Drinks and Cures (Varo)

[Gideon Barnes (DELETED 8781)]

About three weeks ago

Gideon sat at some pub, whose name he couldn't recall-or didn't care to recall. He had stopped in to get a shot of celebratory tequila given things seemed to go so well. At first, it had been iffy and rocky, but the vampire pulled out in the end and seemed to be one hundred percent human. It had taken longer than anyone expected, but the results ended up as they should have and the guy was cured. Gideon couldn't say the same about his counter part, which made his lower lip curl up at the thought, but maybe one night.
Maybe one night for them all.

Gideon looked at the shot on the wooden counter, twist it in thought as he recalled some of the other vampires that were in pursuit of the cure, then raised the glass and downed the drink. "Another." He said after giving a cough from the stinging burn of the alcohol that went down his pipe, and even pointed to indicate that he was, in fact, having another shot.

While he waited for the drink to be poured, he grabbed his cell phone out of his back pocket and scrolled to Mona's number. She would be the first he would tell about the cure's success.

To: Mona
From: Gideon

Message: It worked. One less vampire in the world, love.

After the shot was poured and Gideon gave the tender a 'thanks,' he then scrolled to his brother's number and more or less repeated the message. Only, this one was evident of his clear dislike for the pariah of the earth.


To: Esli
From: Gideon

Message: Success story. One less blood sucking leech in the world. Thinking it's time to up the game and total. Any suggestions, brother?

His brother probably heard more about what was going on than anyone else-that was just how they were. Thick as thieves and each of them hoped it worked for different and same reasons. Success was what they hoped for, and they got it. Who knew what the future might hold for the cure? Could it be made stronger, to incur less dosages? Could it be made into a weapon against the vampire species? Time would tell, but for now? Now, he was celebrating. "Merry early Christmas." He muttered to himself before downing the second shot.

[Varo Ricci (DELETED 9075)]

Every month. The same thing again and again and he just didn't remember them, but knew that's how they had to have been. He only had his notebook to tell him what he needed to know. A vampire. What a curse it was. There was no reprieve from it, no chance to step out into the daylight, to eat real food, to be forced to feed on humans day after day. Hunted. It was sheer torment.

Varo skidded around the small groups of people around Harper rock during the night, slipping their wallets out with ease before moving away from them. He clenched his jaw every time he got near a group just a little too large. His senses bombarded by far too much activity for him to handle, and having to hide that pain so he didn't draw too much attention.

As he finally got tired he sat down near one of the stations, making sure where he was in particular was empty, at least for the most part. Enough for it to be quiet and him to have the time to himself. He looked up at the sky, "Those pieces of trash." He said to himself angrily, "Ruined my chances. Why? For what? They were afraid of it being used against them? I just wanted one chance to be human." he said slamming his fist against the bench he was on, "Was that too much to ask? But no, everyone just knew they were there to kill vampires permanently. That wouldn't be too bad either but oh well."


He shook his head, Why me? What did I do when I was human that required that I become a vampire. It isn't fair. There shouldn't be any vampires. Imagine how much more peaceful it would be if we were all just human again. Sure humans have wars to but at least they don't steal blood from each other just to live.

[Gideon Barnes (DELETED 8781)]

Gideon wasn't a big drinker. A couple of shots did the trick for the guy. Not to the extreme of being drunk, but feeling the whole point of drinking. To celebrate a victory. Besides, he had kids to think about, and it didn't matter if they were nine months, nine years, or nineteen. No kid should see their parent **** faced, in his opinion.

Gideon paid his bill, sent Mona another text letting her know he'd be home soon and then made his way to the train station. He wasn't a drinker and a driver either. He had heard the horror stories in a couple AA meetings at the church back home. And how those stories could have ended up with killing someone if one other thing would have went wrong. More snow on the ground. Wet surface. No seat belt. Any number of factors.

So, his car could sit for the night, and if it got a ticket, so be it. A ticket was better than taking a life. He stuffed his hands in his coat pocket, a reminder that he needed to buy gloves because winter was coming. Hell, it was already here, the stinging of his cheeks a firm reminder of that as the wind nipped at it.

Once at the station, Gideon moved to claim a bench, but stopped abruptly. His eyes narrowed. Vampire. It was obvious because the guy wasn't blowing anything out of his nose or mouth to give him any form of sign that showed he was breathing. Which was strange because he was talking to himself. Not that Gideon could make out a word the vampire was saying, but the fact he was talking meant there should have been some sign of air in the cold December night, coming from the guy's lungs.

Not having any weapons on him, Gideon took a step back and re-evaluated the situation at hand. Could he take him? Maybe. Probably not. Who knew what the vampire was sporting in his coat? Probably a gun. Seemed to be the way of things lately. Instead, disgusted by even being in the twenty foot radius of a vampire, Gideon decided walking home was better than being near something like what was sitting on the bench. But first...a picture for the night he came across it again. So, he got out his phone, put it on night mode and attempted to take a picture of the creature sitting on the bench.

[Varo Ricci (DELETED 9075)]

It was good to not have to be around so many noises. Helped him slightly calm down and not feel like he wanted to just lash out at everyone so he could make it all stop. But it also left him alone to his thoughts, and his thoughts mostly ended up dwelling on his torment.

But his thoughts were not to remain unchanged for long. He glimpsed something out of the corner of his eyes, someones hesitation in step. That was usually a bad sign for someone even if it wasn't him, but as there weren't a huge number of people around it wasn't promising. His eyes twitched and he noticed the camera prepared to take a picture. Crap what the heck is he doing? Does he know I'm a vampire? How could he, and if he did why'd he need a phone? Tell his friends?

Varo stood up with hesitation, his first instinct was to go after him but that would only attract more attention, unwanted attention. His main focus in skill had always been on being discreet, picking pockets, stealing, he had rather little in terms of legitimate combat skill except dexterity. But those wouldn't help him if they were noticed.

Dangit. I've already started to move I can't just sit back down and pretend nothings happened. I should just walk away. He thought turning and starting to walk, as casually as he could manage. If he follows me and I run across a river or something I can lose him there, no way he walks on water. I just hope he can't leap over it or something ridiculous like that.


Varo's mind was racing, he wasn't a fighter, he was a thief and survivor. Although the latter he hadn't been too good at, especially more recently. People were on edge, they were watching for clues more closely. Maybe he had just noticed something that gave me away? Maybe he just wanted a picture though, and now you've tipped him off you might be a criminal or something, great.

It was a bit to much and he glanced over his shoulder trying to get a good look at him or at least see if he was going to follow him. If he did then his only chance was either run, or negotiate. He knew his weapons were only barely able to get him through zombies and gangsters, if this guy was a hunter, paladin, or blood thief, he knew they might not be enough.

[Gideon Barnes (DELETED 8781)]

Gideon looked over his shoulder and noticed the vampire going in the opposite direction. He didn't follow, like the blood sucking predatory creature he was. Gideon blinked, then frowned. Right before sending his brother the image of the guy. It was blurry and dark, but maybe they could find a way to clean it up for his brother and sister to see.

Why wasn't he following?
Gideon was the perfect target for someone who didn't know who, or what, he was. Gideon stuffed the phone in his pocket, and turned around completely. Then he stared at the guy's receding image. Gideon let out a wolf whistle. "Yo! Fanger!" Gideon shouted for him, and the world to hear. Woops. Or not so much. He stood with both hands in the pocket of his coat and waited for the reaction.

[Varo Ricci (DELETED 9075)]

Varo stopped his steps and shut his eyes for a moment, Crap. I can't ignore this, there's no way he doesn't know what I am. What should I do then. Go after him, threaten him, drink his blood...kill him? No. Maybe not that far. Unless I have to. he thought. He skidded on his heel and rushed towards Gideon very quickly.


"What do you want?" He growled with hostility as he rushed forwards, he wasn't sure he intended to attack him, but he needed to be close enough to do that if this guy made anymore noise. There was no going back on that he had to do something about this, he knew he was a vampire and Varo really didn't think that was a good thing for him.

[Gideon Barnes (DELETED 8781)]

When you call something out, it had two reactions. Denial, or acceptance. Or owning, really. And truth be told, Gideon was pretty surprised when the guy went with the later route. He didn't deny what he was, he accepted it, by charging at him after shouting a question. What did he want?

That was a heavy question that could hopefully be solved with what he had in his possession. Oh, not on him of course, but he had the thing that cured vampires of their unnatural, animalistic state of being. The guy was close, not right in his face, but close enough to try and make an impression. To try and throw his weight around.

"What most sane, humans want. The eradication of your kind." Gideon said just loud enough for the guy to hear, before he chuckled, then smirked. His eyes never remained on just the vampire as Gideon was being charged at, or while he talked. To his right were benches, to the left, a garbage bin. Leverage of the physical sorts. Both legs turned towards the trash bin, as both hands came out and grabbed a side of it. Gideon hoisted it up off the ground, and moved to slam it into the vampire.

[Storyteller]

==========AUTOMATED POST==========

Gideon Barnes attempted to fight Varo Ricci, and was successful!

[Varo Ricci (DELETED 9075)]

Varo Ricci was far too focused on getting right up close to him he practically forgot the man might attack back, and his mind became too distracted by Gideons response to see the trashcan coming as it slammed into his side sending him sprawling on the ground. He skidded and pushed himself to his feet, trying to ignore from the skidding and impact itself, it was certainly not the most painful injury he'd had, but he couldn't help but wince at it, more so how it felt against his ribs then the scrapes.


"Yeah well that wouldn't bother me to much either. But unfortunately I just keep coming back as a freaking revenant!" He said angrily readying his stance, he wasn't sure why he was so peaked to fight right now, probably just because he kept being reminded.

Varo then attempted to use hide in shadows, becoming totally invisible. He tried to sneak across the ground to the other side of Gideon, "I don't even know how I got this way and yet everyone's oh so ready to kill me. I hate vampirism. I hate being one, but I also hate that people keep judging me as some sort of villain because of it. Like they're disgusted by me."

[Storyteller]

==========AUTOMATED POST==========

Varo Ricci attempted to use a power against Gideon Barnes, and was successful!