Post by Alek Romanov on Sept 11, 2010 19:48:24 GMT -5
ALEK
His head hurt and he didn't like it, the vampire decided, staring absently out the window. He'd smelled that faint tint of fear on the human- on Abby- and his fangs had practically ACHED to pierce her flesh. He was keeping himself tight to the door, away from the enticing heat of her body, but he knew that if they didn't make it to his apartment soon, he wouldn't be able to stop himself. Even now, his hands were shaking, and a faint sheen of presperation dotted his brow. Absently, he wiped at his forehead with the back of one hand, before realizing how uncivilized he seemed. Wincing, he clasped his hands in his lap once more, and tried to focus on what she was saying.
"It is alright, madmoiselle Abby," He said, shifting a bit in his seat. "I do hope that I did not hurt you." His mind kept on going back to that lovely smell of fear, and he bit his tongue hard enough to taste blood. Ah, the fresh blood that his belly craved. Another painful cramp shot through his abdomen and he tensed. However, while his body proceeded to roil with painful need, his face remained completely neutral.
He'd learned from an early age never to show emotion. It was dangerous, revealing; Anya always told him to keep his feelings under a mask. But this woman...she seemed to be genuinely curious about him. Would she scream and run away from him, if his mask slipped, and she saw the monster beneath? Alek shuddered at the thought, hanging onto her words like a drowning man.
So, the Wolf's Den didn't do the kind of dancing he was familiar with, he thought, a bit disappointed. But the images that she gave him while trying to explain...it would have been comical, how wide his eyes seemed to be. From staring at the tail lights of the car in front of them, to looking at her clothed form, a look of sheer surprise flashed onto his face. She...took off her clothes for money? For a brief moment, the vampire couldn't help but wonder what she looked like without the layers, and he immediately castigated himself for such...ungentlemanly thoughts.
He must have taken enough blood in his recent encounter, because his face proceeded to warm with the faintest shade of red. Before he could stop himself, he blurted, "I know a woman who works at the bar, who poses naked for art students. I suppose such jobs are normal in this society." He didn't mean to make the words sound insulting in any way, and he did hope that she didn't take offense...or think that he was strange.
ABBY
Abby tried to shake off whatever it was she was feeling. This was so unlike her. She knew better than to touch other people abruptly. They could be like her, and only like touch when it was a welcome thing. "No, you didn't hurt me," Abby offered him a sheepish smile as she parked in front of his building.
She pulled into an empty spot and put the truck in park, not wanting to kill the engine, lest Ol' Blue throw another tantrum and decide not to start up again. Her pour old truck was fickle that way. Had a mind of it's own really. Besides, judging from what had transpired tonight, Abby didn't think Alek would be inviting her up to his place. It was too bad, but she understood. She wouldn't try to persuade him otherwise.
The look on Alek's face made her laugh a bit when she explained what she did for a living. She wasn't making fun of him, but the sheer surprise in his eyes made her wonder just how sheltered Alek really was. For a moment she wondered if someone had hurt him like she had been hurt or maybe even worse. He seemed so shy and timid. He was almost nervous as though he were going to do or say the wrong thing. Abby nodded when he mentioned his friend that posed nude. "It's not so bad really. You do what you have to do to pay the bills, and right now there are no construction jobs available."
Offering Alek another smile she gestured towards his apartment building. "Well Prince Charming it seems we've gotten you home before your carriage turned into a pumpkin." Predawn light was already peeking over the horizon. "You should probably get inside before the sun comes up. Especially with your allergy to sunlight." She didn't want to out and out say what she was thinking, that this man was not a man at all. Abby had her own secrets. It wouldn't be right if she tried to unveil his.
"Thank you again," She told him quietly. "For helping me out tonight. You didn't have to, but I'm grateful you did." Opening the glove box she pulled out a scrap piece of paper and a pen jotting her number down on it. "If you ever need help with something or...you just want someone to talk to, call me." She felt awkward saying that. Like it was some cheesy line out of a movie. Still it was true. Abby owed him and she didn't like owing anyone.
*A Few Days Later*
It was Abby's night off from the Wolf's Den. After showering at the truckstop she headed back into town looking to have a little fun on her night off. Granted she really shouldn't waste the money, but it had been a long week and Abby needed to unwind. Besides, a girl did have to eat. Abby couldn't very well starve herself to save money. Well okay, actually she could. Cheveyo would find some way to keep nutrients running through her body to make sure she didn't die on him. She honestly wished she knew what the hell he wanted with her and why he felt the need to keep her alive. The only thing he would tell her was that the truth would come out in time. Well swell. A whole lot of good that did her.
It was Friday night and the streets were packed with people out looking to have a good time. Much the same as Abby. Her stomach yelled at her and clenched up a bit, letting her know that it was angry for her having skipped lunch. A nap had sounded like a much better idea. Now though, she needed some sort of sustenance.
The neon lights of Mama Jules lit up half the street and it was then that Abby remembered her encounter with Alek and that he mentioned working here. She bit her lip debating on whether or not it would be a good idea. He hadn't called her, and she didn't want to seem like she was intruding. Still, she found herself oddly missing his company. In the end Abby's stomach made the decision for her. The aroma coming from the place was absolutely mouth water. Turning into the lot, Abby parked Ol' Blue and and followed the smell of food inside.
ALEK
"And then, he looked at me and smiled, and oh my GOD, Betty, I almost DIED! He was so hot that I was actually melting!" The sounds of high pitched laughter rang through his part of the room as he cleaned off an abandoned table. Idly, Alek turned his head to look at the little group of women, laughing with each other and sharing drinks. As he wiped the tabletop, he wondered what that would be like; being out with friends, having fun, laughing with them and swapping stories. He'd tried it once, when Anya had the urge to try a disco back in Moscow, but it had ended up as his outings always ended; bloody and rife with disappointment.
He ducked his head as one of the women turned to look his way, making short work of the table. Once that was done, he carried the tray of dirty dishes to the bar, where Jerry, the current bartender, stashed it behind the counter. The man obviously wanted to talk to him, but with a warning glance from one of the Polyak brothers who helped run the bar, he backed off. It wasn't a good idea to stick your fingers too close to the tiger's cage, the vampire thought absently, going over to a corner where he could watch the people in the room. He was liable to bite them off by mistake.
He had two jobs in Mama's Sanctuary for freaks. He cleaned the tables and collected the dirty glasses from those who were done drinking. It was the safest and most productive job that Mama Jules herself could think of for him, after a lengthy talk with Anya. His sister had warned him about getting too close to the humans, especially the women, but it had been decided that he could work amongst them, under heavy supervision. Even now, he could feel the Polyak's gazes on his neck; watching him and waiting for any indication of a breakdown. He'd had one only once while under Mama Jules' care; some careless little human had tried to attack her boyfriend with a broken bottle and cut herself. It had taken all of the brothers, as well as some of the bar's less-than-mortal patrons to hold him back. His head still hurt from where Dilana had to hit him with a board. He winced at the memory, eyes locked on the floor.
It had been decided that, when his job as busboy wasn't needed for the moment, he would wait with the other bouncers and help with any bar scurmishes that may occur. Since the Polyak brothers were usually quick to deal with fights, his help was never necessary. If blows came to blows, he was probably the most valuable, given his speed...but if blood was ever spilled, he was to go to the silver lined room in the back, as quickly as possible. Anya made him swear it.
Thankfully, there were no fights tonight; only dirty glasses and loud music. His eyes practically watered at the thumping, the laughing and other noises around the bar. He wondered what it would be like to be a paying customer, rather than a wall ornament, but once again, he remembered the frozen scream on that poor girl's face in the alleyway, and he forced his mind to go blank. White walls, white, floors, white ceiling; he made the little padded room for himself and sat in it, his body going still and his eyes drifting to some spot on the wood floor.
Thankfully, there were no fights tonight; only dirty glasses and loud music. His eyes practically watered at the thumping, the laughing and other noises around the bar. He wondered what it would be like to be a paying customer, rather than a wall ornament, but once again, he remembered the frozen scream on that poor girl's face in the alleyway, and he forced his mind to go blank. White walls, white, floors, white ceiling; he made the little padded room for himself and sat in it, his body going still and his eyes drifting to some spot on the wood floor.
And he would have happily stayed that way until he was needed, if it wasn't for the unfamiliar voice that broke through the haze of fake calm. "Hey there, sugar," It drawled, and he looked up in surprise. "Well, aren't you the cute thang! You wanna dance?"
The human woman was a small thing, and dressed for fun. His eyes immediately went to her neck and his mouth went dry. Unable to speak, he quickly shook his head and glanced around the bar. Damn, the Polyaks were busy dealing with a group of drunk children, he thought with a sigh. "C'mon, baby...just one dance! I promise I'll make it worth your while." The woman persisted, moving to grab his hand.
