Coda [Rhys]

[Vienna Torres (DELETED 8181)]

‹Vienna Torres› She sprinted out of the nightclub like she was being chased, heading to the car she borrowed for the night. She grabbed the key from her pocket and opened the trunk - her hands shook enough that it took two tries for her to manage to stick the key into the keyhole. She flung her hand inside and took out the sword. Clutching it like a lifeline, she turned, casting a wary look back across the street.

‹Rhys Del Monaco› His own exit was likewise abrupt. He was reeling - overwhelmed by the events of the evening, the sudden scrutiny that had left him feeling exposed. He wasn't one to shy away from focus; he was used to having command of the floor. But that was when he was in his element, holding a jury rapt. Tonight had felt more like a dissection. He made his way out into the evening, lungs drawing in oxygen they didn't need. His attention was caught by a blur of motion out of the corner of his eye, and his head turned, sharply. A soft, defeated chuckle escaped him as he caught sight of Vienna.

‹Vienna Torres› Her eyes caught on Rhys. She turned to face him, her back against the car. "If you want to eat me, I'm not going to make it easy," she said, leveling a warning glare at him. She shifted her grip on the sword and drew it an inch from the scabbard.

‹Rhys Del Monaco› His hands rose in a placating gesture. It was fluid, meant to soothe. Her words, however, made him pause, conjuring the graphic image Nikolae had painted earlier in the evening. The offer that had been unnerving in its calm candor. "I'm not going to eat you," he muttered. "I had plenty of opportunities earlier, in case it escaped your notice."

‹Vienna Torres› Her eyes flicked to his raised hands - placatory and calming, the sight that he had no weapon. Only for a moment, because he was a weapon, and she only needed to look into his eyes to remember that. "Mentioning that you could have doesn't help," she snapped, grip still tight on the sword.

‹Rhys Del Monaco› He paused, a wry twitch of his mouth acknowledging the words. It struggled to shape itself into a smile, but a ragged breath left it in tatters. He was careful to keep his distance. The involuntary feeding had settled his nerves; restored a measure of his strength. But he could still smell the life in her veins, still hear the steady rhythm of her pulse. His jaw tensed briefly. "Probably not." He admitted. "But I don't want to."

‹Vienna Torres› Her eyes never leaving him, she drew the sword. "Thanks," she drawled, tossing the scabbard back into the trunk. She studied him. "What do you want then?"

‹Rhys Del Monaco› The question caught him off guard, and for a moment he didn't speak, puzzling over them. The answer used to be so simple. Success. Influence. A family of his own. All hope of the last had withered with his death, leaving an afterimage burned on the back of his eyelids that, in the quiet moments, he did his best to forget. "It doesn't matter."

[Rhys Del Monaco (DELETED 7810)]

‹Vienna Torres› She inclined her head, acknowledging his point. He was right. It didn't matter. Even if he wasn't a threat - and she wasn't sure she trusted him yet - there was still a roomful of vampires she definitely didn't trust close by. She closed the trunk, fetching her key. "I don't want you here while I'm getting ready to drive," she said bluntly. "If you really have good intentions like you say, go away."

‹Rhys Del Monaco› He studied her for a moment. He couldn't begrudge her lack of trust. It was a good instinct. A healthy one. It hinted that the young woman had a surprisingly level head on her shoulders, despite the fact that the evidence had been disturbingly lacking earlier in the evening. He wasn't sure what had brought her to the party - whether curiosity or a death wish- but either way, it was far from healthy. It was better if she kept her distance from him. From him, and those like him. A haunted look briefly clouded his gaze as he recalled Nikolae's earlier warning. He barely repressed a shudder. "Be safe." He said, taking a careful step back.

‹Vienna Torres› A look of surprise crossed her face before she suppressed it. "That's the plan," she said shortly. She took a step back as well, heading toward the front of the car. Paused. "Your family is full of assholes, by the way." Peace offering? Insult? She wasn't sure herself.

‹Rhys Del Monaco› A low, startled laugh escaped him. "Tell me about it." He replied. He didn't seem offended; there was a hint of amusement in his tone. "You get to drive away."

‹Vienna Torres› The wariness didn't leave her, but her mouth twitched with amusement. "Yeah." Maybe. But she'd sure as hell gotten farther than she would have expected. Another step back - she was almost at the front door. Vienna hesitated. "Am I going to have to worry about them coming after me?"

‹Rhys Del Monaco› The question left him staring at her then. A mixture of expressions fought for control - warring with one another. The look that settled on her at last was uncertain. Cautious. He knew very little about the Dragomir. He'd spent the first several months of his death avoiding them entirely. He wouldn't offer false assurances - he couldn't vouch for their nature, better or otherwise. "I don't know." He said, truthfully. "I doubt it."

‹Vienna Torres› The way he looked at her made her think that she wasn't going to like the answer. When it came, she laughed. "Better than nothing, I guess." She'd reached the driver's door, fumbling in her pocket for her key. "Thanks."

‹Rhys Del Monaco› He offered a helpless shrug. There was a part of him that felt regret that he couldn't supply her with something more concrete. But it was what it was. "For?" He asked, arching a brow. Not that he expected an answer. He lifted a hand in a brief salute.

‹Vienna Torres› Not killing her? Being almost helpful? "Doesn't matter, right?" she said with a shrug.

‹Rhys Del Monaco› "Guess it doesn't," he agreed. He took another step back, then. Another. As he did, the shadows surrounding him deepened. It was gradual, at first; a slow bleed. By the time she thought to glance his way again, there was nothing there at all.

‹Vienna Torres› For a moment, she thought that she was imagining the way the shadows around his form darkened - and then there was nothing. Grey had traveled with her like this once - it was stranger to see it from the outside. Some part of him wasn't truly convinced that he was gone. Fleetingly, she wondered where he'd gone, but that was one of the things that didn't matter. She entered the car and drove, heading home.