Musings Over Drinks (closed)

[Elizabeth]

Doc: Knowing his faults, was one of the things Doc felt was actually a good thing. He embraced his faults and typically made no apology for them. In a normal person, acknowledging your faults, meant striving to overcome them, to try and be a better person. But not so with Doc. He considered his faults, part of him. Take them or leave them. He used other people’s reactions to his faults as his personal gauge, whether or not they were worth his time. If someone dismissed him out of hand, well Doc dismissed them equally quickly. It made things less complicated in his mind. Why should he ‘try’ to make people like him, if with one screw up they cut him off? Better to get it over with at the get go, than wasting perfectly good time on some feckless imbecile.

Doc glanced briefly at Elizabeth as she admitted to, in her words, ‘declining’ to comment. His tone was dry, though amused as he replied, “That my dear, is lying by omission. You may call it a woman’s prerogative, but your sex does not have full ownership of the act. We males are just as proficient as you females.” He paused and then added, “Haven’t you ever fumed over a monosyllabic answer to a perfectly easy to answer question? ‘How was your day?’ ‘Good.’ That is a prime example of the male's version of lying by omission.”

Upon entering the mall, they walked to the elevator to take them to the second floor where Yin was located. Doc moved forward to get the door for her, “I must admit, I am really pleased how the decor turned out. I told Dominique, what I had in mind, and she took over. After the first few samples show up that she had picked, I knew the place was in good hands.” It may not seem like a monumental statement, but it really did speak volumes. Doc was not the type to leave anything to chance. He would make sure there was a plan in place, and a back up plan as well, followed by a contingency plan for emergencies. So it was rather unusual to leave all the details to someone else. “What do you think..?”

(floorplan link)
http://imageshack.com/a/img923/4359/ARFM3l.jpg

Elizabeth: Elizabeth took his words to mind and nodded. She knew that by omitting her true feelings and thoughts on some level in their conversations that it was ‘lying’ or at least declining to potentially start an onset of debates and, or, arguments. Elizabeth wasn’t exactly against debating, or even ‘arguing’ for lack of a better word; in fact the woman thoroughly enjoyed debates, even if in losing it. For the saying ‘Knowledge is power,’ rang no truer words in her mind. To her, losing a debate wasn’t ever a problem, for she won in knowledge.

“Perhaps, I have failed to admit some things, but it was not out of spite or maliciousness. It has been some time since I have indulged in a conversation other than my thrall; and she primarily discusses with me hair styles, make-up techniques and the like. It is what she is going to the university for.” Elizabeth explained with a shrug of her shoulders. Was it a glamorous profession? Perhaps not, but it suited the woman so well. She would lack no client base, in Elizabeth’s mind.

When the big reveal was presented with the simple opening of the business’s door, Elizabeth slowly proceeded inwards, eyes trained on the golden tinted piano as she climbed the steps up to the main area of the Bourbon bar. Only after a few seconds of intent gazing, did the woman’s gaze drift to the decor’s entirety. “The colour choices speak of both elegance and class. Accented with gold and silver, gives it both a warm and rich appearance, but not unbearably so. As in a flaunting nature, which could be off putting.” She concluded once her eyes swung to the bar tucked behind the piano in a corner. “Dominique did a wonderful job and I think it will keep out the client base you disapprove of and keep the ones you desire around.” She moved around the room, her left fingertips barely falling upon the piano’s lid. “Have you a pianist, or will you be entertaining the guests most evenings?” Her eyes found Doc once the woman moved around to the piano’s bench, fingers back at her side.

Doc: Doc made a horrified face in reaction to Elizabeth admitting all she and her thrall ever spoke of was about cosmetics and hair styles. “**** me.. That is all you talk about? How do you keep from going stark raving mad? You have to have something more scintillating to discuss than that.” He stopped and looked at her, “In all seriousness, you’re killing your brain cells. You are letting them atrophy. Hair? Good god woman, it is no wonder you were so easy to talk into a drinking contest.”

Doc stopped abruptly and raked a mildly frustrated hand through his hair. “I apologize. How you spend your time is entirely up to you, and none of my ******* business.” Moving up the piano, he ran a caressing hand along it, before finally looking at Elizabeth’s reactions to the place. Elizabeth was the type of person he had hoped to cater to. Someone that wanted more than techno-repetitive-brain-numbing-sound.

She gave him a promising and positive review of the place. Doc made a mental note to let Minx know her designs were meeting with approval from all the correct people. When she asked him if he intended to play the piano, he gave her an amused grimace, “No.. I only dabble.. I leave the artistry of music to the professionals.” He narrowed his gaze at her, “Do you play?”

Elizabeth: Her lips quirked upwards at Doc’s opinion on her time spent with her thrall. “I suppose we talk about other things from time to time…” She confessed, omitting the exact things they spoke of. It was private and personal and not something Elizabeth wished to discuss with anyone, since it dealt with Shamus. “But recently, the conversations have taken a toll to the thoughtlessness. Nothing too entertaining.” She shrugged her shoulders before shaking her head. “No. You are correct, but this time of year, it seems the majority are busy with themselves and theirs. It bothers me not.” That was true. Once upon a time it would have bothered the Telepath, but since her trip away from Harper Rock a few months ago, the woman had come back with a less emotional state of mind and a more realistic and logical one. Perhaps, even slightly indifferent to the majority she once knew.

When he asked if she played, Elizabeth slowly nodded her head. “I do. Though, not in a few months. But, when you play for as long as I do, as to not sound egotistical, what is a few months, in comparison to decades or centuries?” She admitted before taking a seat at the bench. “If you do not mind?” She inquired, while she pushed back the fall board of the piano, her mind already made up, regardless to whether Doc minded or not. Elizabeth closed her eyes for a brief moment, deciding which song to play, before her fingers came to rest on the keys, barely touching them while her decision was made.

She could have played something familiar, but Elizabeth choose to go with the more unfamiliar work of a famous composer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KMGcOYHSs0 Her fingers raced across the black and white keys, emphasis noted occasionally with the forceful press of fingers at certain times, while the woman played the song at its accelerated tempo, her blue eyes remaining cast down upon the keys as her fingers played the sonata, until about four and a half minutes in, when she stopped the song at a declining point in the masterpiece. “Something, I doubt one would find in a Bourbon Bar, anyways.” She laughed as fingers once again found her lap.

Doc: As Elizabeth started playing, he could not honestly say he could place the piece she chose. It had a familiarness to it, but he was loath to try and name a composer, because in the end it would only show his ignorance. It was better he just be thankful she did not take him to task over his personal and rather rude assessment of her personal conversations.

However as she played, engrossed in the music, Doc could not help but wonder why she had become so reclusive. He remembered her satirical playfulness when she became Queen. She had played the role well, with grace and the right amount of royal benevolence that any great Queen would wield. But something between then and now had changed her. She was more recalcitrant, no. Not recalcitrant, she was more ..suppressed. The amused benevolence was still in there somewhere, but was it wary. But why? What had happened to take the devilish gleam from her eyes?

The more Doc wondered, the more he realized that he didn’t really know her at all. Perhaps the part of the Queen was not the ‘real’ Elizabeth, and it could very well be that his presumptions thus far, were just that.. Mere presumptions. For all he knew she was playing him. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. It was a possibility. To discount it would be ignoring an obvious possibility. One did not ignore possibilities just because they may be unpleasant. So, if she were playing him, to what end? What would she hope to gain from him?

That was the main thought on his mind, when the music stopped, unfinished. Her deprecating smile, saying more than her words. Why had she stopped? “No.. that is exactly the sort of thing I would hope to hear. It is out of the norm.” He looked at her pointed, “It causes one to think, to wonder, to surmise, as well as enjoy. What better compliment is there to a good bourbon, and good company, than the music to bring it all together.”

Elizabeth: The blonde haired woman listened and then nodded her head. “Yes, but a smart business man caters not to what he would want or expect to hear, but the client base.” There was a double meaning in her words, one that would go amiss simply because Doc did not know her true thoughts and feelings; which had little to do with professional and more along the lines of the personal. “Do people still enjoy doing that? Thinking?” She asked, with an amused pull of her lips, finding the majority of the populace, kindred or kine, failed to do such a thing.

“I would be happy to play here, on occasion. If you would like it. When the bar opens. Free. I would just simply enjoying observing the individuals left within the world that took part in thinking, and surmising.” She said with a light laugh, her eyes finding Doc once again. Some truth lay in those words, but the real truth was that the woman would not mind the company either. “Should you have a circumstance in which a pianist is not available, that is.” The woman concluded, before finding the fall board and encasing the keys once again.

[Doc]

Doc: Doc’s brow furrowed slightly. She wanted to play? Now what was he missing? He had just been sure she had closed herself away from the world, and now she was offering to play .. for free, if he agreed. Maybe the alcohol was playing with his head. Maybe things were simply as they purported to be, and nothing more. He could and did have the tendency to overthink things. And he had been drinking. His thoughts could be skewed. “I would be in your debt. If it works with your schedule, we are hoping for a grand opening on the 27th. If you aren’t available, I completely understand..”

Doc waited, he debated openly disagreeing with her. He had enjoyed the evening, and he didn’t want it to end on a sour note. But for all his good intentions, Doc couldn’t let her statement stand. “I have to disagree with what you said earlier. There are, it is true, many business that must cater to their clientele to stay solvent. However, not all businesses have to follow that model. If the sole purpose of this business was to make money, yes, I would cater to the masses. But **** the masses. Harper Rock is replete with bars that cater to the masses. I want a place I feel comfortable at. A place the embodies elegance and class… for the lack of a better word.” He lifted an arrogant brow, “I want the majority of Harper Rock take one look and decide this is not the place for them. If this is nothing more than a place I am comfortable, so be it.”

Elizabeth: Elizabeth stood slowly, while Doc spoke. Not only did he accept her offer, but he was proposing she played the night of YIN’S opening. That, was a tall order, and quite the expectation put forth, was it not? Elizabeth was almost certain she would have very little, if anything to do that night, but did not feel inclined to state such a thing. Instead, she countered with a statement she hoped Doc would take to heart. She did not doubt her talents, but the woman was positive there were others out there that could play far better than she and had a broader range of musical abilities in terms of classical, to modern song choices. “If you are certain there is no one better…” She said, before adding on, “I would be most pleased to play for thee, if there are no conflicts of schedules.” Elizabeth finished, offering Doc a smile.

Elizabeth found herself picking apart some of Doc’s final words. Was it possible for someone like him to consistently feel out of sorts in an environment? Had he no place where he could find ‘comfort?’ Perhaps, Elizabeth understood that better than she cared to admit. Was that not the reason for her continual leave of the city this last year? The inability to feel comfortable in any of her homes, or even within the city itself? “Well, at least you shall always have one customer, should the city decide it does not appreciate class, or elegance.” Elizabeth gave Doc a wistful smile. “I must profess, your piano is far grander than mine. I would stop in, if not to only play it but a while.” She chuckled softly, before moving around the piano, to where Doc stood. “I pray we may be friends. Good ones, perhaps.” She smiled up at him, before glancing away. “You asked me earlier this evening if I had been truthful, or perhaps had bent those truths for my benefit.” Her blue orbs once again found Doc’s face, before she continued. “If we are to be friends, then truth is expected. And so, I shall answer any singular question, truthfully, that you ask of me right now, in hopes of a blooming acquaintanceship, to that of a friendship.” The woman smiled up at him, before taking a step, then another, around him as the woman claimed a black seat near the staircase.

Doc: “It isn’t about who is best.. So much as who I would prefer to play. As I said.. This place is more for me than anyone. Yes. I hope it makes a profit. But I am not worried if it does not. Who would I prefer to play? You. So I will hope that your schedule permits. Thank you.” His tone of voice was affable and genuine. The number of people Doc could count as being comfortable with fluctuated on a daily basis. Before the fall of the masquerade, that number was even smaller. But since the fall, some he had felt comfortable with, well now, there was hesitance. He had seen how some changed. Where they merely giving lip service to the belief in the masquerade? Because now many had done a 180 degree turn.

Yes, it could be argued that those who changed were merely trying to adapt, but to Doc there was something more at work. Others that he relied on, had taken to sequestering themselves further and further away. Some had even left the city. So he found himself at a crossroads. Accept the changes and move on; embrace the new ways; and hope for the best.. Or, become more vigilant and continue to play the role he first took on when he was turned, regardless that the masquerade had fallen? He tore himself away from his thoughts as Elizabeth complimented his piano. He grinned, “It is yours any time you wish to use it.”

At Elizabeth’s statement about truth between friends, Doc looked down with an impish grin gracing his face. She was telling him quite clearly, should he lie to her, she would consider it rude and dissolution of her proffered friendship would be at stake. His head still bowed slightly he looked at her and agreed. “Duly noted. I shall be on my behavior not to sully this harmony with any future mistruths..” He lifted his and grinned openly, “But you should be aware .. I can be brutally honest.” He followed her toward the area in the back and took a seat opposite her.

Leaning forward, Doc’s eyes locked on hers, he asked the question that every female hates to have asked, much less have to answer truthfully. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his hands linked together and resting on the table that separated them, as the question in a hushed whisper was asked, “How much do you weigh?”

Elizabeth: With permission to use the piano as often as she would like, Elizabeth smiled and tucked that piece of knowledge away. Would she come for the opening on the twenty-seventh? Of course, she would. He had asked, and unless some unfortunate fate befell upon her, Elizabeth would be here that evening. When Doc acknowledged what Elizabeth had been stating with friendship and honesty and informing her of his genuine nature, yet again this evening, the woman’s lips turned into a slight smirk. “So long as it is genuine. Sometimes, the world, and the people within it need blunt honesty. Besides, do I appear to be a woman that seems to be easily offended by the bitter truth?” If she were, Elizabeth doubted she would have seen as many centuries as she had. After all, their kind could ‘supposedly,’ not return before Cobb made an error to allow such things.

When he bent down and leaned forward, her gaze grew intently, wondering what it was he would ask her. The possibilities were endless, but what she suspected and what Doc actually asked were no where near the possibilities that came to Elizabeth’s mind. The woman’s blue irises studied him for a moment, before she laughed. Was he completely serious? He could have asked her anything, and of everything, he asked that?

“Well, I suppose the scenario changes in what one is wearing. If you are asking me what I wear with a corset, then, I of course weigh more than I would wearing what I typically wear each evening. But, if you are asking me what I weigh when I am wearing nothing…” Elizabeth trailed off for a second before leaning forward herself. “Then I weigh, one hundred and sixteen pounds. That is what the scale stated that last time I stepped upon it-quite some time ago.” Not that her weight should be expected to fluctuate, being she didn’t eat anything and her physique would never change. A blessing and a curse when it came to the immortal life style. “What a...unique and unexpected question. Thank you for the laugh.” She leaned back in the chair, eyes sweeping over the establishment once again. “And, if I may ask thee a question?” She did not wait for an answer, because Elizabeth was bound and determined to ask it regardless. “Is Doc the name in which you were born with, or have you another?” Her head canted to the side as once again, Elizabeth’s eyes came to find Doc’s face yet again.

Doc: Doc nodded. He had guessed about one twenty, so he was off a bit; but still within his predefined two percent margin of error. A self-satisfied almost smug smile graced his face as he sat back. It was a hobby. Something he did to pass the time. But clothes could be deceiving as she herself had indicated. And the dress she wore this evening could hide a myriad of disagreeable things. Although he had seen her before, so he knew that wasn’t the case; but it was something that should always be taken into account. Doc canted his head toward her as she thanked him for the laugh.

Doc had the opportunity to ask whatever he wanted and she would tell him the truth. There were all sorts of things rolling through his mind, but he could have asked. But each came with its own set of baggage; or perhaps melancholy that could be tied to the answer. No it had to be something that would be a finite answer. Not a yes or a no. But rather something, that would not ruin the current carefree atmosphere. He had hoped it would amuse her, but if it had not amused her, and in fact annoyed her, he would have learned more about her temperament than she wanted to admit. Fortunately, she was, and he had not ruined the mood.

“Of course, fair is fair, after all. You looked me in the eyes and admitted your weight in, not one.. But multiple.. styles of dress. I think I am duty bound to give you the self same courtesy.” His smug knowing smile returned to his usual crooked closed lipped smirk for a few seconds, before he finally answered. “I christened with the name Charles Nilson.” He took a minimal pause before continuing, “It was determined before my birth that I would follow in the family tradition of being a Doctor, whether I wished to or not. I got the name Doc in University. I studied more than most. I excelled in class. Became quite the know-it-all. My sophomore year.. I knew more than most seniors who were headed to on to Medical studies. It was their idea of an insult. But I embraced the name.. Much to their chagrin, when I finished my studies and a specialty before they did theirs, they had to call me Doc, legitimately then.”

Elizabeth: The telepath did not miss the smug look upon his features, but it did little to alter her mood. Whatever had Doc so satisfied with himself, was lost on her. Doc made no inclination that he did not believe her at any point, and she suspected he might have already known the truth. After all, was he not a doctor? Did that mean that perhaps he was testing her honesty, with such a question? Things to ponder over later.

Her posture shifted to him as Doc gave her his real name, and progressed to explain how it was he came to receive the name he seemed to prefer to be called. His short life story brought some questions to mind, but would perhaps be asked another time. Besides, with his legal name now known (assumingly) perhaps she could find the answer to those questions through some other methodology. It was Elizabeth’s turn to look slightly smug, even if it only lasted for a few seconds. She blinked and then slowly stood from her seated position. “Thank you for your company, and conversation, Doc.” Elizabeth said with a small dip of her head. “I should go, but perhaps we can do this again. Some other night.” She offered him a smile. “I shall see thee on the twenty-seventh, if not before then.” With that, the woman gathered the bulk of her skirt on the left side of her body, and headed down the stairs, vanishing from view before Elizabeth came near the door.

[Elizabeth]

OOC: About a week later

Elizabeth: The petite blonde haired telepath slowly entered the Bourbon bar after a short rap on the door, blue eyes peering inside. "Hello?" Elizabeth's eyes fell to the golden piano, then called his name, the one Doc seemed to prefer. "Doc?" The blonde woman asked, adorned in a burgundy coloured dress with black heels. (Wearing: https://www.stylewe.com/image_...0-1.JPG )

Doc: *Doc saw Elizabeth enter the Yin, and he stood up, and moved toward her, as she called his name. * Hello Elizabeth... How are you this evening?

Elizabeth: Her lips parted into a large smile once her eyes landed upon Doc, while Elizabeth moved over to him, a hand behind her back. "I am well, and how are thee?" She stopped in front of him, then revealed a plate trimmed with light blue and gold. "I baked these earlier this eve." Her eyes glanced down at the contents on the plate. "They are blueberry scones. Not that one could enjoy such a thing, but, I found myself...inspired. My thrall says they are not sweet enough." Elizabeth rolled her shoulders gently. "Perhaps yours has better taste?"

Doc: Doc thought about complimenting her on her dress, but he was forestalled by her proffered plate of scones. He gave her a crooked smirk. "You baked.. and was it enjoyable? And I am quite sure Grace would be more than happy to taste them and give you a fair evaluation." He reached out to take the plate from, while gesturing to the table ha first sat at. "I brought the Science Journal with with. The one with the Senescence cells."

Elizabeth: The woman slowly nodded her head and then tucked her golden strands behind her ear. "I must admit, that it was. When I was human, it was an expected custom. While I was good at it, after baking with certain expectations or demands, it grew less and less enjoyable and felt daunting. This time it was much more enjoyable, because if they turned out wretched, then there was no harm, as the scones were not expected or anticipated." Her eyes moved to the table that Doc gestured to, eyes growing in size. "Have they only ever done something like that with mice?" The woman slowly moved to the table, her curiosity piqued.

Doc: Doc gave her a look. his brow furrowed slightly. "First .. I am glad you found baking this time enjoyable.. and in answer to you second question, as far as I know.. it is has only been tested on mice." He pressed his lips into a line, "Human testing has serious guidelines that have to be followed when in trials." He paused "Human testing outside the letter of the law.. is frowned on..." He wasn't ready to actually admit that he knew more about illegal human testing than the average Doctor.

Elizabeth: Elizabeth laughed and then shook her head. "I had not meant humans, but other animals." The woman took a seat at the table and then looked at the journal, not touching it. Yet. "I have to confess that this is an area, I know nothing about." Elizabeth's fingers reached for the journal, then looked in Doc's direction. "Could you not replicate the trial and perform it on say...a rabbit, or pig?" she looked at him curiously, before her lips parted. "What of...zombies? I imagine everything has cells, yes?"

Doc: Doc grimaced inwardly at his presumptive jump to human testing. Of course she meant other animals. His thoughts wanted to head off in one direction, but then when she asked about testing on another animal, name pigs, he quirked an eyebrow. "Rabbits are actually just large rodents, bigger mice.. but .. Porcines are actually quite close to humans in many aspects. However zombies are.. animated dead. Meaning cells are dead. Non replicating."

Elizabeth: She nodded her head, slowly flipping through the pages of the journal. "And so, why have you not attempted such a thing on pigs?" Elizabeth asked candidly, before continuing. "I apologize. Forgive me." She said with a shake of her head and a small laugh. "While I believe you to be intelligent enough to do such a thing, perhaps that is not something that interests thee. That was rude of me." She flicked her eyes up to his, and pulled the journal closer to her. "Thank you for this. May I take it home?" Elizabeth asked, pondering the words Doc had just spoken a few seconds ago.

Doc: "Of course you can take it, that is why I brought it." His voice was somewhat absentminded as he added, "I have done animal testing.. and even human testing. Quite a bit of both in fact. Most of it before I was turned... because," He looked at her "I think... like you.. it lost its allure." he paused, "I haven't tested those particular type of cells. But.. it would be interesting. "

Elizabeth: Elizabeth's lips pursed in thought, her head tipping slightly. "Is everything well with thee, this evening?" She asked while her hands dropped to her lap, fingers playing with the material of her dress, cerulean irises upon him. "Are you nervous about Friday? I am certain everything will be well." Elizabeth offered him a reassuring smile, fingers still rubbing at the pattern design on the dress.

Doc: "Nervous? No.. Haven't really advertised it that much. Only told those I actually like.. " He grinned crookedly, "I told you .. I am not really sure I want this place to be popular.. next thing I know .. it would be invaded by hipsters and bearded freaks..with skinny ties.. **** me if I want that to happen." He leaned back his in seat, "You look very nice .. " He had noticed her fiddling with her dress. Was she nervous about something? She didn't have a reason to be nervous, but in case she was he decided to use a few tools from his counseling. "Tell me about your typical day before you were turned... Not a special day.. just an average day.."


Elizabeth: When he complimented her, Elizabeth stopped playing with her dress, and smiled once again. "Thank you." She had debated on wearing two other dresses, but Elizabeth had liked the colour of this dress better than the other two. The woman tensed when asked that question, then looked away. "I fear if I told you about an average day, one might think me a wretched individual." Elizabeth said quietly, but returned her gaze to Doc. "I spent most of my days and nights praying and wishing for the death of those closest to me." Elizabeth stated without blinking. "Primarily, my mother and one of my eldest siblings. I had four brothers." She concluded, before placing both hands on the table. "Life, was not always kind to me." She smiled, and then shook her head. "Eventually she died, and my time became consumed with other things. I was..." Elizabeth paused before she skipped past the parts of her life she did not enjoy. "I had enjoyable moments. I had a child once. A boy. My fondest memories and best are the times in which he was part of my life." She concluded before blinking again. "Does any of that change your perspective of me?" Elizabeth asked, a hand once again finding her lap.

Doc: Doc grinned openly, "Not a bit.. I did the same ******* thing. Except ..I didn't have any siblings. " He lowered his voice and leaned forward, "I was a loner for most of my life. I did worse than wish the death of those that made my life hell... " Leaning back he added quietly. "Still do.."

Elizabeth: Loner. A term she could relate to from her human years. "You are most fortunate." Elizabeth was slightly envious of Doc's lack of siblings for a moment, before leaning forward herself to hear the rest of what he had to say. Her lips parted into a cracked smile, "Some would say such a feeling is unhealthy." Elizabeth laughed, a sparkle in her eyes. Honestly, the woman had the fleeting idea of telling Doc that those were the people he should be using to test things out on, but refrained. "On the bright side, they will one day grow old, and die, whereas you...shall not." Elizabeth offered, leaning back once again. "I spent a lot of my free time in the gardens. Primarily, vegetable, but I had a small floral garden as well. Another enjoyable memory before my son was born."

Doc: Doc was about to admit they were all already dead when she mentioned her son. She had a son. A child. He didn't know much about her, how old she really was, but he knew she was at least a few hundred years, and from her youthful countenance, she was turned early in her life. Back then a woman of thirty was considered used up. He was silent for a long moment but he finally asked, "What happened? You said that as though his birth brought nothing but misery.. did he die young?"

‹Elizabeth› She shook her head and smiled softly. "The opposite. James-my son, brought me genuine happiness for the first time since my father passed away when I was a young girl. He was a great man, my father..." Elizabeth trailed off. "I--" She trailed off for a second, drew in a large breath of air and then continued. "His father, James' was absent often. Out to sea, fishing. It was for the best. Marriages were not as they were today." Elizabeth explained, a fixed smile still on her face. "When James was five, our home caught on fire. I-I had been so tired. I set something on the ground near the fire, walked away to check on James," Her eyes flicked away. "He had a terrible cold that winter. It never ended, the coughing at night. I went to bed and...I never saw James again." Elizabeth concluded softly.

Doc: He studied her as she spoke. He did not miss the significance of her comment about marriage. Marriage today was hard enough, but then? When it took all your energy to eek a living? Tenfold harder. Her husband was a fisherman, meaning more than likely she had no servants. She spent her day gathering resources to just to survive the next day. Add a five year old child and a missing spouse to the mix, it had to be a horrible existence. Just keeping the home stocked with wood for warmth had to be a never ending chore. He understood now why baking had meant so much to her. She took something that she ‘had’ to do, and made it into an act of love and caring. Something to give her a brief respite from the dreary reality of her life.

But then the loss of the child. He imagined that was the death knell for the marriage. “Losing a child, is not easy. I have seen how it tears apart families.” He had. Children with inoperable tumors, or catastrophic injuries from vehicle accidents, and their ensuing deaths ripped formally strong families apart. “I am sorry for you loss.” He wouldn’t offer more than that, because quite honestly, what else could he say? It had happened centuries ago. He could tell she still held onto a semblance of guilt over it. It was more than sadness .. or finality in her voice.

“Life in the past then was quite a bit harsher than now. It was a struggle to survive day to day.” He acknowledged her loss, and now “When were you born?”

Elizabeth: The woman nodded her head in agreement. “No, it was not easy.” Elizabeth affirmed with a small smile. The woman no stranger to the idea of families being torn apart. She had seen it first hand when her father had died, and then again when James had died. “Thank you.” Elizabeth appreciated the kind sentiment, but Doc had nothing to be sorry about. He had not been there, he had not played a hand in her son’s death.

At the question about her age, the woman laughed a little. “I was born during the reign of King Henry the seventh. Fifteen hundred...and three, or four. Time was difficult to keep track of, back then.” Elizabeth confessed, ducking her head in embarrassment. “To spare you asking how old I am, I am somewhere between twenty four and twenty six. I stopped caring about my age when James was born and celebrated the season in which he was born, when it returned every year.” The woman lifted her shoulders into a shrug, before her eyes flicked with interest. “And what of you? Care to share your age, or the year in which you were born?”

Doc: Doc’s usual amused smirk returned, as he crossed his legs and linked his finger around his knee, “I am a baby in comparison to you. A Baby Boomer too. I was born in 1964, I would be 52 if I continued to age as human, however I stopped aging at 49.” His voice was passive, though on the jovial side as he continued. “My journey to vampirekind, began with a girl. I met this girl at an auction. She was like no one I had met before. I had seen her before, but really got to know her through the auction.She was capable, strong minded, determined,.. But she also had a softer side that would slip came out. I told myself I was in love with her. Truth really was, that I was infatuated with her. The idea of her. The idea I could be a husband and father.” He paused for a moment, not really sure why her was telling her this, “All the clues were there. Staring me in the face. I refused to see them. I knew vampires existed long before I met her. So I should have realized what she was..” He smirk became a bit more rueful. “But I found out. The hard way. I felt used. Lied to.” The smirk faded as he continued, “You see.. I hunted vampires. Not to kill mind you. But to experiment on. To learn from. I guess she must have known this. That was why she let me get close, hoping I would see the other side of the vampire coin. Become a.. ‘Pet’ I guess. But I have a violent temper, and I was not in a ‘hey let’s talk this out mood.’ I tried to kill her.. But she killed me..”

Elizabeth: Elizabeth was unfamiliar with the term ‘baby boomer.’ Something she would search later. The woman shifted her weight upon the seat, listening to what Doc had to say. Elizabeth came to the conclusion that this woman was Doc’s sire, which was not difficult for the telepath to put a name to his sire. Elizabeth knew very little about his sire; was the woman even around anymore? Many of their kind had seemed to disappear from the city, or go to great lengths to vanish off the face of the earth. When he was done speaking, Elizabeth made a small ‘tsk,’ sound with her tongue. “You do know it is impolite to make a woman feel so...aged?” Elizabeth inquired with a glint of humour riding the corners of her lips, before her humour turned to mock horror. “Oh, a woman. How ghastly; the things we put you men through, yes?” Elizabeth laughed a little before her eyes cast down to her lap as the woman thought.

“And how are relations with your sire, now?” Elizabeth asked, her head tipping to the left a little. While Doc might have been making conversation to just make conversation, there may have been a reason in which he brought the woman up. “Well?” She smoothed the side of the table with her fingers, before placing them on the surface. “Or have you some form of regret how things turned out in the end?” Elizabeth’s eyes flicked up to Doc’s eyes, instead of just his face, focusing on the color of his irises.

Doc: “Now?” Doc raised his eyebrows as he pondered the question truthfully. He didn’t answer fast enough for her as she nudged him verbally. “I am thinking.” He offered as he gave her a knowing look. “I am trying to be ******* honest here..” he shrugged to himself as he weighed the right words in his mind, “I would say it is amicable, but there a wall between us.” He raked a hand through his hair, “You see, I didn’t really know ‘her’, so much as what she projected as ‘her’. I was a game? To her. Something to get out of her system before she settled down with Elliot.”

His impish grin came back, “I ******* hate Elliot. Self-righteous prick who constantly whines about peace and fairness.. But then ******* slaughters young ones who dare to disagree with his holy proclamations.” He rolled his eyes in sarcastic way. “I liked to regularly point out Elliot’s faults and failings.. that doesn’t endear me to her. So I took mine spawn, out of that lineage to create our own. I haven’t seen her since, that I can recall. That was two years ago? Maybe not quite so long, I didn’t memorize the date. And no.. I have no regrets. I was disillusioned for a time. But that had to happen, for me to be who I am now. “

Elizabeth: Elliot. Another name Elizabeth wasn’t familiar with, but her lips frowned a little when Doc mentioned the slaughtering of young ones. Elizabeth left that alone for now, and focused on the other things. “But, you progressed, so to speak. Moved on.” Elizabeth stated, before expanding on that thought. “You have settled, in a sense, with another.” Elizabeth offered a gentle smile in Doc’s direction.

“I do not know everything in regards to what transpired between your sire and you, but perhaps it is best. When one thinks about it, were you infatuated with her, or what she pretended to be? I do not believe anyone likes to be duped when feelings, and emotions are involved. Imagine being tied to someone who was--is, nothing but a lie.” Elizabeth shook her head, then laughed awkwardly. “Were these the conversations in which you were prepared to have this evening?” The blonde woman cracked a smile, as she sat up in the seat. “I apologize at how the conversation has turned to a rather...unpleasant direction. It has been a while since I have entertained anyone in any substantial form of conversation.”

Doc: “No question. I was infatuated with what she pretended to be. That, is why I felt I was lied to. There would be no future. No home. No children. It was all a ruse for her. Once I learned who she really was.. There was no attraction, at all. She is a chameleon. She changes and adapts to the situation as she needs.” He stopped, “Or rather, as she feels the situation should be manipulated.” He shrugged somewhat apathetically to show it didn’t matter to him what his sire did or did not do now.

At her apology, he smiled genuinely with an impishness to it, “Do not apologize Elizabeth. If I didn’t want to tell you .. I would avoid the question.” Just like how he avoided the hint at him having settled with another. That was far from the truth. That was another reason, marriage would have never worked for him. He isn’t really the faithful type. He didn’t know it at the time. But he knew it now. And he completely ignored her innuendo about it, avoided it, and turned the conversation back to the sire and then to her.

Elizabeth: Her lips cracked into a large smile as the woman shook her head. “What was that about omitting truths, or avoiding topics? I seem to recall a new friend stating that was a form of lying...” She teased Doc lightly, before lifting her shoulders into a shrug, indicating that she wasn’t actually serious. “If one could have those things again, would you want those things?” The woman asked, genuinely curious, if Doc’s opinion about children and family changed. He had admitted to becoming a different person now, due to his interaction with his sire. “If my opinion counts for anything, as unfortunate as it all was, I think the person in which you have become is quite...interesting.” Her eyes sparkled for a second before Elizabeth glanced in the direction of the piano, then to other tables within the Bourbon bar.

Doc: “Would I want them?” He frowned slightly. “I have often thought I wanted children. A girl, especially. When I thought it was going to happen, I had names picked out.” His words drifted off to silence. “But now.. No. That time has passed. I have sired spawns and I find I have very little patience with them. These are adults and I want to throttle them half the time. A baby? Toddler? Child? I think I would end up putting it out of my misery.”

Her compliment about who he was now, was genuine. And as much as he wanted to accept it, was it was intended, he knew he couldn’t. “Thank you.” He uncrossed his legs, and leaned forward. “But I don’t think you knew me well enough to say that.” He spoke softly. “I kill ..” he looked around the room briefly, before looking at her pointedly, “..’things’. I hunt,..” he enunciated the next word slowly, “‘things’.” He sat back slowly, in a ‘there you know it all’ kind od way.

Elizabeth: Her lips pressed into a tight smile to keep from laughing at Doc’s sentiments over toddler’s and babies. Then add in wanting to throttle his ‘spawns,’ her eyes held within them understanding and amusement. While her feelings might not be as extreme as Doc’s, there was a time that she felt she had children of her own again, within her vampire ‘family.’

When Doc leaned forward, so did she, then laughed. “Things?” Her eyes swept around the length of the room, then back to him. “Isn’t that what we do? Kill...things?” Elizabeth inquired, before she broadened the questions. “You may not see me often, but I spend a fair amount of time in the place in which the soldiers are at? Just north of here? I too...kill...things.” Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed deviously before she leaned back, hands coming to a rest upon her lap once again.

Doc: “I think .. we are talking about different.. ‘Things’.” He gives her a lifted eyebrow look, as though silently willing her to understand without him saying it aloud. “There are things.. That need killing.. And then there are ‘things’ that I kill for..” He stopped, ‘for fun’? No. ‘For.. amusement’? No. He made a frustrated growly sigh in his throat. “.. to relieve anger and frustration.” Yes, that was more accurate. It was a sort of cathartic feeling he got from the violence and death. It was an addicting feeling. Something he had tried to stop, but found he could not. He justified it in his mind, by saying he was getting rid of those that used others. That took advantage of the system or their families. But the truth was, sometimes he killed for sport.

Even as Doc knew this, and the thought screamed at him, he did not admit that to Elizabeth. It was as though by not saying it aloud; by not admitting it; it gave him the option of changing it. Even though he knew it was a lie. He had been a serial killer before he was turned, he was worse after being turned. He had just gotten better at disposing of the remains in his medical grade incinerator. Part of the reason he started the lab in the first place, to have a legitimate reason to own and operate an incinerator.

Elizabeth: Her brows raised as Doc assessed their ‘things’ as being different. Once again, Elizabeth found herself leaning forward as to make sure Doc was not having to be louder than he should be, when revealing what made their ‘things’ different. Her hands slid from her lap, to the sides of her petite frame as she listened carefully.

The blonde woman had not expected anything of that to be shared with her. Perhaps, Doc had meant ‘things’ like fadebeasts, a certain group of individuals within the city; The disciples were a popular one among the kindred, or even those who bothered his own ‘family,’ or those who have done some significant damage to the vampire community with the...clan that he was involved with. But when he revealed he did it for purposes in regards to anger and frustration, Elizabeth couldn’t help but be curious. Her lips parted to ask the bold question, “And what has thee so angry, or frustrated?” Her head straightened from its slightly tipped positioning, expecting the almost obvious answer of the fall of the masquerade. Still, the woman had a curious mind.

Doc: Doc sighed and nodded, “There are a lot of things. The first.. And usually the one that irks me most, is the Ball and Chain.” He mimics her voice, mimics it badly, in a whiney fashion, “‘Where are you…? I miss you? Let’s make time to do things together.’” He presses his lips together in a grim line, “So I do make time. I make special arrangements.. And she ******* stands me up. But .. wait.. It gets better. When I finally see her again.. It’s MY fault.. She stood me up.” Just thinking about it, caused him to get tense. He counted silently, in order to calm down.

“So I have a lady friend.. Which I think could be something special.. Very special.. But **** my luck.. She wants me.. But she doesn’t want to ‘****’ me. Just be ‘friends’.” He said the words like it was a death sentence. “Then there is the whole masquerade falling. That ******* pisses me off. It could have been avoided, but no.. too many peace and love hippy types..” He stopped suddenly, and took another moment to count. After a moment, “I have anger issues..” He released a breath slowly. “When it all builds up.. Pressure has to be released.”

Elizabeth: There was a puzzled look that crossed Elizabeth’s features at the mention of ‘ball and chain.’ What, or how did a metal restraint have to do with anything? And as Doc went on, Elizabeth realized it wasn’t a physical ball and chain, but that it signified something else. To try and not be completely lost in the conversation, Elizabeth’s mind drifted to the internet and did a basic search of the three words. It took a few seconds, but finally, Elizabeth understood what Doc was saying, and it all made sense.

The mention of a lady friend surprised Elizabeth, and yet at the same time, it did not. Elizabeth could see the allure of an individual like Doc. The telepath waited until Doc was finished, before she looked at him, placing both hands back on the table. “I do not believe I am the first to reveal such a thing to thee, nor can I honestly believe in what I am about to suggest, or say...but certainly there are ways to getting what one needs. Whore houses and things similar to such a thing have existed for centuries, Doc.” Elizabeth shook her head. “But, they apparently come with different titles these days.” The woman’s eyes danced with merriment within them. “As for the Masquerade, there was nothing one, or two, or even ten people alone could do. Not when the majority of a community wants something else. I more than understand your frustrations in that respect; when the Crow was shoved out...it took a great deal of time to come to terms with such a thing. Right now, things are less than ideal, but you are adaptable, and have seen it first hand.” Elizabeth concluded, her lips pressed together in a thoughtful line.

[Doc]

Doc: At her comment about whore houses, he gave her a flat look. He couldn’t tell if she was purposely deviling him, or genuinely offering a suggestion. Propping his elbows on the table, his voice low, “Fine. In case you didn’t know.. I am ******* Pimp as well. Rule number one. Do not **** your employees. Rule number two. Do not **** another pimp’s corral.” He gave her a look, one that said, ‘ah ha.. Yes I know I am ******* screwed all the way around’.

As the conversation turned to the Masquerade, he nodded in conjunction with her words. “You’re absolutely correct. And that is what pisses me off. Sires that went around and spawned for the ******* hell of it, without educating their progeny. Not just that, but their ages. The ages they spawned at. There isn’t a mature 18 year old out there. But it was like they said.. 18? Yes sure.. They are legally an adult, let us turn them into vampires, give them almost omnipotent power to fling about at will and turn them loose on the world with no education what the **** so ever.” He sighed. “We went siring crazy. Then we were surrounded by apathetic, power happy children, that cannot plan past next week.. Much less a century. We were screwed.”

The look given her let Elizabeth know that Doc might not have found her suggestion all that amusing, or endearing. Another unfamiliar word was tossed out casually, the woman once again having to rely on a search engine to understand just what a ‘pimp’ was. When it came to her, the woman glanced Doc over and shook her head. She believed neither of the things that just came out of his mouth, and suspected it was said in response about her comment about whorehouses.

Elizabeth:“Mmm.” Elizabeth said in deep thought, her head nodding. “Yes, I have noticed a vast difference to the...eighteen, was it? Year olds of now, versus the eighteen year olds of my time frame. I would suspect to say ninety percent of the girls I knew were married by then, and perhaps had a child as well.” Running a house and caring for another much younger than you, seemed to always make an individual age quickly.

“If we circle back for a moment to your first...problem, I see a variety of potential complications and possible solutions. For instance, do you believe your lady friend would have sex with you, if you had no ball and chain? Something to consider. And if that is the case, then, I have to inform you that the likelihood of you having sex with that lady friend is next to none, unless you relieve yourself from your ball and chain. And so, you move past the lady friend and find another lady friend that can suit your needs.” Elizabeth’s right leg came over the left and crossed at her ankles. “Or you just suffer and endure the months and years that go by, like a great many of us, while we wait.” Elizabeth’s tone softened at that last sentiment. “From personal experience, the third option in which I have given you, is long, difficult to endure and perhaps will keep your anger and frustration growing. Not one, I advise taking part in.” While Elizabeth was not exactly angry, the frustration and depression had grown throughout the years, causing the woman to flee the city often. “The first may not be ideal, for when the ball and chain finds out she has been replaced...Most women do not take too kindly to that. As for the second option in which I presented, I imagine that may be your best tactic so far. I cannot imagine it would be difficult for you to find a new lady friend, or two.” Elizabeth nodded her head slowly, giving Doc a subtle compliment.

Doc: Doc nodded in agreement to Elizabeth’s comment about the differences between an eighteen year old in her day versus now. If women from that time period lived past thirty years it was an accomplishment; but they would also look far older than their thirty years. “Yes, agreed. Back then they had to work; and work hard to merely survive. Now in comparison, the average eighteen year old, has done nothing of note in their full 18 years to ensure their survival. They have been coddled and given whatever is needed to shut them the **** up and keep them out of their parents hair.”

Instead of furthering the the conversation about the differences in generations, she went back to the previous point about his anger and frustration issues and how they could be corrected. Perhaps he had not be clear enough that, his anger and frustration was a myriad of things, and he merely mentioned the obvious one, the Ball and Chain, because it was her role in life to make his life a ******* miserable hell. His anger and frustration did not all revolve around sex. It was a contributing factor.. At times. Yes. But it was not the end all, be all. However he would hear her out. As she expounded her points, one of which she offered was to ditch the Chain, he needed to clarify why that would never happen.

“I could.. ‘Relieve’ myself from the Chain. But that would mean breaking my oath. Letting her win. And face eternity with her ramming it down my throat every time we met; that I wasn’t a man of my word. That is not going to happen. If anyone is relieving themselves.. It will be her, and then I will win.” Yes. When it was said out loud, it sounded petty and juvenile. But only because she didn't know the Chain and how she purposely set things in action to piss him off. But **** that. Maybe it was petty and juvenile. He was still going to ******* win.

Elizabeth: Elizabeth listened to Doc’s perspective of eighteen year olds from then, to now. The woman nodded her head, once again agreeing. Life seemed one of luxury these years, than one of survival. “Being a parent today sounds absolutely atrocious.” Elizabeth said with a laugh that spoke volumes of her amusement.

When he spoke about the ‘chain,’ Elizabeth listened and then nodded her head. There was something in the way Doc spoke; or the way he perceived things, maybe that had the woman inquiring, a basic, general question. “But, are you happy?” Perhaps, happiness outweighed other things, but Elizabeth felt slightly different about things like that, than most of their kind, she suspected. After being so unhappy throughout her human and then the majority of her time back since escaping the realms, Elizabeth had reshifted her focus on her ‘wants,’ and ‘needs,’ than that of everyone elses.

Doc: “Happy?” Doc looked blank for a long moment. He pondered how to explain his view of things. He was aware that he had a rather unique view of life. And that view was not shared by the majority of people in the world, but it was still his view. Then there was also how he tended to compartmentalize his life. He kept things in nice neat mental compartments. He didn’t want the contents of one to bleed into other compartments. So it wasn’t such an easy question to answer.

“I cannot say I am .. or ever have been .. happy.” He held up a hand to forestall any interjection, if it should be forthcoming. “I have been content. Satisfied. Pleased. But ‘happy’ is not a word I would use to describe myself. To further illustrate, I may be content with a situation, but it does not mean I am happy about it. It means I recognize that I cannot make the situation change to suit me, therefore I have made my peace with it, and have moved on. Should something happen that would cause the situation to come to my way of thinking, I would be pleased, yet I doubt I would say I am ‘happy’ about it.”

Doc’s brow furrowed, as he elaborated. “It is much like the word ‘love’ that people throw around. They love .. this or that; whereas I cannot say I have ever put that much emotion into anything. Yes there are things I like. I like movies. But I cannot say I love them. I thought I was in love, with the sire. But then I realized after soul searching.. It wasn’t love.. It was lust. And the -idea- of love. When I broke down the root aspects of that situation, I found I let myself be swayed by what others told me I should or should not feel. And look where it got me. Disillusioned and alone.”

“When it all came down to the bare facts, I discovered love doesn’t exist; and in that vein, I do not believe happiness, as everyone defines it, exists either.” He paused, “It’s a great idea to be happy. But is just an illusion like love. I believe the most accurate word for me is content. Am I content with the my life? For the most part, yes. The things that I am not content with, I am working on, and those that I cannot change, I have tabled for another time.”

Elizabeth: Elizabeth listened to everything Doc said and how it was said. Happy, was perhaps too strong a word to have used previously, the woman now recognized, as he spoke, Elizabeth found herself understanding and quietly agreeing. Content was far better suited for what Elizabeth actually meant. Was Doc mostly content with his life? Hearing that he was the woman offered him another smile.

“Perhaps ‘happy’ was too broad a word to use, but I most definitely believe one should do things that make them ‘happy,’ or things they like..perhaps appreciate?” The woman lifted her shoulders in a shrug, before thinking on his mindset of love. “Example A,” Elizabeth pointed to the plate of blueberry scones. “It was not something I did for a long time, until inspired and I found myself enjoying the experience and...liking it even.” She confessed, before laughing lightly. “As for the idea of love...most would perhaps call thee a cynic in that respect, but I believe you may have the right mindset in regards to that word.” Elizabeth’s hands dropped to her lap, before her eyes drifted back to Doc. “If there were one thing you could change, with no boundaries or impossibilities, or what if scenarios, what would you change? This does not have to be about yourself, mind. It could be as broad as the vampire community, or world, even.” The woman feeling it best to take complete attention off Doc and his perhaps more than personal thoughts and life, moved past singling him out.

Doc: Doc subtly lifted an eyebrow at the change of conversation. Something he said, she must not have approved of, so she was politely moving the conversation to a more neutral subject. Alright, if he had upset her, he would change conversational tracks. However, part of him wondered what he had said to make such a marked change. He probably wouldn’t ever find out. He would accept it as it was. Because he was about to admit, he liked killing people.

Giving thought to her question, he found it was far too broad a subject for him to key in on one thing to discuss. He could choose several things, but they were all self serving. He presumed, since she qualified the question with, ‘it doesn’t have to be about yourself’, she was trying to move to conversation to a more generic subject. Frowning, he finally said, “Perhaps you should share what you would change.. Because I find it a very broad subject, and I am having difficulty deciding.”

Elizabeth: Since the woman was looking at him, it was not difficult to see the raise of the brow, followed by a frown, causing Elizabeth to cant her head slightly. When Doc turned her question on her with an explanation as to why he was doing that, Elizabeth nodded her head slowly. “Very well,” Elizabeth began, thinking about the things she would change, if it were possible. “I will tell you a few different things.” The woman switched the way in which her one ankle rested upon the other, rotating their positioning before beginning. “If it were theoretically possible, on a not so personal level, I would bring the Crow back. I find things were simpler then and allocated the responsibility upon the individual that was doing wrong...unlike now, where it is nothing more but a guessing game. That is, what I mean, before now, really. Right before we were ousted.” She laughed lightly, this one lacking any real emotion to it. Elizabeth believed it would only be a matter of time before things went south and ended up really badly for their kind. “That is one example.” The woman’s blue eyes moved around the immediate area as she thought about what Elizabeth would change on a more personal level. “This may leave me in a somewhat poor limelight with thee, but there are some in which I regret giving the gift of immortality to. If I had to do it again, some I would not waste my time with upon. Not that they have been nuisances or anything, for I am picky, but I perhaps should have been more pickier.” She returned her line of vision to Doc, and cracked a smile. “Had we this conversation a few months ago, the answer on the personal spectrum of things would have been different. But, I find myself content in most regards, the exception being that.”

Doc: Doc nodded slowly. “Yes. I can agree with the first one, most definitely. And another I would have immortality not been offered to, is Robert Pratt. I find it somewhat galling that I was sired by the same person who sired him. It is not a pleasant feeling. Many of the woes our kind have endured can be laid at his feet.” He thought a moment as he played the new supposed iterations in his mind, before he replied. “I would have also been more judicious in my actions in regard to sireing. I have sired, unknowingly. Before you give me that skeptical look I am used to.. I have two to prove it. Leo.. Who,” he lowered his voice, “should be ******* dead. Dragged herself out the cesspool to haunt my ***. Then there is Dawny. She was a jogger. It was spur of the moment feed. I didn’t kill her. I just fed, and left her to wander off. But **** me… if she didn’t show up at the hospital clinic with severe stomach flu.. Because she was trying to eat regular food, after she fell into a coma like state all day.” He sighed. “She is a complete innocent. I ruined her life.”

Elizabeth: The name Robert Pratt had Elizabeth’s brows raised. She had not heard mention of that man in...a year? Perhaps longer? The last thing she heard about him was that her ‘sister’ was in love with the male and had bound herself to him. It was all so strange and sudden, and something she heard nothing of ever again. Something she kept to herself, because did it even matter? She hadn’t heard from either of them since that peculiar encounter and Doc was not a ‘fan,’ (neither was she), so what was there to say about Robert Pratt. Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement.

As Doc stated Elizabeth should not give him a look of skepticism, at about the time her brows started knitting together, the woman’s features softened. Not one, but two times something like this had happened and he too knew what it was Elizabeth was speaking of, even if their scenarios were different. “Ruined? Does she feel that way? If she does not, then perhaps ruined might be too strong a word? Changed it? Certainly. Altered it? Of course.” She said with a slow nod of her head. “It is just a different perspective, in which I am offering about the scenario. Unless she is screaming at you, sobbing at you, threatening you, or trying to kill you, I suspect she does not feel as if her life is ruined.” Elizabeth offered Doc a small, but reassuring smile.

Once again, Elizabeth’s hands came to the side of the table and ran across the width of the table, parting from the other as she thought about other things to say. The woman had a few things upon her mind, but...When both hands came to the edge of the table, Elizabeth allowed her hands to reclaim a home in her lap, the smile slightly fading. “What is the movie in which you enjoyed watching the most?”

Doc: Doc shook his head as Elizabeth asked if Dawnie was bemoaning her turning. “No.. she is a delight. She is sweet and caring, and wants the best for everyone. She is the type of human who would have made a great mother. She is very nurturing. But she will never be a mother. She will never what she missed. But I know. I deprived her of what should have been a good life.. Because I was angry and she got the brunt of it. She is a very kid, who is too nice to be angry at the asshole who ruined her life.” He smirked ruefully. He told the story, but it was said without guilt. Yes he recognized his role. He regretted his actions, but he wasn’t going to lose sleep over it.

The rueful smirk became a tiny bit knowing, as she once more changed the subject. She was doing her damnedest to keep the conversation out the realm of personal. Did she think it bothered him? If only she knew. Hiding one’s errors or regrets never solved anything. It wasn’t like he could change history. Or that he was overly invested in his past actions. Events happened, he may not have made the best decisions, it was learn from it and move on. He watched her closer as he rethought his first thought. Perhaps she did not want to answer personal questions. If she kept the conversation ‘polite’ then she would be safe from personal questions.

It was as that last thought went through his mind, it hit him. In her time period, personal things here not openly discussed. Especially between males and females. He had been completely oblivious to that thought, until that moment. ****. He felt rather foolish at his earlier presumptions. “Deadpool.” He inwardly winced. Talk about an inappropriate movie for someone from her generation. “It’s an action movie. I also enjoyed “Inception”. Another action movie. What about you?”

Elizabeth: Her blue eyes moved away when Doc mentioned how Dawnie would never be a mother, finding the conversation striking a chord for a brief moment. Elizabeth wondered who this woman was, and just how young she was. Doc painted a picture that the woman was perhaps, at best, eighteen. Maybe nineteen. That she had not lived to her full potential, had been robbed of it due to Doc, and even referred to her as a ‘kid.’

Both movies rang no bell of familiarity and when Doc once again retorted with asking Elizabeth the same, the woman pausing to think. Her eyes dropped to the table, before there was a flicker of recognition. “It has been some time.” Elizabeth confessed, then added in, “I have only seen but a handful of movies at best. The last one that I enjoyed was The Great Gatsby.” Elizabeth said, remembering now that she had once wanted to read the novel, but had forgotten about that small fact until now. “I think I saw it...three, or four years ago?” She tried to remember when exactly she had seen it, but failed to remember the date, just the season in which she watched the film. “I am perhaps showing my age.” Elizabeth confessed with a laugh, eyes looking to her hands that she brought back to the centre along the side of the table. “I shall have to take a look at your recommendations.” The woman concluded, before her lips parted in deep thought.

“I know you spoke of your ‘chain,’ being away, but would it bother her any to know that you have spent time with a friend, instead of looking for her, or arranging a time for you two?” She smiled a little, before taking a breath inwards. “I would dislike to hear of how it is once again your fault.” Elizabeth teased softly, hands dropping to her lap once more.

Doc: Doc grimaced. “I am not sure you would like Deadpool.. Inception.. Yes. Deadpool.. You might find vulgar and highly inappropriate. Then you would wonder about me.. And decide I too am vulgar and highly inappropriate..” he shrugged, “Which I am.. But I can pretend quite well to be polite and appalled at crude humor.” He gave her a cheeky grin. “If you really want to watch Deadpool.. against my advice, you should at least watch it with me. I have a home theater. Surround sound and base shakers.” He nodded. “It might be fun?”

As the conversation turned to the Chain, Doc actually laughed. “She ******* avoids me.. Unless she wants to pick a fight. Then we fight.. And she goes back to avoiding me again. If she needs me.. She knows how to find me. She screams relentlessly into my head.” The cheeky smile showed itself again. “Drinking.. Makes me not care that she is screaming at me. I may not have mentioned that at the Sweater party. It was a happy side effect I discovered. So in answer to your question, it might bother her, but I am not concerned about it. Are you?”

Elizabeth: Elizabeth gave Doc a mock look of shock when he confessed to being vulgar and highly inappropriate. She had yet to see anything highly inappropriate, but she had seen random fleeting moments of vulgarity. “I could never believe such a thing.” She smirked at him before reminding him of one thing. “I was married to a fisherman. There were very few conversations that did not have a slip of the tongue in regards to a few colourful words.” Elizabeth laughed before placing a hand upon the table. “Besides, I shall have you know that I have visited a tavern or two, and some pubs not that long ago. My ears can handle vulgarity and the slightly inappropriate.” Elizabeth assured Doc, before pondering on his offer. Was it an offer, or had it just been said casually in passing? When a question followed the presumed offer, Elizabeth realized that it had been a legitimate offer.

She thought about it while listening to his reply about the ‘chain.’ Her lips flicked up in amusement when he said something about screaming in his head, understanding what Doc meant by that. It was something only a telepath and those unfortunate enough to encounter and irritate one would know about, in her opinion. This thought brought a flicker of amusement to Elizabeth’s lips before there was another question posed of her by Doc.

“It may be fun.” Elizabeth finally said, agreeing with the offer. “If one has an evening and is feeling like viewing the movie again, then I would be happy to view it with thee.” She said, thinking about how to answer the question. Or what specifically to say, and not say. Did it bother Elizabeth if she irritated a vampire who was a few centuries younger than her? Not particularly. During her ‘soul searching’ in the America’s Elizabeth had also learned to care less and less about what people thought and how they viewed her for a variety of reasons. “No. It concerns me if it makes your life insufferable.” Elizabeth said, slowly thinking about the next thing she was going to say. “But, generally speaking? No, it does not concern me, in truth. Should it?” Elizabeth’s eyes stayed upon Doc’s features as she asked that question, the other hand joining the one on the lip of the table.

Doc: “Ah yes.. You did say you were married to a fisherman. And I do know what they say about fishwives.” He let the comment lay there for a few seconds, “But I cannot picture you as such. You strike me as being quite proper and well born.” He was not an expert, but her manners and politeness seemed to be something learned as a child, but it could have been something she learned after she was turned, but it didn’t really matter to him, what the facts were. He accepted her as she was; and she seemed willing to give him the same benefit. Why **** that up with details?
Grinning as she accepted the offer of watching the movie, Doc had warned her it was inappropriate, but she was still game. Who was he to deny her this educational event? What would be the worst that could happen? She would get offended and storm out, determined to never speak to him again. That would mean he would just have to pursue her until she did speak to him again. Could be fun. Or she could find herself appalled at finding it humorous, and he would promise it would be their secret. That could also be fun. “Good.. After the opening of the Yin, when you’re free. We will watch Deadpool. And we will not give the Chain another thought.”

Elizabeth: There was a flicker of amusement in both her eyes and lips when Doc made a comment about fishwives and their personalities. He threw in a compliment about her character, or so it could be seen as such, in which the woman ducked her head slightly. It would be unlikely that Doc would say such a thing if he knew Elizabeth when she was human and in her early years as a kindred. Her fingers found the journal and the woman played with the pages, while in thought. “My mother was an expert in propriety and ensuring that I knew of such a thing...but…” Elizabeth looked up from the table and leaned in. “I was raised with four brothers, remember.” Elizabeth left it at that, a few fleeting memories coming back to the woman; times before her father had died. She bit her lower lip to keep from laughing, before an idea struck her.

“I have something to show thee. It is something I seldom do, but...this is your advanced warning that something is about happen.” Elizabeth forewarned Doc as she sat back in the booth, reliving the time in which she was a girl, about the age of five, perhaps six years old. He could not ‘see’ her, but he could see the view in which the girl was looking. Straight down. Her mud caked feet dangled in midair as a boy with dark hair scowled up at the girl with the swinging feet, threatening to let their mom and dad know what she did. There was a sharp girl laugh, before apples started raining down on the boy, the young man getting pelted by one every so often. “You’re wasting food.” Elizabeth turned to look at the boy with an accusatory tone, that was just shy of his adolescent years, an older version of the younger one on the ground. “Not wasting if it is going in a pie. They have no need to be pretty.” The girl retorted before the younger one below started screaming about ‘Lizzie climbing trees again.’

“Stop tattling, you, you, you harecap fopdoodle!” Both boys sucked in the air around them, the eldest of them all, the one in the tree next to ‘lizzie,’ allowing an apple to just drop, without a target in mind, and thunked heavily to the ground and split open. ”Faaaaaaather!” The one on the ground bolted off like a lightning bolt in search of their dad, while the oldest snickered and then pointed at Elizabeth. ”Don’t you be telling no one you heard that from me, you hear?”

That was the last of the memory shown to Doc, before Elizabeth shut him and the memories out from her mind, while her lips parted. “I believe it was fopdoodle that I received the bulk of the punishment for.” Elizabeth confessed with a whimsical laugh, nodding her head slowly, acknowledging the suggestion made by Doc. “I would like that.” Elizabeth said with no hesitation. “Very much.” Once upon a time, Elizabeth would not indicate how she felt specifically on a situation, or invitation, face to face. But since Doc seemed to be open with her, Elizabeth felt it only right to be open with him. The woman did not miss the suggestion about the ‘chain,’ only nodding and no longer commenting about the woman. “Perhaps, on that note, which is a high one, may I add, I should take my leave for the evening. Before one changes their mind when coming to recognize that I will see thee twice this week and one the next.” Fingers smoothed out the already flat journal. “I have once again, enjoyed myself.” Elizabeth professed, making no move to actually leave yet.

Doc: When Elizabeth had said she had something to show him, he didn’t connect it with a mental slideshow. So he stilled abruptly as the memory from her past went on display. He had been the recipient of others thoughts and memories before. But they were always used in an attack. Bombarding his mind, to make him lose focus. Or scenes of seemingly repulsive events intent on making him feel sympathy. Never had anyone shared a pleasant remembrance with him.

The memories flooded Doc’s mind. The scene was a happy one, with the a feeling of impish delight being the main emotional impression he received from the event playing out. As much as she might have meant that to show she could hold her on with males, he keyed in on her name. Lizzie. He canted his head slightly to the side as he looked at her. Yes, it suited her. He gave her a crooked grin.

“Fopdoodle.. ?” His voice was amused. “That one is a new one to me.. what is a ‘fopdoodle’? And what was your punishment.. Did it suit the crime?” Not that Doc thought it much of a crime. Her argument had been sound in his mind. A bruised fruit tended to be sweeter and thus better for cooking and baking than an unbruised one. So in essence the boys should have thanked her.

When she said she was going to her leave, he felt a sense of disappointment. He enjoyed her company. He would make an effort to remember that she was born and raised of a different time period. That what he found normal and commonplace, she may still have unease about accepting. Her comfort with the time they spent together was in his thoughts as he answered her, “It is acceptable to see friends and acquaintances as often as a person wishes. We are not held to the conventions and etiquette that were dictated not so long ago.” He halted for a moment hoping she would understand what he meant. “I enjoy your company as well, Lizzie.”

Elizabeth: Her lips cracked into a smile when Doc repeated the words she had spoken to her brother all those years ago. “Yes, Fopdoodle.” Elizabeth said, sitting up taller, as if assuring him that the word very well may be the biggest insult in the world. “He could be.” She laughed then, and explained furthermore. “Basically, it is a word that refers to a person’s intelligence level, or lack thereof.” Her lips pressing into a thoughtful line when Doc asked what her punishment had been. Elizabeth cringed a little and then sighed. “Scrubbing the floors in our home, and washing the windows, every fortnight for a month.” Elizabeth confessed before thinking about what Doc had to say about visiting friends when the mood struck them. There was more said that gave Elizabeth deep contemplation before Doc said her childhood nickname. “I have not been called that for a long time. Since I was a young girl.” Elizabeth stated, but did not give an opinion as to whether she liked it or not. The woman started to slide to the side of the booth, as if deciding that now was the right time to leave, but hesitated again. “Then, I suppose we shall be seeing the other more frequently. One may reconsider the expressed statement sooner, than later.” Elizabeth’s blue eyes lit up with amusement, before she made her way off the seat. Feet took her to the side Doc sat on, the woman standing not much taller than his seated form, which made it easy for her lips to find Doc’s cheek. “I shall see thee in a few evenings at the...soft opening of Yin.” There was some minor hesitation on the event’s name, or agenda, Elizabeth never hearing a term used before in regards to anything. “Have a wonderful evening, Doc.” The blonde haired telepath dipped her head accordingly, before departing for the night.