Path of the Vampire forum

HOPE released the handle of the door to the entrance and moved through the open space that was available. A set of bundled up patrons stepped to the side as the petite shadow progressed towards the pick-up and to go counter. LESS reached up and palmed the knit cap on the top of her head sliding it back but not completely off. It wasn’t long before she was noticed by the fifty something hourly employee behind the cash register. The cash drawer glided back into place and the click of the inner mechanisms securing caught her attention.

“You are late.” The lack of customer greeting didn’t surprise her. It was how she expected the welcome to go. The man tightly fitted in a yellow ‘Hot ‘n Fresh’ T-shirt appeared less than pleased with her arrival. “If you expect me to come up with your tiramisu then you need to get here sooner.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I had to pick up some parts on the way over and they were backed up.” The keys in the palm of her hand disappeared into her right hip pocket. Now that both were empty the petite shadow braced her healthy appearing palms on the edge of the counter while leaning forward then slowly back as if she was looking for someone to appear any moment. “Is she still here?” While waiting for the answer she spotted the large pink cake size to go box with a black heart stretched across the top. Small x’s and o’s lined up underneath. It was an answer to her question and now she was disappointed. “No!”
“I told you…” A burly hand pulled the sliding door to the pastry case. “I don’t know why you expected any different.”
“I texted you!” Dominique popped up with the aid of her fingertips giving her skin petal pink at the ends. “You couldn’t keep her around five extra minutes?”
“Momma waits for no one.” The door clicked to close as the box came to rest on the counter. “You get her wheels fixed?” A large meaty hand came over the top of the box and slid it further back out of her reach. “Because I can’t let her drive the delivery van anymore. She backed into the neighbor's fence and two customers are threatening to take me to court for dents she put in their cars outside.”
“It’s not a simple thing getting the panel for a ‘59 Fiat Abarth Berlina Corsa Replica.” She started to explain but was witnessing the box leaving the counter which inspired the growing pout on her face.
“Ahhh, hell no.” The door was sliding open as the growl of the voice grew louder. “I gave you an extra week, Mini!”
“And if you would let me finish!” HOPE dropped to her pocket and pulled out the keys. Half of a blue permanent shark became visible as the keys that were not hers dropped to the counter. “It is done! You can’t be so damn mean all the time, Shorty. You need to let me finish before you get your arteries all clogged up with the undue stress you are quick to put yourself through.” She hopped up as the box came back into view and with a dexterous stretch she snagged it into her possession like a cat scoring the flying bug from the air. Like the lioness she was she landed with well executed control back on her feet in the blink of an eye. “You know better than to stand between me and Momma’s tiramisu.”
“You are damn that lucky she likes you as much as she does.” He tapped at a few buttons and tapped the cash drawer shut as soon as it popped open. His eyes pinned on her with a knowing focus. “And that I put up with it.” A thick hand waved at her in case she tried to offer money for the pastries in the box. “She still is complaining about the actor that she was such a fan of. That one that opened up that casino she hangs out at. Won herself a copy of his book at the double or nothing Wednesday night bingo. Had the hots for him like she was sweet sixteen and never been kissed. You should have heard her when she found out he has a set of fangs. She is hoping to see him one of these nights out there in Chalktown so he gets to hear what she thinks instead of me.”

Dominique’s lips twitched at the mention of the one she recently spent some time in the arena with. Shorty had a point and Dominique knew it all too well. Momma was on fire mad to find out that some of her favorite customers were vampires. She told the shadow as much on a recent pick up. As far as the eight and then some decades old Italian woman was concerned it was a sign of worse things to come. She was more willing than most to tolerate what came to be as long as it didn’t interfere with her business. Once she informed a person of that she went on with the hour long tour of her life. The short version is just as good.

She survived a war and grew up with fifteen siblings-four of which she was nearly positive were pawned off neighbor kids and not family. She dropped out of high school to sell matchbooks and there under the big top she met the love of her life the night before he died tragically in a fall from a flying trapeze- which she witnessed from the ground. She proved she was strong and bounced back to endure two failed marriages. One was because she never had anyone kiss her between her legs before and the other she admits she was drunk when the papers were signed. A visible scar peppered on her face sheds proof to her claim of contracting a case of something that had her in an infirmary for several months that was never diagnosed. Despite all that she managed to reach her shining moment and alone without a pot to piss in she gave birth to nearly seven foot tall Shorty. It was a rough delivery that had her ripped wide open. Booze was her only friend through the process. There was no room at the inn so she winged it on the fishing docks of the east coast. The best she could come up with was the back of a salami truck that she had no choice but to live in when his deadbeat dad went awol.

The woman sort of reminded Dominique of her own grandmother as far as the brutal honesty went and of course the tenacity. The only striking difference in the stories is her grandfather was the most amazingly honorable man who walked the planet and would have never treated her grandmother so dirty and wrong. Then again her grandmother would have flattened any man with that salami truck who did her like that. That is pretty much where Dominique got her personality from even if the deceased woman denied they were truly  that much alike.

HOPE opened the box and had a sample of the homemade authentic tiramisu between her fingers. With all of her mortal aura keeping her blending with the rest of the cafe patrons she slid the small portion between her lips. She could consume like the rest of them she just was denied the true flavor. Instead the shadow adapted early on after her transition and relied on her vivid memory and sense of smell to savor what was otherwise bland on her tongue.

“Perfect!” Dom purred out her summation and closed the lid on the box. “Full tank in Momma’s car. We good?”
“Yep.” The deal seemed complete with Shorty’s answer so a turn on her heels had her ready to head out. “Wait. Mind dropping this to the lady over at the table?” He pointed to the young woman sitting rather studious like. “Tell her it is on the house.”
“No problem.” HOPE wrapped around the drink while balancing the large pastry box in the other hand.

Carrying the drink didn’t require a lot of effort on her part. It was right on her path to where she was planning to exit as soon as it was dropped off where it was intended to go. Shorty and Momma had been damn nice to her and it wasn’t any surprise they were making sure to keep the new faces and customers that came in equally happy.

“This drink is compliments of that beast of a guy behind the counter. His name is Shorty. He said it is on the house.” Dominique nodded back towards Shorty who was towering over the counter helping a couple with paying their tab. Her wide dark eyes returned to the table she stopped at and the woman who occupied it. The ink on her fingers was enough to start a conversation between strangers. “You new to town or passing through?” Dominique had a regular and loyal clientele with the tattoo shop. She also could spot most work done by other local artists. The small samples that were visible didn’t seem all that familiar.

Dominique's eyes went down to the woman’s extended hand and HOPE stretched out offering a warm shake thanks to the beverage Shorty sent over in her care. The box balanced with LESS handling the minimal weight within. A gentle squeeze and release was carried out as she reeled her hand back in with a relaxed effort.

“Dominique. Welcome to Harper Rock.”

It was a name for a name. Dominique should suffice. The shadow had nothing to hide whatsoever but she wasn’t handing out her deets to strangers either. Truth be told she was generally comfortable anywhere at anytime while under any set of inspecting and curious eyes. The set sparkling beneath a veil of vibrant blue hair were no different in their focus. Humans were by nature and especially now that the climate of politics and controversy had risen to epic proportions as of late. Really there was nothing to hide but when had she really? Then again she also wasn’t out to make a statement either. She gave no fucks what the world thought either way.

It wasn’t terribly long ago that she rolled into Harper Rock herself. Actually it was more like sprinted into city limits without stopping. With the backdrop of flashing lights the wanted car thief from New York headed through a couple alleyways, jumping more than her fair share of fences to get rid of the cops chasing her. It was successful. She got them off her back but in turn picked up the attention of something else she never anticipated crossing paths with. Fate found her sweating bullets. Him. He was larger than life then and more so now. Her large dark eyes pinned the woman seated with a paper in front of her. The light tap to draw attention to the headline that went along with her mention of vampires had Doc coming to mind. Specifically the first time she set eyes on him.

The salt in the sweat framing her human lips back then made a mental return and had her smile fading as her mouth closed. It felt as though lifetimes had passed since that life changing moment yet so much of her still felt as though it was only the night before. Their shared conversation, their time spent in a cafe similar to the one she stood in now. The scent of the world’s best and eventually lethal chili formed in her mind. It took this long to realize the smile that slowly returned to her own lips was that much stronger and wiser.

What didn’t kill her made her that much more prepared to appreciate what was breathing and registering a heart rate of seventy and looking at her. Four chambers were firing and pumping away doing the work expected. A low whooshing and base pulse was nice and even. Healthy and promising. So much was possible for what was only a few feet away from her. All the willpower and discipline in the world couldn’t keep what she was from making such notes. It was then that Doc’s suggestion several years back that she head out of town and never look back came to mind. The expression of seriousness fit over his features left no question he was not saying it in hopes she would stay. He meant it. And there she was standing as proof changed for eternity that she never listened to the best advice anyone had ever given her.

“Those that keep their mind open?” The answer to who would believe that vampires actually existed was delivered and Dominique didn’t shrug. Her face was set with certainty on what was coming out of her mouth. It was fact in her mind. “I was hanging with Santa two nights ago but he could drink me and the elves under the table so I quit while I was still ahead and walking out on my own volition. Rudolph is not into Uber driving when the Big Guy is incapacitated. So, yeah, a vampire or two hanging around is no surprise to me.”

The shadow let that sit there while she took a couple guesses at the woman’s angle in the statement of people needing to talk. Was she a reporter? Nope. Not giving off that vibe at all. Mona was definitely one. She knew all too well how that ball rolled. However, another therapist in the city would likely be beneficial. Dom was nearly certain something along that line is what she was speaking with. Humans and vamps as well as the super classed were crawling the walls over the recent **** storm that was thundering after rumor of a cure and even worked up over what could come if that was in fact true or not.

“Everyone needs someone to talk to and get things off their chest. You find a few out of sorts and need some cheering up then refer them to Shorty’s and Momma’s place. They welcome everyone.” Dominique sent HOPE into her jacket pocket and pulled out a business card for Twisted Sister that listed the other business’ she operated on the back. Why list only one on a card when all needed equal advertising and exposure? “Need ink stop in. I can set you up with whatever you are looking for. Happy to do the work myself.”

“I can show you the way there. Just give me two seconds before I do.”

The shadow shifted the box in her care and reached for the unused napkin on the table. Pulling a pen from her pocket she smoothed out the napkin on the surface of the box and went to work creating a quick, easy to follow miniature map of the key points between the place they were currently standing and the residential and commercial towers she was heading to. A few quick creative symbols and a minor easy to scroll border around the outside of the previously plain napkin had an absorbent recycled map for future use.

“You can either fish and feed a man for a day or you can teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime...or something like that. Right?” HOPE offered up the detailed but easy to follow map and waited until it was relieved from her hand. “Since you are going to be sticking around it may come in handy.”

Her dark full eyes stuck with the woman while she stepped back from the table to give the one who permitted others to call her Vee a chance to prepare for the journey ahead. Map apps were a dime a dozen on any currently used cellular device and this crossed her mind while she waited. Maybe the woman wasn’t into using them?

“Perhaps you haven’t met the right cat yet.”

A verbal confirmation that nothing is set in stone and there is always opportunity and chance at play as well as fate. Dominique’s mind did not drift. Unlike some in such a situation she was prepared for the risk, the chance that could be involved when interacting with the world and those within it. Especially faces and beings she happened to be crossing paths with for the first time. She found underestimating the climate of a conversation asking for trouble, or worse, making the assumption it was nothing more than idle chat between strangers was meaningless. How many times did a stranger ask her to walk and lead her to a location? Her eyes failed to narrow as she continued to watch the female in motion.

“If you are looking for one there are a few shops in the Towers to check out or if you are open to giving a chance to the many on the streets you can take your pick along the way. Pretty sure whoever slacked on ownership prior isn’t going to say much about it.” LESS balanced the box in the cradle of her arm and gave HOPE the freedom to pull open the door to allow the woman to step through. “Ladies first.” Maybe that was saying a lot or saying very little.Dom would never claim to be something she truly wasn’t. Former or current. “Got your map handy?” She asked as she followed through and stepped outside. “Show me the way. I won’t let you get too far off track. Promise.” Dom winked.