Willy glanced up to the sky, the orange and yellow lights of New Orleans drowning what little hope the stars had to be seen. They were likely long dead anyway. It was sad, but beautiful. That they could be so far away that we on this world still saw them as something. At least when it was dark enough.
The beer garden was a touch crowded, was a touch loud, a touch bright, it was a touch a lot of the things that the woman didn’t like but online dating had people doing things they didn’t want to do. For Willy, it was going out, at all. For her it was sitting across from a man who still lived with his mother and didn’t understand that his ‘hardships’ were just the firm hands of loving parental figures, not everyone could be so lucky. He pushed a few fingertips over a thin mustache he thought went with the fedora upon his head. It made the groundskeeper sad she’d dressed up. Sad that she’d done her hair in a loose braid, sad she’d thought to wear something pink and soft and frilly and almost, almost sexy. If one used their imagination. Because he was trying to act ‘cool’ and all she had wanted was somebody real. Not even romantic, just a human connection.
“Look, all I’m sayin' it they’re the same PERSON, right!?” He motioned with his hands, the mostly empty bottle of ‘draft,’ as he’d so painstakingly insisted it be called, at constant peril of being spilled.
Willy kept that soft, simple smile. It wasn’t born of interest, but pity. Something to make him feel better. She would have internally found the silver lining that he wasn’t bad looking but honestly the woman didn’t care what people looked like. Just what they did.
“Tarvin.” She muttered, not liking the name the man chose for himself. ‘My name’s John but you can call me…’ why? “I’m sorry but I really don’t watch much anime.”
He simply laughed, “Yeah! But you can binge watch it on Netflix. Hey, you can come over to my place and we’ll watch the first few together, cuddle up, get some popcorn or something. It’ll be fun.” Was this an attempt at seduction? Go to a strangers house and do nothing? No talking, just… no.
Willy cleared her throat and forced that smile to stay in place. “Sure, maybe… sometime.” He didn’t get the hint, he just smiled, and continued to jabber on about what he, at the very least, found to be a passionate conversation topic.
***
The beer garden was a touch crowded, was a touch loud, a touch bright, it was a touch a lot of the things that the woman didn’t like but online dating had people doing things they didn’t want to do. For Willy, it was going out, at all. For her it was sitting across from a man who still lived with his mother and didn’t understand that his ‘hardships’ were just the firm hands of loving parental figures, not everyone could be so lucky. He pushed a few fingertips over a thin mustache he thought went with the fedora upon his head. It made the groundskeeper sad she’d dressed up. Sad that she’d done her hair in a loose braid, sad she’d thought to wear something pink and soft and frilly and almost, almost sexy. If one used their imagination. Because he was trying to act ‘cool’ and all she had wanted was somebody real. Not even romantic, just a human connection.
“Look, all I’m sayin' it they’re the same PERSON, right!?” He motioned with his hands, the mostly empty bottle of ‘draft,’ as he’d so painstakingly insisted it be called, at constant peril of being spilled.
Willy kept that soft, simple smile. It wasn’t born of interest, but pity. Something to make him feel better. She would have internally found the silver lining that he wasn’t bad looking but honestly the woman didn’t care what people looked like. Just what they did.
“Tarvin.” She muttered, not liking the name the man chose for himself. ‘My name’s John but you can call me…’ why? “I’m sorry but I really don’t watch much anime.”
He simply laughed, “Yeah! But you can binge watch it on Netflix. Hey, you can come over to my place and we’ll watch the first few together, cuddle up, get some popcorn or something. It’ll be fun.” Was this an attempt at seduction? Go to a strangers house and do nothing? No talking, just… no.
Willy cleared her throat and forced that smile to stay in place. “Sure, maybe… sometime.” He didn’t get the hint, he just smiled, and continued to jabber on about what he, at the very least, found to be a passionate conversation topic.
***
He had just come from Snug Harbor. Jazz still tickled the air behind him as he walked the streets in a thoughtful, almost melancholy silence. Booted feet made nary a sound, steps were quick, light, but aimless. After all, where would Esteban go? To the cemetery? That was a good start, really. He frequented there often enough. Drabbed in the macabre. Often accused of being a cosplayer that goes a little to far. Cosplayer. The very thought caused the pale man to chuckle.
Amber eyes danced, taking in the world, a world that he had come to love almost as much as his beautiful France, his heart still lingered in another time, another place. As it always would.
When his mother came to this new world from the old, Valentino was not sure he would follow. It was a crossing of oceans. For the vampire, well, that meant months locked within a wooden box labeled as some such produce or trade item. It had been so long ago that even his memory couldn't recall just what it said. During the nights, he would slink out of his box and hunt the rats and mice that made the ship their home. When the rats ran out, mysteriously, certain people would start to vanish. It started with the Bosun, a nasty man that thought his domineering presence was enough to take advantage of whatever women that traveled on that ship. He had been an evil and foolish man. And Vale? Well, he had taken pleasure in ridding the world of his existence.
A week later, another uncouth, heartless creature found her death within the shadows of the night. And so it went till the ship was sure there was some kind of bogey that haunted the very ocean itself. It was then people had grown wary, they'd stay in their rooms at night and never once would they open their doors before dawn. That made things a little harder for the vampire, but, he was no fool. Oh no. Not Esteban Robert Valentino. Not the great Comte Valentine. He had found that an individual could live for a week or more before he bled them dry. It was this that Valentino was loath to do, but his survival depended upon it. And so, in that time, he had become more the monster than he had ever been before. Each feeding he lost more and more of the humanity that he so desperately clung to.
It was these very thoughts that the vampire harbored when his nostrils detected a scent that was oh so familiar. Willow. For several seconds the ebon garbed man pondered on simply going on, just heading to the cemetery and visiting his mother's grave as he so often did. But soon, the eccentric man found himself heading toward the Beer Garden.
Esteban was garbed as he so often was. A tailored long coat over a ruffled sleeved dress shirt. All were black. Slacks fitted perfectly, and dress boots that were polished to a high shine. To complete his attire, a golden ring inscribed with an old English V was upon his right handed ring finger and a top hat finished the look. A creature that could have stepped out of the Elizabethan era were it not for the fact that he was undeniably, solidly in 2018.
Valentino stepped upon the porch of the Bayou Beer Garden and smiled, walking in. It wasn't uncommon to see excentricities around New Orleans like him. And so, hardly anyone glanced up as the tall, muscled man entered. Hardly anyone cast an eye toward him as he made his way toward where Willy sat with her company. For a moment he had thought better than to greet her, but he was already here. Square jaw set firm, a smile slipped over his thick lips as cool, no, cold fingers gently, fleetingly touched her shoulder.
"Willy? I had not expected to see you here, mon cher." As ever his accent held the faintest french touch. As if he had been born there, but had not lived there in such a long time. Golden amber eyes, eyes that seemed to seek out the very soul of a person settled on the girl as Valentino smiled. His skin was nearly porcelain pale, the faint tracing of dark blue veins seen just beneath. Hair that was straight as it was black was swept back this night into a loose, low ponytail. Chiseled cheekbones and a square jaw made the vampire quite a handsome creature, were he not so strange.
His gaze flicked toward the man opposite of Willy before turning back to her. Nostrils flaring, he could almost smell her discomfort. Thick brows drew together but he made no attempt to pull her from this obviously uncomfortable date. Not till she gave him some kind of signal. Briefly amusement glinted in his golden caze and one thick brow lofted. Had he found her discomfort amusing? The slow smile that followed that brow and the flick of his gaze toward the man once more made it quite clear that he was in fact, a little amused.
Amber eyes danced, taking in the world, a world that he had come to love almost as much as his beautiful France, his heart still lingered in another time, another place. As it always would.
When his mother came to this new world from the old, Valentino was not sure he would follow. It was a crossing of oceans. For the vampire, well, that meant months locked within a wooden box labeled as some such produce or trade item. It had been so long ago that even his memory couldn't recall just what it said. During the nights, he would slink out of his box and hunt the rats and mice that made the ship their home. When the rats ran out, mysteriously, certain people would start to vanish. It started with the Bosun, a nasty man that thought his domineering presence was enough to take advantage of whatever women that traveled on that ship. He had been an evil and foolish man. And Vale? Well, he had taken pleasure in ridding the world of his existence.
A week later, another uncouth, heartless creature found her death within the shadows of the night. And so it went till the ship was sure there was some kind of bogey that haunted the very ocean itself. It was then people had grown wary, they'd stay in their rooms at night and never once would they open their doors before dawn. That made things a little harder for the vampire, but, he was no fool. Oh no. Not Esteban Robert Valentino. Not the great Comte Valentine. He had found that an individual could live for a week or more before he bled them dry. It was this that Valentino was loath to do, but his survival depended upon it. And so, in that time, he had become more the monster than he had ever been before. Each feeding he lost more and more of the humanity that he so desperately clung to.
It was these very thoughts that the vampire harbored when his nostrils detected a scent that was oh so familiar. Willow. For several seconds the ebon garbed man pondered on simply going on, just heading to the cemetery and visiting his mother's grave as he so often did. But soon, the eccentric man found himself heading toward the Beer Garden.
Esteban was garbed as he so often was. A tailored long coat over a ruffled sleeved dress shirt. All were black. Slacks fitted perfectly, and dress boots that were polished to a high shine. To complete his attire, a golden ring inscribed with an old English V was upon his right handed ring finger and a top hat finished the look. A creature that could have stepped out of the Elizabethan era were it not for the fact that he was undeniably, solidly in 2018.
Valentino stepped upon the porch of the Bayou Beer Garden and smiled, walking in. It wasn't uncommon to see excentricities around New Orleans like him. And so, hardly anyone glanced up as the tall, muscled man entered. Hardly anyone cast an eye toward him as he made his way toward where Willy sat with her company. For a moment he had thought better than to greet her, but he was already here. Square jaw set firm, a smile slipped over his thick lips as cool, no, cold fingers gently, fleetingly touched her shoulder.
"Willy? I had not expected to see you here, mon cher." As ever his accent held the faintest french touch. As if he had been born there, but had not lived there in such a long time. Golden amber eyes, eyes that seemed to seek out the very soul of a person settled on the girl as Valentino smiled. His skin was nearly porcelain pale, the faint tracing of dark blue veins seen just beneath. Hair that was straight as it was black was swept back this night into a loose, low ponytail. Chiseled cheekbones and a square jaw made the vampire quite a handsome creature, were he not so strange.
His gaze flicked toward the man opposite of Willy before turning back to her. Nostrils flaring, he could almost smell her discomfort. Thick brows drew together but he made no attempt to pull her from this obviously uncomfortable date. Not till she gave him some kind of signal. Briefly amusement glinted in his golden caze and one thick brow lofted. Had he found her discomfort amusing? The slow smile that followed that brow and the flick of his gaze toward the man once more made it quite clear that he was in fact, a little amused.
As strange as it may have been, there were some things Willy believed in and some things she did not. Even spending her life knowing the dead were ‘alive,’ monsters, they were a touch too far. The girl, despite multiple encounters to prove otherwise, believed truly that Esteban was simply a man into cosplay. The night she had been drawn into the strange acting world of his a mix of intoxication and a wanting to accept his belief in reality. A man who took the guise of ‘vampire,’ there was nothing wrong with that. Some felt more comfortable skirting the lacy edge between fantasy and reality.
A wide and friendly smile lit the tanned girls features, looking to that deathly pale hand that brushed her skin. It was nice to see a friend. There weren’t too many that the groundskeeper would call that, Bomber aside, most of her close friends happened to be dead. Not that it was an issue, but hard to invite to parties.
“Esteban!” Ass nearly leaving seat in excitement Willy settled and gestured to her date. “This is Jo-Er.. Tarvin. Tarvin, this is Esteban. A dear friend of mine.”
The boy across the table looked up at the chiseled, handsome man, a touch in awe at whatever skills had brought him to looking so much the part he played. A part annoyed at having their date interrupted, though even he had to admit there was little chemistry there.
“Hey.” Tarvin did his best attempt at the ‘cool guy head nod’ which in the end really only made most people seem as if they were sniffing the air. Perhaps that was the point? It wasn’t that Willy was a rude woman, not was she an overly polite one, she just didn’t have the social graces to expertly cut herself from an awkward and undesired situation. Something that she happened to find herself in now. Tarvin however did.
He gestured to the seat beside his date and did what a lot of people might not think to do. He invited the man to stay.
“A friend of Willy’s is a friend of mine. Please, join us.” It wasn’t forced, it wasn’t grumpy. It wasn’t as if going out to a beer garden was an intimate affair. Plus, anyone who could costume as well as Esteban, well maybe they could be friends and the man would teach him a thing or three.
“Do you watch anime, Esteban? We were just discussing the finer plot points of one of my favorites but Willy here hasn’t seen it so, that makes it hard. Don’t want to spoil things, ya’know? Not before she can come over and watch it.” Tavrin was excited over the prospect, and it seemed when there was less pressure to be as a ‘cool guy’ should on a date he was actually acting a touch more genuine. “On second thought, maybe it’s best that’s saved for another time. Pretty cool cosplay you go there, looks like you put a lot of work into it, super realistic. Lifestyle thing ooooor was there an event around here?”
Willy felt her shoulders relax as Tarvin shifted his attention from talking to her to Esteban, choosing to pick at her fries as they were the only hot thing on the menu that didn't contain any meat. Such was the way with places that served mostly barbecue, burgers and hot dogs. Though she had to admit, for quick fried potato, they were excellent.
***
A wide and friendly smile lit the tanned girls features, looking to that deathly pale hand that brushed her skin. It was nice to see a friend. There weren’t too many that the groundskeeper would call that, Bomber aside, most of her close friends happened to be dead. Not that it was an issue, but hard to invite to parties.
“Esteban!” Ass nearly leaving seat in excitement Willy settled and gestured to her date. “This is Jo-Er.. Tarvin. Tarvin, this is Esteban. A dear friend of mine.”
The boy across the table looked up at the chiseled, handsome man, a touch in awe at whatever skills had brought him to looking so much the part he played. A part annoyed at having their date interrupted, though even he had to admit there was little chemistry there.
“Hey.” Tarvin did his best attempt at the ‘cool guy head nod’ which in the end really only made most people seem as if they were sniffing the air. Perhaps that was the point? It wasn’t that Willy was a rude woman, not was she an overly polite one, she just didn’t have the social graces to expertly cut herself from an awkward and undesired situation. Something that she happened to find herself in now. Tarvin however did.
He gestured to the seat beside his date and did what a lot of people might not think to do. He invited the man to stay.
“A friend of Willy’s is a friend of mine. Please, join us.” It wasn’t forced, it wasn’t grumpy. It wasn’t as if going out to a beer garden was an intimate affair. Plus, anyone who could costume as well as Esteban, well maybe they could be friends and the man would teach him a thing or three.
“Do you watch anime, Esteban? We were just discussing the finer plot points of one of my favorites but Willy here hasn’t seen it so, that makes it hard. Don’t want to spoil things, ya’know? Not before she can come over and watch it.” Tavrin was excited over the prospect, and it seemed when there was less pressure to be as a ‘cool guy’ should on a date he was actually acting a touch more genuine. “On second thought, maybe it’s best that’s saved for another time. Pretty cool cosplay you go there, looks like you put a lot of work into it, super realistic. Lifestyle thing ooooor was there an event around here?”
Willy felt her shoulders relax as Tarvin shifted his attention from talking to her to Esteban, choosing to pick at her fries as they were the only hot thing on the menu that didn't contain any meat. Such was the way with places that served mostly barbecue, burgers and hot dogs. Though she had to admit, for quick fried potato, they were excellent.
***
For a moment the pale man had thought to decline, but, that would have been as foolish as it was rude. And being rude was something that Valentino was not. A kindly smile settled over his features as he inclined his head in thanks to Tarvin. His gaze grew curious as he regarded the young man. Keen eyes memorized the youth's face. From his hat of choice to the manner in which he groomed his thin mustache. "Tarvin, oui? Are you a fan of English geography? Tarvin after the Gowy River near Cheshire? I went there once. It was, ah, a very long time ago." He chuckled, wide shoulders shrugging once as he sat back in the chair. Fleetingly his gaze shifted to Willy before settling on her date. "However, it was a beautiful place to visit. Should I have the opportunity I would go there again." In fact, he did have the means, but it was no visit he planned to make any time soon.
As the question of the anime came up, Valentino's thick brows lofted. "I am afraid I do not often watch the television. A fan of books, you see?" It was true. He loved to read, loved to find ancient texts from his youth and consumed them with a passion that was so rarely seen.
At the mention of cosplay, however, the smile fell away from his lips. He was not a foolish creature, but it stood to evidence that the idea of Willow not believing him when he said he was a monster was something that bothered the vampire quite a bit. Ever the honest creature, he simply shrugged. How did one answer that without letting the world know he was what he was?
A pale hand slid down the front of his ruffled shirt, removing every piece of imaginary dust that might have settled there. "I simply am what I am." It was an enigmatic answer that left as much to the imagination as one were want to have. He smile again. It was that charming, candid smile that was so rare to touch his lips. The honest indication of feelings that raged within his undead heart. Did the vampire feel bad for the young man? Golden eyes now bore into Tarvin's own, intent though tender, honest and sad. One might even say a little envious of the mortality the other man had. "Just as you are what you are. You have a good heart, perhaps you should lead with it, cher."
As the waitress came by, that intransing gaze moved from the boy to the girl that asked to take his order. He shook his head and lifted his hand. "No no, cheri, I am fine." He had almost said he would take the bill. Then his memory flashed back to a time when he had made a particular caramel skinned girl rather upset with him over some similar situation. And so he only smiled. "Water, perhaps?" She nodded and jotted it down before turning her attention to Willy and Tarvin. "You two want anything else?"
As the question of the anime came up, Valentino's thick brows lofted. "I am afraid I do not often watch the television. A fan of books, you see?" It was true. He loved to read, loved to find ancient texts from his youth and consumed them with a passion that was so rarely seen.
At the mention of cosplay, however, the smile fell away from his lips. He was not a foolish creature, but it stood to evidence that the idea of Willow not believing him when he said he was a monster was something that bothered the vampire quite a bit. Ever the honest creature, he simply shrugged. How did one answer that without letting the world know he was what he was?
A pale hand slid down the front of his ruffled shirt, removing every piece of imaginary dust that might have settled there. "I simply am what I am." It was an enigmatic answer that left as much to the imagination as one were want to have. He smile again. It was that charming, candid smile that was so rare to touch his lips. The honest indication of feelings that raged within his undead heart. Did the vampire feel bad for the young man? Golden eyes now bore into Tarvin's own, intent though tender, honest and sad. One might even say a little envious of the mortality the other man had. "Just as you are what you are. You have a good heart, perhaps you should lead with it, cher."
As the waitress came by, that intransing gaze moved from the boy to the girl that asked to take his order. He shook his head and lifted his hand. "No no, cheri, I am fine." He had almost said he would take the bill. Then his memory flashed back to a time when he had made a particular caramel skinned girl rather upset with him over some similar situation. And so he only smiled. "Water, perhaps?" She nodded and jotted it down before turning her attention to Willy and Tarvin. "You two want anything else?"
The young man looked a touch abashed as Valentino questioned him over the origin of his name. It was nothing so spectacular, he has simply liked the sound. Taking a glance to Willy who’d grown quiet he shrugged. “Auuu, no. Nothing like that. But maybe I should go there and see what this river is about. Given the means. Right now all my funds are funneled into school. Being a student isn’t cheep ya know.” He chuckled, a hard breath through his nose as Tarvin reached for his mostly empty drink to drain it dry.
“Oh? No offence but you looked the type, my bad. Ya must be pretty smart then, not boob tube rotting your brain and stuff. Would you recommend anything?” He was trying, truly, to be a friendly person. The funny thing about asking for recommendations was that it wasn’t a practical thing. Unless you knew someone on a more intimate level it served no purpose but to state ‘hey, you don’t know me but what should I do.’ Something that often led others to be in a weird spot.
Willow looked up from her plucking to watch Esteban’s face seem to crumble at the mention of cosplay, it was a sour subject, one she tried to simply avoid as it would often bring them to an impasse. The ‘vampire’ believing himself to be one and Willow, well, she believed that he believed it. The answer though just proved her thoughts that it was a topic better left to sit where it was. Tarvin however seemed to love the answer, he seemed to think that it was in character. Not really thinking there was anything wrong as, really, why should he? But it was those eyes, that gaze that seemed to make him uncomfortable. It was so intense. So much not something Tarvin had expected. Swallowing hard he glanced to Willy.
“Nothing for me.” He muttered, standing from the table. “I need to hit the boys room. I’ll be back in two shakes.” It was a bad joke, one he wasn’t able to really stop from leaving his lips as the main thing he was thinking about was catching a breather after such a strange experience. Perhaps post something real quick about the creeping feeling in his stomach.
Willy nodded, “Okay, I’ll just be here.” Then turned to the woman. “Uh,” she tried not to look at Esteban, he was such a strange mix of beautiful and atypical. “Two shots of tequila.” She reached into her boot and pulled out that scuffed up billfold, placing two twenties on the table just in case she had to bolt. The shots should help with that, but perhaps that’s what all drunks thought. Was she one for feeling she needed it?
When all was said and done Willy turned to Esteban, left alone to speak with him for the first time in what felt like forever, perhaps just because she enjoyed his company. “It really is nice to see you…” Looking into tawny eyes something clicked and Willy shook her head, brows furrowing as if she was remembering something from a dream. “Someone was asking about you the other day. If you’d been around.” The girl had to leave it at that as she didn’t fully remeber the answer she’d given.
***
“Oh? No offence but you looked the type, my bad. Ya must be pretty smart then, not boob tube rotting your brain and stuff. Would you recommend anything?” He was trying, truly, to be a friendly person. The funny thing about asking for recommendations was that it wasn’t a practical thing. Unless you knew someone on a more intimate level it served no purpose but to state ‘hey, you don’t know me but what should I do.’ Something that often led others to be in a weird spot.
Willow looked up from her plucking to watch Esteban’s face seem to crumble at the mention of cosplay, it was a sour subject, one she tried to simply avoid as it would often bring them to an impasse. The ‘vampire’ believing himself to be one and Willow, well, she believed that he believed it. The answer though just proved her thoughts that it was a topic better left to sit where it was. Tarvin however seemed to love the answer, he seemed to think that it was in character. Not really thinking there was anything wrong as, really, why should he? But it was those eyes, that gaze that seemed to make him uncomfortable. It was so intense. So much not something Tarvin had expected. Swallowing hard he glanced to Willy.
“Nothing for me.” He muttered, standing from the table. “I need to hit the boys room. I’ll be back in two shakes.” It was a bad joke, one he wasn’t able to really stop from leaving his lips as the main thing he was thinking about was catching a breather after such a strange experience. Perhaps post something real quick about the creeping feeling in his stomach.
Willy nodded, “Okay, I’ll just be here.” Then turned to the woman. “Uh,” she tried not to look at Esteban, he was such a strange mix of beautiful and atypical. “Two shots of tequila.” She reached into her boot and pulled out that scuffed up billfold, placing two twenties on the table just in case she had to bolt. The shots should help with that, but perhaps that’s what all drunks thought. Was she one for feeling she needed it?
When all was said and done Willy turned to Esteban, left alone to speak with him for the first time in what felt like forever, perhaps just because she enjoyed his company. “It really is nice to see you…” Looking into tawny eyes something clicked and Willy shook her head, brows furrowing as if she was remembering something from a dream. “Someone was asking about you the other day. If you’d been around.” The girl had to leave it at that as she didn’t fully remeber the answer she’d given.
***
A fleeting amusement touched his lips as the youth spoke. Esteban nodded once, then shrugged. "It is all just a matter of preference. I am quite sure there are ahm... There are..." His words trailed off as he tried to recall the word for the moving pictures. He had seen the birth of modern film and it had been an awe inspiring thing. For through that film he could see the rise of the sun once more. Pushing his thoughts back he sent his awareness forth to touch the mind of the youth, if only to gather the proper wording to express what he was trying to say. His chiseled features would shift from thoughtful to delighted as he gathered the information from Tarvin. "...there are shows that I would quite enjoy. However, I do not have much time to pass by watching them." Shoulders shrugged again as he offered a kindly smile to Tarvin.
As he was posed with the questioning of a suggestion, Valentino drew in a deep breath. It was as much for show as it was for dramatics. "If I were to tickle your ear... With the words of a poet that I hold dear... Of the written word would that entice your love... Would you seek it as gently as one might handle a dove? Or would you be filled with fire, seeking the word with all your ire. Or would it fester inside your mind, and be something a little less fair, more foul to find?"
The vampire smiled then, just the inkling of fang tipped teeth exposed for the briefest of moments. "I would suggest a classic, as you would say. Oscar Wilde was a man of beautiful phrasing, though..." His words trailed off, his thought left unfinished as he glanced away. The waitress had returned carrying his water and Willy's two shots. Upon hearing her speak, he glanced up meeting her gaze, that melancholy smile in place. It turned quickly to a wary grimace as he straightened in alarm. There were not many that would would enquire of him. He could think of but one. "Gabriel." It wasn't a question and it held no doubt. Jaw drawn taunt, he looked hard at the table before him. "Willy... I ask only that you be careful of him. The red head, do you remember him now?" She should have. He remembered the last interaction that she had had with Gabriel and him. Not that Gabriel would have offered harm to Willow. Not while she was under his protection. And she was, though he'd never say as much aloud to her.
Maybe he should simply go seek the other vampire out. For a moment Valentino felt weary and every bit of the nearly three centuries that he had.
As he was posed with the questioning of a suggestion, Valentino drew in a deep breath. It was as much for show as it was for dramatics. "If I were to tickle your ear... With the words of a poet that I hold dear... Of the written word would that entice your love... Would you seek it as gently as one might handle a dove? Or would you be filled with fire, seeking the word with all your ire. Or would it fester inside your mind, and be something a little less fair, more foul to find?"
The vampire smiled then, just the inkling of fang tipped teeth exposed for the briefest of moments. "I would suggest a classic, as you would say. Oscar Wilde was a man of beautiful phrasing, though..." His words trailed off, his thought left unfinished as he glanced away. The waitress had returned carrying his water and Willy's two shots. Upon hearing her speak, he glanced up meeting her gaze, that melancholy smile in place. It turned quickly to a wary grimace as he straightened in alarm. There were not many that would would enquire of him. He could think of but one. "Gabriel." It wasn't a question and it held no doubt. Jaw drawn taunt, he looked hard at the table before him. "Willy... I ask only that you be careful of him. The red head, do you remember him now?" She should have. He remembered the last interaction that she had had with Gabriel and him. Not that Gabriel would have offered harm to Willow. Not while she was under his protection. And she was, though he'd never say as much aloud to her.
Maybe he should simply go seek the other vampire out. For a moment Valentino felt weary and every bit of the nearly three centuries that he had.
It was hard not to be entranced when Esteban spoke, when he talked of things he liked so dearly. The poetic words rolling through the air like fingers over silk. To put it simply, Willy just liked to learn more about her friend whenever he was around. If simply because it was another way to know how he might be coaxed into becoming a little less sad. That overbearing oppression the strange man claimed not something anyone really deserved to haul around on their shoulders.
“Gabriel?” Willy frowned and tracked where her friend was looking, down to the spill friendly tablecloth that made cleanup so easy. Slowly the blanks were filling in, if only by the power of suggestion. Why hadn’t she run from him, lords knew she found the man to be horrifying. It was if she was not herself when he was around.
“I-- Yes.” Shoulder slumping Willy looked down at her alcohol and decided it wasn’t perhaps the best idea. Not tonight. When her breath let out it didn’t take back in, the girl relishing in the stillness and thought as she listened to Esteban. What could be said that didn’t sound ridiculous? She’d somehow forgotten who she’d spoken to, that simply wasn't done.
Tarvin came back to the table in short order and seeing the money Willy had payed down on the table offered her a smile.
“Hey, sorry. Something’s come up. You need me to call you a cab to make sure you get home okay?” He took a quick glance at Esteban, perhaps because he was questioning leaving his date there with him, perhaps lamenting the chance at a new friendship, it was hard to say. Seeing the shake of Willy’s head he nodded.
“Alright then, I’ll shoot you a message later. See ya, m’lady… m’lord” He tipped his hat and headed for the gate to the beer garden leaving the girl waving and calling out a quiet goodbye. It seemed odd to her, that Tarvin was so ready to just bolt.
“Odd…” She whispered and looked to Esteban, stating a touch louder. “I think, I need to go too.” Not being an overly snoopy woman Willy normally stuck to her own business but something smelled off and she felt an overwhelming need to know what it was. Her hand patted the ‘vampires’ thick shoulder as way of farwell before she headed after Tarvin, obviously not attempting to catch up but watching from a distance. Watching him standing across the street on his phone, worry on his features. Watching him glance back, see her, and try to act as if he were heading down the street.
***
“Gabriel?” Willy frowned and tracked where her friend was looking, down to the spill friendly tablecloth that made cleanup so easy. Slowly the blanks were filling in, if only by the power of suggestion. Why hadn’t she run from him, lords knew she found the man to be horrifying. It was if she was not herself when he was around.
“I-- Yes.” Shoulder slumping Willy looked down at her alcohol and decided it wasn’t perhaps the best idea. Not tonight. When her breath let out it didn’t take back in, the girl relishing in the stillness and thought as she listened to Esteban. What could be said that didn’t sound ridiculous? She’d somehow forgotten who she’d spoken to, that simply wasn't done.
Tarvin came back to the table in short order and seeing the money Willy had payed down on the table offered her a smile.
“Hey, sorry. Something’s come up. You need me to call you a cab to make sure you get home okay?” He took a quick glance at Esteban, perhaps because he was questioning leaving his date there with him, perhaps lamenting the chance at a new friendship, it was hard to say. Seeing the shake of Willy’s head he nodded.
“Alright then, I’ll shoot you a message later. See ya, m’lady… m’lord” He tipped his hat and headed for the gate to the beer garden leaving the girl waving and calling out a quiet goodbye. It seemed odd to her, that Tarvin was so ready to just bolt.
“Odd…” She whispered and looked to Esteban, stating a touch louder. “I think, I need to go too.” Not being an overly snoopy woman Willy normally stuck to her own business but something smelled off and she felt an overwhelming need to know what it was. Her hand patted the ‘vampires’ thick shoulder as way of farwell before she headed after Tarvin, obviously not attempting to catch up but watching from a distance. Watching him standing across the street on his phone, worry on his features. Watching him glance back, see her, and try to act as if he were heading down the street.
***
Shadows twisted and turned about the streets outside of the Beer Garden. Shadows that might have been simply that. Just shadows. But they weren't. As Willy stepped past and excused herself, Valentino simply nodded his head, golden eyes watching her as she left. He cared for this delicate human. In the time that he had come to know her he had come to value her. And for one particular creature like himself, that was saying quite a lot. And so, those shadows that seemed so intent to dance in the alley way or at the side of the building happened to be the very vampire that had moments before watched Willow step out. With a flurry of movements the human eye could not see, he slipped out behind Willow.
It was a strange phenomena, these powers that his ilk had. From shadows to snakes, from wolves to ravens, from snakes to bats, from rats to mist and fog; They could shift into all these things and more. And so, from those playful shadows flew a Raven. It's eerie call echoed into the night's air as it took wing and settled upon a lamp post. Keen eyes, eyes that still retained an amber gold that would have been familiar to the willowy girl below, watched in rapt attention. They watched both Willow and Tarvin. Esteban couldn't help but feel that there was something more...something strange about the manner that Tarvin left, couldn't help but leave as well. If only to keep an eye on his friend.
The situation with Gabriel was one that often left the vampire feeling conflicted. He knew Gabriel from a time when... When the Americas were young. They had both come around the same time to the provinces. And even then, he had befriended the fiery haired lad. Unlike Valentino though, Gabriel changed with the times. But, immortality was a thing that always came with a price. Where one might be stuck in their own era, another would find the constant change mind boggling. In both regards, they would find themselves faced with varying degrees of insanity. One could lose their mind after such a long time.
It was a wonder that Valentino hadn't lost his...yet.
It was a strange phenomena, these powers that his ilk had. From shadows to snakes, from wolves to ravens, from snakes to bats, from rats to mist and fog; They could shift into all these things and more. And so, from those playful shadows flew a Raven. It's eerie call echoed into the night's air as it took wing and settled upon a lamp post. Keen eyes, eyes that still retained an amber gold that would have been familiar to the willowy girl below, watched in rapt attention. They watched both Willow and Tarvin. Esteban couldn't help but feel that there was something more...something strange about the manner that Tarvin left, couldn't help but leave as well. If only to keep an eye on his friend.
The situation with Gabriel was one that often left the vampire feeling conflicted. He knew Gabriel from a time when... When the Americas were young. They had both come around the same time to the provinces. And even then, he had befriended the fiery haired lad. Unlike Valentino though, Gabriel changed with the times. But, immortality was a thing that always came with a price. Where one might be stuck in their own era, another would find the constant change mind boggling. In both regards, they would find themselves faced with varying degrees of insanity. One could lose their mind after such a long time.
It was a wonder that Valentino hadn't lost his...yet.
Willy followed on the other side of the street, noting that Tarvin looked back now and again to see if she was still there. He never seemed to stop talking on the phone before ducking down a side street and into the dark. People generally didn’t take those at night, it wasn’t a good idea. She didn’t notice the raven, nor the shadows, but enjoyed the sound of the caw. In honestly she would have liked to stay and talk to Esteban, it bugged the girl that he was always so, so very sad. That he felt the need to disappear into a make believe world. That he felt so alone he needed to literally ‘play dead.’ Maybe if he went out in the sun once in a while? Vitamin D could do wonders to lift a heavy heart and mind.
Looking both ways Willy ducked across the street, moving between some cars that were stopped at a light before they had a chance to start traveling once more. She wasn’t being stealthy about where she was going. Heading for the alleyway her date had seen fit to duck down. It was dark, it was smelly, it was filled with more than a small amount of trash, but there was no Tarvin. No sound of him talking on the phone, no sign he’d been there.
“Hey!” She called softly, trying not to alert anyone from the street. “I know you’re here.” Still, there was nothing. Instead of turning back Willy moved forward and into the shadows. She’d be alright, she always was. About halfway through the alley was a large set of dumpsters and that was when the girl spotted the sneakers she thought looked as if they belonged to Tarvin. Moving forward more quickly she rounded the edge of the dumpster to see him there, laying face down in the pooling bin water. The cellphone he’d been using lit with fuzzing static snow.
“Shit!” Came the soft swear as she rushed to crouch beside him, rolling the now hattless boy over to check and see he was at least still breathing. He was, but from his nose oozed something that Willy had seen only a few times before in her short life. A black and stinking substance, one that didn’t belong near any living human. She wasn’t supposed to see it, normal people couldn’t see it. Ectoplasm.
“Tav-” She hears it, a soft whisper coming from the phone. Clearing her throat Willy pretended as if she hadn’t noticed, but it was too late. One hand slapped at his face. “Tarvin, Hey, JOHN! Get up, now!” It wasn’t like her to swear so much but sometimes times tended to get the better of people. “Geeeet up, yeah that’s it, come’n buddy, it’s time for school.” His eyes flicked open a touch and he looked around, confused. “That’s it.” He hands rested on either side of his face and she did the thing that she’d done for Bomber whenever the girl got a raging hangover. She wasn’t sure what it was or exactly how but it always seemed to make it go away. Soon enough Tarvin was sitting up on his own and grabbing for his phone.
“NOPE!” Willy kicked it under the dumpster, “Just, go.” Confused, groggy and feeling like he had a very bad stomach flu Tarvin inched his way up the wall, stumbling out the alley to look more or less like a drunk college student.
***
Looking both ways Willy ducked across the street, moving between some cars that were stopped at a light before they had a chance to start traveling once more. She wasn’t being stealthy about where she was going. Heading for the alleyway her date had seen fit to duck down. It was dark, it was smelly, it was filled with more than a small amount of trash, but there was no Tarvin. No sound of him talking on the phone, no sign he’d been there.
“Hey!” She called softly, trying not to alert anyone from the street. “I know you’re here.” Still, there was nothing. Instead of turning back Willy moved forward and into the shadows. She’d be alright, she always was. About halfway through the alley was a large set of dumpsters and that was when the girl spotted the sneakers she thought looked as if they belonged to Tarvin. Moving forward more quickly she rounded the edge of the dumpster to see him there, laying face down in the pooling bin water. The cellphone he’d been using lit with fuzzing static snow.
“Shit!” Came the soft swear as she rushed to crouch beside him, rolling the now hattless boy over to check and see he was at least still breathing. He was, but from his nose oozed something that Willy had seen only a few times before in her short life. A black and stinking substance, one that didn’t belong near any living human. She wasn’t supposed to see it, normal people couldn’t see it. Ectoplasm.
“Tav-” She hears it, a soft whisper coming from the phone. Clearing her throat Willy pretended as if she hadn’t noticed, but it was too late. One hand slapped at his face. “Tarvin, Hey, JOHN! Get up, now!” It wasn’t like her to swear so much but sometimes times tended to get the better of people. “Geeeet up, yeah that’s it, come’n buddy, it’s time for school.” His eyes flicked open a touch and he looked around, confused. “That’s it.” He hands rested on either side of his face and she did the thing that she’d done for Bomber whenever the girl got a raging hangover. She wasn’t sure what it was or exactly how but it always seemed to make it go away. Soon enough Tarvin was sitting up on his own and grabbing for his phone.
“NOPE!” Willy kicked it under the dumpster, “Just, go.” Confused, groggy and feeling like he had a very bad stomach flu Tarvin inched his way up the wall, stumbling out the alley to look more or less like a drunk college student.
***
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