On the First Day of Christmas... [Adam Dupree]

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

The snow had started to fall sometime during the day. Cosimo loved the snow. Before moving to Harper Rock he’d never seen the snow. Now, every time it snowed, he had to stand out on the footpath and stare at it, at the flurries drifting slowly through the air. It was magical. But he couldn’t stand there all night watching the snow. There were things he had to do. Things that did not include Athena, because she wasn’t allowed to know. Christmas was fast approaching, and presents needed to be purchased.

They were a healthy couple. They didn’t cling to each other or always demand to know where the other was, or where they had been. They had their separate jobs, and went about their nights as couples usually did – some nights they spent together, others they spent apart. The time apart was a blessing, now, as he did not want Athena to see what his plans were. Though she already knew, to an extent. They were just plans he hadn’t yet followed through on. And what better time than now?

Shifting his gaze from the sky, Cosimo slowly released his breath; breath that should have steamed in the chill air, but which did not. He didn’t have the body heat to allow for the steamy perspiration. The night was still early and some of the shops had extended their opening hours on certain days of the week leading up until Christmas. It was to the business centre of town that Cosimo walked, preferring the exercise to the sports car he had parked in the garage beneath the apartment complex. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his heavy grey trench – he didn’t need to wear it, but it helped to blend in.

The further he walked the brighter it got; he left the apartment buildings and suburbia behind, and entered the busy shopping district. Christmas carols drifted out of open doors. Too many people had scowls on their faces, rushing to their destinations, or home again. Cosimo meandered, taking in the sights and sounds, revelling in the world that surrounded him. His spirits were high, his mood fatally optimistic.

But when was it not?

W E A R I N G

[Adam Dupree (DELETED 9047)]

Adam had always liked the cold weather. He could remember the happiness he would feel whenever the first frost came to his home town. Some people thought it was weird that he liked the cold. Adam was used to being thought of as weird. He didn't care. He liked what he liked. Adam was yanked from his thoughts as he saw his target on the move. As Adam followed his mark, he checked his back pocket to make sure his knife was still there. He was hoping he wouldn't have to use it but it's better to be prepared.

Adam marveled at the lights of the shopping district. He saw the scowls and thought, 'God! There's so many unhappy people.' Then he chuckled as he heard the Christmas carols. 'Oh the IRONY!' Adam took a deep breath and gathered all of his strength. If he was right about this man, he would need it. He walked up to the man and said, "Excuse me sir, I'm conducting a survey. Have you heard of or witnessed any strange occurrences in this town. Such as, I don't know, odd and out of place tremors?"

Adam talked with a calm voice but he was scared as hell.

Wearing:

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

No sooner had Cosimo turned toward the shop that he was looking for, that he was accosted by a young, blonde male. At first he leaned in, paying attention to the question, considering what could have been a great survey question. Cosimo wasn’t averse to these vox populi things. The question, however, was very pointed. Tremors? The Italian still hadn’t got over the incident at the nightclub. But that was weeks ago. Surely, this guy wouldn’t know…?

Still, Cosimo straightened and frowned, shaking his head.

”No, I have not,” he said, far too quickly. There had been other tremors, other Earthquakes. He was not the only Mystic in the city. He was not the only one who could cause Earthquakes. Scrambling to make up for his too-quick answer, Cosimo again shook his head.

”Why do you ask? I know that Harper Rock is known for its tremors – are they unusual?” he asked. It wasn’t a completely un-genuine question. In this area of the world, was there no natural precedent for them? He kept his hands shoved into his pockets, leaning back on his heels – staying put, even though he just wanted to flee.

[Adam Dupree (DELETED 9047)]

Adam was reading this man's face the entire time. Based on the man's upset look, Adam thought he was either correct about the man or the man was annoyed by being stopped. Either way, Adam had to keep going until he got a definite answer.

Adam chuckled a bit and said, "Maybe they aren't unusual here. In fact, I'm still rather new to Harper Rock so I don't know much about tremors in this place. What I heard was unusual about one tremor before was where it was centered and what it's source was." He started really concentrating on the man's face and posture to see if he could read his body language. Come on man. Adam pleaded in his mind. Just give me something.

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo narrowed his eyes upon the young man. He took the time, now, to look for a lanyard or a clipboard. Anything, to mark him as someone official, working for something official. But there was nothing. What kind of survey was this?

"Scusami, but who is it that you work for? If you do not know the details -- I do not think that you are very good at your job," he said. The shock he had experienced upon first hearing the young man's question had subsided, and was instead replaced by curiosity. Why ask such strange questions? And if he had witnessed Cosimo's little stunt in the night club... well, the Italian would prefer if it the boy were a little more blunt and forthright with what he wanted. Get it over and done with.

If he could not be forthright, Cosimo believed that a game of cat and mouse could not hurt -- if he could not ask the right questions, the boy deserved to work for his answers.

[Adam Dupree (DELETED 9047)]

Adam's eyes widened a little bit when this man asked him who he worked for. He gave him a half truth and said, "I don't necessarily work for anyone. I run an investigative blog for the supernatural."
Adam started thinking, 'Oh God! Did he catch my bluff?! Is he gonna kill me?!'

Adam gulped and thought, 'To hell with it.' Adam said, "I got this story based on some sources who witnessed something weird, like an tremor... at a nightclub. My sources tell me it was done by a vampire. Do you know anything about it?"

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

The Supernatural. There it was. The man wasn't a geologist, researching the strange phenomena of Harper Rock from a scientific perspective. Was he friend or foe of the supernatural? Cosimo shifted from one foot to the other, glancing over his shoulder, considering. He could walk away. He should walk away. But was it better to know how much this man knew?

"And what if I do know something about it? Why do you want to know, and what will you do with the answers?" he asked. These were safe questions to ask. They were pertinent questions to ask. A nightclub, he said. How many nightclubs had suffered earthquakes recently? This had to be the fallout of Cosimo's own indiscretion, and so it was something that he would have to deal with.

[Adam Dupree (DELETED 9047)]

Adam's eyes widened a little bit as the man said his words. "It would be greatly appreciated if you told me information you know. I want to know because I've been looking for answers to a Supernatural question for years now. I'll use this information to get something I've also wanted for years."

His excitement as starting to grow. If you could see how he was feeling, you'd see Adam jumping in excitement. "Please sir. Please tell me what you know."

[Cosimo Alessi (DELETED 6612)]

Cosimo felt that his question had not been answered. Not really. Yes, the boy did say it was a question he'd wanted answered but he didn't say what he was going to do with it. There was a gleam hidden behind the eyes that suddenly lit up with excitement, and the curious stranger didn't look dangerous. He looked innocent. But Cosimo remained wary. What kind of fanatic was this? A good one, or a bad one? And was it good or bad attention that he had drawn to himself in that club that night?

"What is the question? It will depend on the question, if I give you information. You will understand that it is sensitive, this information," he said. In another life Cosimo had been a con artist. He wasn't in the business of hurting people, not like his father. He had only been in the business to steal from the rich and give to the poor. He had learned a lot from Robin Hood -- and from his own mother.

But, in the con business one grew to learn the weight and value of information. It wasn't something to be given freely.

[Adam Dupree (DELETED 9047)]

A grin grew on Adam's face. Whether it is was an sly grin or a grin of excitement was difficult to determine. "I'm looking for vampires and I believe you know information about it." Adam said. He was going to let his words sink into the man's head.

He understood that he could die from this man, but it was a risk worth taking. He wasn't going to stop until he got results. He spent too much time with his research (and technically stalking) to turn back now. This was extremely important to him. He had to prove to himself and everyone who ever doubted him that he was not crazy to believe in vampires. Well not technically tell everyone, he wasn't stupid enough to tell mortals about the truth of vampires once he convinced this man to turn him. "Don't worry. I know you telling me will break the code, but it'll be worth it. I promise. Plus I know information. Like how you're a vampire... Cosimo Alessi."