn't take long. And the walk wasn't far, either. Ahead, the Cocoa bean stood bold and proud on the left side of the mall. Soft, alluring piano could be heard from inside, and it wasn't too busy to be overwhelming. There was a definite 20s theme.


* Syn slipped onto a stool by the bar and she gently rested her laptop upon the bar top. The woman silently flagged the bar tender down and she summoned a smile to her lips. Humans liked it when she smiled, they reacted better. "Just a simple Scotch, neat please." While she did order such things, the bartenders usually noticed that she got lost within whatever it was that she did upon her laptop and forgot about her drink. While it was the case in most cases, the woman just simply couldn't drink it, being a shadow and all. After a moment's pause, she simply opened up her laptop and booted it up. It was, as usual, a quiet night.


* Calliope looked pleasantly surprised that the elevator doors opened to an actual mall hallway with an actual restaurant at the end and not some murder dungeon or something. "I do! That would be great, with some wine," she said, sounding firm. The girl, already a little drunk, was clearing on a roll now. Her wedged shoes clicked on the floor as she followed after him, smiling when she heard the music. As they entered the restaurant she glanced around the bar, noticing a few patrons, and then toward the tables and booths.


* Cedric Costello gestured to one of the booths away from the crowds. "Take a seat, Madame. I will order your food, and your wine," he said with an easy smile. He sauntered toward the bar where the tender immediately came when summoned, Cedric ordering the all amatriciana, and asking for a wine glass and a bottle of the Montesecondo Rosso. A red wine that was paired best with the pasta choice. Standing next to Syn, he nudged her with his elbow. "Synful. I have had an idea. I have expansion in mind," he said with a wink. "If you are not too busy, you should join us," he said. With the wine and glass in hand, he returned to the booth.


* Syn trailed her fingers over the keys, typing quickly as she made some notes to a very important area within a report. A report that she was still finishing for an old work-place. The woman didn't like to leave things unfinished. It was then that she pointed a heeled toe downwards, mostly in thought as she paused and nodded to the bartender who served her her drink. Silently, she reached up to pull a pen from her brown locks which was pulled tightly upwards into a simple high bun. With the same silent movements, she bit down upon the end of the pen, a habit that she hadn't lost from her human life. It was what she did whenever she was deep in thought puzzling out a puzzle. It was then that Cedric nudged her, bringing her out of her thoughts and she angled her head at his words. "An expansion?" The man had caught her interest.

Syn silently closed her laptop and picked it up with her left hand, before she simply left her drink behind where the bartender simply collected it, having being used to Syn's behaviour. The woman noted the stranger that Cedric seated himself beside and she also heard the heart beat. A human? With the same silent air, she moved to seat herself opposite to the two and gently placed her laptop upon the table. "Cedric."


* Calliope should be sensing alarm bells of some kind - this driver was going above and beyond. 'But maybe he's just nice...' she thought to herself, having enjoyed their conversation. Trying to explain her love of follklore to anyone in her classes was mind-numbing, but with Cedric it had been so easy. He led her to her booth and she took a seat, smiling thankfully when he said he'd order the wine and food. "Thanks so much!" she chirped, grinning to herself. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it.


* Cedric Costello slid into the booth, and when Syn sat she blocked him in. Which was fine. They were a fine little trio, sitting there as they were. Cedric probably should have grabbed two glasses for the wine, just to pretend, but he at least had an excuse. "I might have to drive again, so I won't drink," he said as he poured Calliope's drink. There was a whole bottle, so she could have more later, if she so desired. "Calliope, this is Syn. Syn, Calliope. Syn works with me, among other things," he said with a robust smile.


* Syn glanced over the other woman with pale blue eyes as Cedric gave the introduction and she glanced back to her sire. What did a human have to do with an expansion? She silently wondered as she nodded her head and made an effort to smile for the human. It was then that she folded her hands upon the table, unsure as to what she should say. Cedric hadn't mentioned a human when he said that he had en expansion in mind. "I mostly do a lot of administrative work."


* Calliope turned and gave a little smile to Syn after Cedric introduced her. The human girl was shy, a little awkward, so there was a pause as she thought about the words before speaking them. "Administrative work is the backbone of a business though," she said. "That's what my mother says anyway. She's a businesswoman." Calliope smiled to Cedric and took the offered glass of wine, swirling it around before tasting the red. "Mm...that's a good wine," she said, as if she had any knowledge of wine - which she didn't..


* Cedric Costello nodded. It was good wine. It was one of the better, more expensive bottles on offer, but that was okay. If this was going to be Calliope's last meal, she may as well enjoy it. "I have a proposition," Cedric said. They were far enough away from prying ears that he felt comfortable talking about it. "What if ... that wishful thinking of yours wasn't quite so unattainable?" he said, slowly. "What would you say if I offered you this last meal because I could give you what you desire?" he asked, glancing surreptitiously at Syn. Eventually, he assumed she would catch on. This could be a lesson for her. Turning humans into vampires 101.


* Syn angled her head as she nodded, "A smart business woman indeed. Without the administrators, the rest of the office wouldn't know as to what to do with the paperwork. Without proper filing, chaos would ensue." Chit chat, they were chit chatting, which was the conversation that usually took place before any business transaction or planning. That was until Cedric started talking and the woman realized that he had pulled her into this whole thing halfway. What was normally unattainable to humans but was something that Cedric c... A brow suddenly rose as she realized that Cedric planned on turning the human. It was the only thing that Cedric could give the human, which would mean that it would be her last meal. So why was Syn here still?


* Calliope was busy sipping her wine when Cedric started speaking again, and when she looked up those hazel eyes were over the rim of her glass. The girl didn't say anything at first, and then her eyebrows rose, curiosity lighting her face. "You mean....vampirism?" she asked, sounding a little bewildered. "You know a vampire? Or you think they exist?" she said, wanting to believe him so bad.


* Cedric Costello nodded at Syn. Yes, chaos indeed. He wasn't too good with the administrative stuff. He was better front-of-house. The face of a business, oozing charm to build partnerships and maintain a good relationship with the customer base. "I don't think they exist. I know they do. Syn, here, can assure you that I have the ability to lend immortality to those who wish to escape their mortality," he said. Though, it hadn't gone that way with Syn. Syn hadn't asked for it. It had been a matter of life and death, and Cedric fixing what he had broken. In a way. Syn was put back together again though whether for better or for worse, Cedric still hadn't figured out.

* Syn shook her head as the vampire recognized bewilderment in the human's voice. Here the human was, sitting with two vampires who were not eating or drinking and she simply had no clue. This human wasn't at all that observant. "There are plenty of ways to find out as to how such beings exist, Calliope." Indeed, there was. At least Calliope didn't sleep with Cedric and find out that she was carrying a fadebeast which had to be sliced out of her. Only to die in a lot of pain and wake up dead emotionally. This one seemed a little too desperate to be a vampire, but Syn didn't have any feelings about the topic at all, she just simply thought that the woman was getting the easy way. A nod of her head was given then as Cedric spoke, "To know about such beings is in my job description."


* Calliope was plenty observant, but she wasn't a vampire hunter, wasn't some kind of expert trained to see the clues - she was a folklore student with a wish, but she wasn't stupid. As Cedric insisted he knew vampires existed and said he could...lend immortality, it dawned on Calliope. "You're a vampire," she said, and then her gaze flicked to Syn. "Both of you are." Oddly, she didn't scream and draw attention to herself or try to run - instead she looked intrigued. "And you're offering to make me one?" She looked thoughtful, considering, thinking of her mother and wondering if she'd see her again and if it even mattered, really. "But it's a choice? If I wanted to get up and leave here unharmed I would be?"


* Cedric Costello might have wondered what Syn was thinking, but her words were offered in such a deadpan way that Cedric couldn't believe she was all that upset about how things had turned out. What if she suddenly got her feelings back one day? What then? Would they cripple her? Cedric was intrigued to see what would happen to the second one he turned; whether it would be different. "Yes. We both are. I turned Syn. I can turn you, too, if it's something you want," he said. At this point, the food was delivered - all amatriciana, steaming and fresh. Not too rich, but definitely not bland. Cedric nodded his thanks to the waiter, before turning back to Calliope. "You would be allowed to leave. Under the condition you don't use us as research," he said with a smile - though this time the smile was a little harder. A little more threatening.


* Syn watched as the human finally understood. It was always interesting to watch the dawning of a realization that spread across someone's face and she listened to Calliope's words. Leave unharmed? Slowly, she glanced over towards Cedric and perked yet another brow. She then reached forwards to pick up the pen that she had placed upon her laptop earlier and silently bit down upon the end. Syn hadn't known a human that openly knew about vampires and vampire identities and got away with the knowledge. However, she was still a fledgling, so she simply let Cedric answer the question.


* Calliope 's gaze flicked back and forth between Syn and Cedric, and then the waiter who brought her the food. It sat untouched as she listened, captivated by Cedric's words, and thought about their implications. "If I was to accept your offer, would I be able to see my mother still?" she asked. It was an important question, a tipping point and something that would weigh heavily on her decision. "Will I go a bit crazy or feral when I'm first turned or feel...normal? Will I have to kill, or can I drink from blood bags?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper. Already she was asking questions like she'd already made up her mind - except the part with her mom.


* Cedric Costello appeared to think about it. He hadn't had this problem with Syn. If she had to say goodbye to her human attachments - if she had any - she hadn't shown any regret or remorse. Though she did still communicate with her old place of business, he supposed that was different. That was work. "You won't feel normal. Everything is enhanced. It's that... intensity you were talking about earlier," he said, but then he remembered Syn. "But it's different for everyone. I think without guidance, you could be feral. But with it, you will be fine. As for your mother? Until you are sure you won't want to eat her... but eventually, you'll have to break away. You won't age. A mother will notice that kind of thing," he said.


* Syn watched the woman who ignored her food. The fledgling noted the whisper to Calliope's voice and she simply blinked. In the end, however, the woman noted that Calliope's questions already hinted at the fact that she had made up her mind. Unless of course she was just trying to play them and flesh out information about vampires to use in some article. A nod of her head was given to Cedric's words, indeed it was different for everyone. Syn, had thought many times about as to how she had died. The woman had come to the conclusion that the only reason why she had woken up emotionless, was because her brain had tried to save her from the shock. To protect from the searing pain and loneliness that she had felt before she had died. "I find blood bags are sufficient enough," It was the only thing that she had to offer in regards to the conversation.


* Calliope was chewing the inside of her cheek again, a nervous habit. She hung on every one of Cedric's words, like they were gospel. "Right...okay, I can handle that," she said, and gave a shrug when he said she'd have to wait until she was sure she wouldn't want to kill her mother. "We talk mostly over text anyway, she won't notice," the girl said, a hint of bitterness beneath her tone. Syn said she found blood bags sufficient which seemed to relieve the human, who thought for another moment, and then nodded. "Okay," she said, nodding again, firmer. "Okay. I want to do it."


* Cedric Costello grinned, as if he'd just brokered a profitable business deal. He clapped his hands together before gesturing to the food. "There is a possibility that you might be able to eat proper food once you are turned, but it is more likely that you won't. You should eat. I think I miss food the most, so you should make the best of it," he said. He remembered his own turning. He remembered turning Syn. He knew how it was done. "Syn, you should stay. This could be beneficial to you," he said. He couldn't imagine the emotionless woman ever wanting to sire, but just in case. It was always better to be prepared.


* Syn silently lifted her hand to slide the pen back into her high bun as Calliope finally gave her answer. The fledgling wouldn't have minded to find out just as to what would happen if the human refused, however she didn't feel disappointment. She felt nothing as her gaze flickered to Cedric when he began to speak. If they were going to wait for the woman to eat, Syn could do some polishing up of her report. Silently, she opened her laptop again and her fingers flew over the keyboard to enter her password. "Cedric, food is mundane and takes time to eat. Why bother eating it, when you could save yourself some time to do more work. It's much more time efficient to not need food three times a day." Her fingers paused in their typing then and she glanced back over towards Calliope as she realized how emotionless that sounded. "That is just an opinion of a business woman of course." Perhaps it was best that the human didn't know too much of the downfalls about being a vampire before she was turned.


* Calliope looked down at the pasta, which did look absolutely delicious. She was so excited, and nervous, at the upcoming turning however that she couldn't feel the hunger that had been such a bother before. Still, Cedric was right, if this was to be potentially her last meal she'd have to enjoy it. And that's just what she did over the next 10 minutes - indulged herself in the pasta and wine,, eating every last bit of it and finishing the bottle. Dabbing her lips with a cloth napkin, she looked to Syn and then up to Cedric. "That was delicious, I'm glad you suggested it," she said, before folding the napkin on the plate in front of her. "I'm ready, now."


* Cedric Costello had no choice but to just sit there while Syn worked and Calliope ate. Although he checked his phone and vaguely read his emails, he was subtly watching the two of them. They'd both be his. He was unsure why that made him feel so proud, but it did - Syn, though strange, had adapted, and her lack of feeling didn't hinder Cedric's care. When Calliope had finished, she announced her readiness. "Just like that, eh?" he said. He considered where he should take her - to the office in the record shop next door would be poetic. That's where it had happened for Syn. But it wouldn't be quite as comfortable. "I think perhaps we should go back to my place. If that is okay with you. The turn can be painful, and I'd like you to be comfortable."


* Calliope found her blunt teeth digging into her lip and nodded, having not thought about the fact that it might hurt. "Okay..." she said, sliding out of the booth and getting to her feet. She toyed with the hem of her shirt and cast a glance toward Syn.


* Syn worked upon her report in the quiet as she put the final touches to it. Finally she opened her emails and attached the final report along with her resignation letter before sending it off. It was final, but she didn't weep about it. There was nothing to weep about even if she could find the right emotions to do so. Although Calliope announced she was ready, Syn waited until Cedric said something. She then shut down her laptop and closed it. The woman felt no sympathy at the fact that the human might feel pain, she just knew that the level of pain had to be less severe than when Syn had been turned. Silently the woman moved to stand, picking up her laptop as she did so and wait then for her sire to stand and take the lead.


* Cedric Costello did not hesitate to stand and move from the booth. His phone was turned off, and at the bar he told the duty manager that he would be away for the rest of the evening, and to take messages from anyone calling for him. The man nodded, and Cedric led the two women from the bar, back out into the mall and toward the elevator. A trip that Syn had taken with him before; it was like deja vu, in a way. Though Calliope had yet to be turned. He should have asked if Calliope was sure. He should have told her to take a couple of days to think about it. And yet, he had made up his mind. She had made up hers. What more was there to say?