Synopsis
February 12, 2005 - Abbey and Orion meet up at a coffee bar. Michael shows up and they discuss ancient artifacts. After the vampire leaves, Vera and Austin show up and they have a pleasant chat with Orion.
Setting
Bean Scene Cafe:
Bean Scene is a small coffee shop and cafe that caters primarily to a younger crowd. The cafe has always been at least a year late in joining any given fad, and in the past it's been done in western-style, set up as a beatnik hangout, a go-go disco, a fern bar, and once even attempted to cash in on breakdancing. A plaque has recently been placed above the door, and says, "No fad is dead until it appears to Bean Scene".
Case in point, the cafe has a grungy feel to it.A grey brick facade has been placed over the walls, the flooring looking more like a worn down metal grid, complete with old sewer grates every few feet. Tables and chairs set about the cafe are quite casual in appearance, made of metal meant to look rusty and splattered with multi-colored paints. Metal street signs hang from the wall amid images of garage bands. Behind the counter is a black chalkboard displaying the available items and costs.
Cast
Abbey:
There's no telling what her age is, somewhere in the early twenty's if someone was to guess. Her height is about 5'9 a bit on the tall side but nothing that abnormal. Long bright red-orange, lose spiral curls are found upon her, it flows down to her mid back and can be often found pulled into a pony tail to keep it out of the way. A few lose curls fall to either side of her cheeks, and bangs rest just a bit above her eyes.
Clothing at the moment a black short sleeved shirt that shows off her tattooed arms without a problem, match black leather pants and black boots. A thick leather cord rests around her neck with a pewter dragon charm upon it, the two inch charm holds within its grasping forepaws is a pale blue gem.
Three golden studs can be found upon the edge of both ears, another silver stud found in her right eyebrow. She also has a good collection of tattoos and scars. An old small slightly jagged scar rests across her right cheek, others found elsewhere on her. Black tribal like tattoo markings curl around and then down both of her forearms to circle around her wrists in a Celtic knot work pattern. Other tattoos are unseen thanks to her clothing. Her eyes are an interesting pale icy blue color; rather eerie in a way which tends to make her stand out if anyone pays enough attention to her.
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Austin is a boy of about sixteen years of age or so. Standing at just over 6 ft tall with a toned, or as some might call it, and athletic body. Though he is of mixed blood, his African American ancestry is unmisstakable in the shade of his mocha colored skin. Atop his head is a mop of soft tight dark brown curls, that tend to go every which way they want, framing a slightly rounded face and falls to just above his shoulders and hides his ears. When they can be seen, his ears are pierced, with a pair of small silver hoops. His eyes are brown, with brows that are mostly hidden by his hair in the front. His nose long, but kind of flattend looking as well. His upper lip kinda thin, the bottom plumpish. His chin is slightly pointed.
On his lower portions, he wears a simple bright green t-shirt. Hanging from a masculine chain around his neck is a necklace with a crystal heart dangeling from it. Engraved in it is his girlfriend's name, Andra. With a letterman's jacket over top, in his school's colors with his school name on top, mascott in the middle and the word basketball beneath. As well as his number on the front somewhere. On his right ring finger is a class ring, with his graduating year on it and his birthstone a garnet set in it. On his lower portions he wears simple black jeans, belted in place. With a Harley Davidson emblem on the buckle. On his feet are a pair of converse style sneakers that matches his t-shirt, somewhat.
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Michael:
Standing at 5'7 and somewhat on the slender side this man appears to be in his middle years, his short cut blond hair's just starting to grey and his deepset blue eyes are ringed with wrinkles. He's clean shaven and extremely neat, apart from the signs of age he appears in good shape, and had strong well defined features.
Dressed casually the man wears a dark grey shirt, under a black jacket, blue faded jeans and a pair of black boots.
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Orion:
You see a man in his mid thirties who stands a little over six feet and weighs approximately 180 pounds. One can tell by looking at him that he works out regularly. His face is rugged but attractive, usually with a couple of days worth of stubble on his cheek. His hair is brownish red and cropped short, spiking up a bit on top. His eyes are deep gold and appear to be almost an unnatural shade. He bears a tattoo of a paw print on his left upper arm. When the man speaks, he has a very distinct Irish accent. It is strong, but not to the point that he is difficult to understand.
The man is wearing a tight fitting brown shirt with blue jeans. He has brown boots on and a silver watch on his right wrist. His ears are each pierced with a silver ring, and he has mirrored sunglasses pushed up on his head.
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Vera
This woman stands at a shorter than average height, easily not over five feet. Waving, night black hair crowns her head, falling to about midback, often pulled back and plaited or just left free hanging. Her skin is pale and creamy, face lined with slim, arching brows, high cheekbones, and a hooked, aquiline nose. Eyes of a light amber are a stark contract to her skin, seeming nearly emotionless, but lined with dark liner. The rest of her makeup seems centered on her full lips, painted a dark shade of red. Her figure is petite, with delicate bones and a slender waist. Modest curves line her form, as well as an almost regal posture. She appears muscular, as if not unaccustomed to work, but almost frail because of the lightness of her frame.
Scene
The "Bean Scene" is usually quite crowded this time of night. Most of the tables are taken up, with one still open in the back. The barista seems friendly enough. He mixes everyone's coffees to their specifications and gives out free samples of some sort of muffin.
Orion desperately needs coffee. Even though he SAID he was going home after that nightmare at the park last night, he actually shifted again and spent the better part of two hours trying to catch that raccoon. By the time he made it home and took a shower he only had a few hours to sleep before work. He stumbles into the coffee bar and looks around. What a horrible decor. Whoever designed this place should probably be shot…Out of a canon…Into a wall of spikes. But Orion isn't about to leave without his coffee just because its not aesthetic enough. He walks up to the bar and orders a large coconut latte.
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Abbey can be found sitting at a table looking over a newspaper, a large coffee settled on the table as well. She hasn't drank much of the coffee proving she hasn't been there that long. Her gaze difts towards the movement and voice and she blinks a moment before smirking slightly as she catches sight of Orion. "Hello there Orion." She calls out after a moment.
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Michael doesn't drink coffee, he never got the chance to try it while he was alive, but he does like the smell, as such he spends much of his time in the coffee shop just taking in the smell and playing at being human sometimes even seeming to find humour in the place, he walks in looking to sit in his usual spot just to find that Abbey's already there, he heads instead to the table next to it with a subtle nod to Abbey, there's just a hint of respect there.
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Orion pays for his coffee and stands there muttering something. "Damn stupid Raccoon…I"ll get you someday…You"ll see." The barista hands him his coffee with a concerned expression, suggesting that Orion call an exterminator if he's having that much trouble. Orion nods a thanks and turns to head to the table in the back corner when he notices that Abbey is beckoning him. "Oh hey there!" He seems to perk up rather quickly. He walks over to sit with her, nearly running into Michael as he does so. "Hey! Watch it…You…Sorry…I'm just gonna sit over here now." He recognizes Michael from the bar the other night and decides he does not want to piss off a vampire. He backs up and walks around him before sitting down, eyeing the vampire nervously. After a moment he speaks to Abbey, "Sorry if I seemed a bit off last night. I was uh, you know. Not entirely myself."
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Abbey tilts her head, her pale gaze curiously watching Orion as she catches some of his comment about a raccoon. She can only wonder what he might be muttering about one of them for. Her gaze drifts to Michael and she nods slightly back before her gaze turns to Orion, a friendly smile seems. "Its alright.. I get that way sometimes." She offers with a knowing tone.
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Michael seems very slightly amused as Orion speaks to him, he bows his head slightly to the man. "No, I'm sorry, it was as much my fault as yours." He slips into the seat, his attention taking in the room around him, before he sits back in his seat with a relaxed and contented smile.
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Orion nods back to the vampire, happy that he seems so amicable. He turns back to Abbey and chuckles slightly, rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah well I think the others might have been a bit freaked out. And there was another who showed up after you left. Um, I forgot his name. Something real strange. He made me feel all funny inside when I saw him.” He leans in and lowers his voice “Well he made IT feel all funny inside. It almost took over again when I saw him.” By ‘it’ he of course means the hound. Orion sits back and sips his coffee some, suddenly remembering that vampires have ridiculously good hearing. He peers at Michael out of the corner of his eye to see if he looks like he was listening in.
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Abbey glances to Michael a moment, though she is listioning to Orion as he speaks. She looks back tot he shifter offering a soft oh while she listions to him. "I see.. That ever happen before?" Well she can recall a few close moments over the years where she nearly shifted without control, she wasn't sure if it was from meotions, or osmething else. As for Michael she doesn't glance back to him, after all she knows his there already.
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Michael still sits there apparently intent on whatever it is that he's thinking of, his attention not on the pair talking, as he leans back in his seat, taking a slight breath as though smelling the air, of course anyone who knows their vampires will have to realise he's able to hear any conversation in the cafe.\
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Orion continues to sip his coffee and shakes his head. “No. Well yes, but no. I mean, not from another person. It was almost like, I don’t know. My uncle used to give off a similar vibe. Maybe this just guy just caught me off guard? “ He shakes his head. “That doesn’t make sense. And he said that he smelled a dog…I didn’t smell that strongly, did I?” Maybe Abbey is the wrong person to ask, since she has the best sense of smell out of anyone Orion has met. For now he will ignore Michael, since he shows no indication that he is really paying attention to the two of them.
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Abbey blinks and chuckles softly while leaning back in her seat, her arms resting upon the table, cup within a hand. "Well.." She starts softly. "I'm not sure you want to ask me that.. I mean I caught a dog scent the first time I met you after all." This said with a soft, near whisper like tone.
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Sighing slightly Michael looks at the pair. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but it has to be said… you're a… well you know. Of course you smell animal like, if you've just shifted then you're going to smell like what you've shifted to." He pauses a moment. "Don't your families teach you all this?" He sounds slightly surprised.
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Orion shrugs. "Yeah I suppose you did. And that was in a shop filled with oil and everything." He turns to face Michael as he speaks, looking a bit concerned. He had assumed the vampire could hear him, but did not expect him to comment. He looks around real quick to see if it looks like anyone else is paying attention to them. After deciding all the people in the shop are too concerned with themselves to care he answers in a low voice, knowing that Michael will be able to hear him easily. "Not really? I mean, most of my family died when I was a kid. And my uncle never really talked about it much. Actually until about a week ago I kind of thought my clan was unique. Well, more unique than just being…" He glances at Abbey for a moment. He was going to say 'Unlucky', but he knows she doesn't believe that, so he doesn't finish his sentence.
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Abbey casts a glance towards Michael, her eyes narrowing slightly as he just brings it up in such an open place. A faint huff escapes her before she takes a sip of her coffee. She half listens to what Orion says, her fingers slide across her cup a moment. "I know very well what I smell like right after everything furry." She points out with a smirk while her gaze drifts to Orion and tilts her head before smirking once more.
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Abbey casts a glance towards Michael, her eyes narrowing slightly as he just brings it up in such an open place. A faint huff escapes her before she takes a sip of her coffee. She half lisitons to what Orion says, her fingers slide across her cup a moment. "I know very well what I smell like right after everything furry." She points out with a smirk while her gaze drifts to Orion and tilts her head before smirking once more.
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Shrugging Michael smiles a little, his expression slightly amused. "There are more than you think, most cities have more than their fair share." He gets up from his seat. "But this is a discussion I think I'd rather leave you to, if you could please refrain from it until I've been gone a short time?" He bows his head. "I would hate to overhear something I shouldn't."
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Orion ponders Michael’s words for a moment, wondering just how many shifters probably live in the city right now. He shakes his head as the vampire stands. “Oh, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. We probably shouldn’t talk about it here anyway. I could talk about…Um…Oh! We got an interesting artifact at the museum today. From Italy about 500 CE, slightly after the Roman empire fell. Haven’t translated the writing yet…” He looks at Abbey and sort of frowns. He wonders if this will bore the vampire more.
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Abbey hums faintly as she hears Michael. "I'm sure there's more then eitehr of us to imagen." She offers softly before glancing to Orion at the talk of some artifact while another sip is taken from her coffee.
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Michael freezes as he gets close to the door and turns, probably for the first time that either of them have seen there's a look of genuine interest. "Really? Tell me about it? What did it look like and where abouts what it found?" He take a few steps toward Orion. "I may be able to provide some information on it."
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Orion nods to Abbey and momentarily ponders again putting an add on Craigs List. He glances back over to Michael, "Oh?" That's right, the reason he gave for wanting to find a vampire the other day was to see if any of them had any perspective on the old artifacts he had. The other day he used it as an excuse, but in truth he was curious about how old some of the vampires are. "Well it is a sword, gold with writing. I believe it is Goethic, but I unfortunately know very little of that language. The archaeologist who found it said that he believes it to be a peace offering from Theodoric to Sigismund, though I have not read the entire file. I do not know where it was found or why he believes it is that."
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Abbey hums softly as Michael becomes rather interested in it. Her pale gaze rests on Orion. She seems a bit inerested but really this is not her area of knowing so she is quiet while lisitoning to the two.
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Nodding slightly Michael seems to consider that. "Plausible, although I never had the oppertunity to see it in its full glory." He nods a little. "Yes you have only an incomplete dictionary, and your grammar is terrible." He frowns a little. "I believe I've heard of the sword, although I'd need to check some of my personal records… If I can see the sword I'd likely be able to translate it for you, Gothic was my first language."
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Orion looks quite delighted at this. "This is a huge breakthrough! I can't believe no one from any of the museums has tried to contact vampires before. I mean, your first language is one that we take forever to translate, and our translations are imperfect at that." He nods hapily. "We have an entire set coming into our Mediterranean Collection. Articles from the Post Roman world. Most of it is from the Ostrogotic Reign. If you're interested I bet I could get permission to have you view the collection at night." He ponders for a moment. "Actually I don't see why we don't stay open a few nights a week. The art and artifacts in the museum are as much a part as vampire history as they are to human history I'd wager." He nods sagely and adds in a hushed voice. "Although I'd need to think of a reason not to work on nights of the moon. Other than, you know…I turn into the Hound of Ulster."
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Abbey smirks at Orion. "What makes you think no one has spoken with vampires before on the subject of history?" She questions with a curious tone while peering at the shifter curiously. "I'm sure you can figure out something for them days. Maybe get a doctors excuse?" It might work.
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Nodding Michael smiles. "I'll take a look, I can probably identify a number of the pieces you're having difficulty with, but I'll make no promises of future aid." He smiles faintly as he looks at Orion. "Quite frankly I don't think I want to promise I'll be willing to do this every time you find something in Gothic."
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Orion huffs at Abbey “Well for one I think it would have been huge news in the Museum business. I don’t know how old the oldest vampires are. Who knows what mysteries about history they could reveal?” He shrugs, “And I don’t know if a doctor’s excuse would work. Maybe if I had some side job or something.” Like a guard dog. He looks a little downtrodden at Michael. “Oh, well any help you could give would be appreciated. I mean, I wouldn’t expect you to work there or anything, but I’m sure the museum would be happy to compensate you for your aid.”
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Abbey hums softly while she peers at Orion. "I suppose so." She offers with a smirk and slight shrug. "Well.. You could say you have a side job that involves working on fullmoons.. Though what could that be in a job relation?" She doesn't add anything on the whole artifact thing, not her cup of tea.
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Sighing he's lost a lot of his earlier interest, he removes a card from is pocket and offers it to Orion. "Call me if you can arrange anything, I'll be more than happy to take a look, and no compensation is necessary, history deserves to be remembered." He smiles very slightly. "And you could claim you're a Wiccan, many of them believe in performing celebrations before the full moon. It's possible that you could convince you superiors of it." He nods his head. "Although if you'll excuse me I must be going."
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Orion takes the card from Michael and looks at it quickly before putting it in his coat pocket. “Right, I’ll let you know as soon as I can speak to one of the curators. I’m sure they’ll agree with your outlook on history.” He offers a smile. “Thanks, and take care.” He turns back to Abbey. “Well the Wicca thing could work I suppose. And I could always just PRETEND to have a side job, though they may ask for papers. Unless I get a part time job as a seeing eye dog or something. I can’t be an ill omen to those who can’t see me I suppose.” The smirk on his face is enough to let her know he is joking.
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Abbey peers at Michael curiously. "Sure.. there just think his a witch and we all see what happens when you say Wicca anymore." Though perhaps she's wrong on it. She smirks at Orion. "That would be interesting to see I have to admit." Him as a seeing eye dog.
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Orion shakes his head at Abbey. "Well don't look. You might die…Or something. The legend's pretty vague and Gillecomgain didn't like talking about it much. I'd rather not test it out on someone who's so easy to get along with." The joking tone is out of his voice now. He turns and offers a wave to Michael as he leaves, then returns his gaze to Abbey once he’s gone. "Why he's probably the friendliest vampire I've ever met. Granted, he's the ONLY vampire I've ever met, but still."
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Abbey chuckles softly. "Gee.. Thanks, makes me feel all special." This said with an amused tone. A faint hum escaping her and she isn't sure what to say to the fact that Michael is a friendly vampire.. She just doesn't care for the vampires period.
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Orion shakes his head. "Well you should be happy I don't want to intentionally curse you, that's what." He finishes his coffee and decides he would like some more. "You want another? I kind of need it tonight." He gets up to order another coffee for himself and whatever Abbey wants should she want anything. He returns a minute or two later with beverage and muffin samples.
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Abbey chuckles and smiles. "Niceto be liked by someone I suppose." She says with a joking tone. "Naw I'm good with the one, but thanks." She peers at him curiously. "So.. You didn't get into toruble last night di dyou?"
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Orion sits down and takes a drink of his coffee. "Um, I don't think so? Honestly they probably just think that I was on drugs, although that Lillian girl seemed a bit suspicious after the librarian said he smelled a dog." The man scratches his chin. "I mean, if they were to suspect something like…You know. Well, I'd imagine that they'd have to be familiar with our kind in the first place. In fact maybe that what was going on when I met that guy. You think he could be one?"
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Abbey ahs softly and ponders this. "I suppose its possible.." She offers softly. "Though really the only ones that know of us would be the vampires I'd imagine.." This said with a soft whisper tone.
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With a gentle push of the door, Vera steps into the coffehouse with an almost curious expression on her face. She's dressed somewhat simply, in slim cut, dark jeans that ride low on her waist, knee-high, modestly heeled black leather boots, and a low-cut, plain black tee. As she scans the busy tables for somewhere just to sit, her dark painted lips purse in thought, and she sniffs a few times, rubbing a slender finger under her nose as if something seems to be tickling it within.
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Orion shrugs, "Well yeah, but I don’t think either of them were vampires. The girl was using a candle though, that’s a strange thing for a person to use nowadays, especially outside on a breezy night. If she was a vampire, though, wouldn’t you have sensed it? I mean, don’t they smell different?" He takes a drink of the coffee. "How come I can't smell them? Do you think there's something wrong with me?"
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Abbey nods slightly while lifting a hand to rub across her eyes a moment. "Well that's true.. An none of them was vampires." She offers with a soft tone before her gaze turns over towards the opening door and she hums afintly as she watches the newcommer. "I'm not to sure on that part.. Might just be how you are?" She shrugs slightly.
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Having been out with friends half the evening, Austin decides he needs to take a break and get something in his system before heading home. He wears typical teenaged boy clothes. Baggy basketball shorts, wit a brace on his left knee. A tanktop and a jacket over it. Struggeling a bit with the door, since he is also on crutches, but he manages and slips inside. Once in, he heads for the only empty spot in the joint, where he can prop his left leg up. Once the crutches are out of the way, he slides into the booth and props the leg up on the bench. Relaxed there while he decides what he wants.
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Vera succumbs to following the young boy towards the open booth, though she seems hesitant for some reason. She lowers herself down across from Austin, and apparently somewhat close to Abbey and Orion, as well, given that it was the only available booth left. She seems to consider something for a few long moments before opening her mouth to speak to the young man, her voice smooth and feminine, but thick with a Russian accent, "You look a little worse for wear…would you like me to order for you, dear?"
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Orion pokes at one of the muffin fragments idly. "That's what I thought. Actually I knew Jamal wasn't one from when we met him at the bar. You know, he kind of disappeared last night. Well, maybe. I was mentally impaired, after all." He notices Abbey looking at the door and follows her gaze, noticing the injured but paying little mind to the girl he's with. He looks back to Abbey with a bemused expression, "What's this? Looking for the weak ones in the herd?" He chuckles but silences himself as the two take a seat across from Abbey and himself.
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Abbey hums faintly and then blinks while peering at Orion and smirks. "No.." She states with a faint tone and glances to her watch a moment while a soft sigh escapes her. "I'm going to get going. have a few jobs in the morning." She leans closer to Orion. "There is a vampire around." Is all she says while standing up, cup in hand which she tosses into the trash once moving by it. A faint nod of her head is offered to the boy and vampire before she leaves.
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Austin looks to the woman, and though he doesn't know her, he at the moment, sees only another human, a kind one at that. "Thank you, might be a little easier, "Just some coffee, um, and if they can, a baggie with ice in it please, I need to ice it awhile." Spotting Abbey, though he doesn't know her and offers her a polite nod. Because he's that way. He digs for his wallet and hands her what it would cost for it. "I'm in the mood for coffee tonight, so make sure it's the one with the free refills please."
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With a soft smile, Vera lifts a hand, refusing the money. "My treat, zain'ka. You look as though you could use it." She smoothly rises once again, striding through the crowded room for the barista in the back. After exchanging a few bills, she returns to the booth with a steaming mug in hand, which sets in front of the boy before offering the other hand holding the ziploc of ice. She lowers back down, offering another quick smile before she blinks a few times, almost as if disturbed by something. She deftly unlatches her purse, pulling free a crisp, white handkerchief that she lifts to her nose to cover a dainty sneeze, her eyes squeezing shut. She holds the cloth in place for a few moments before lowering it, the faint tint of blood showing through to anyone that would be staring directly at it.
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Orion frowns, fearing that last joke may have offended Abbey. He gives her an odd look when she mentions the vampire and then leaves. Great, Abbey. Whisper that there's a vampire three feet away from me when we both know what ridiculously good hearing they have. He offers her a wave and casually glances at the couple she gestured toward. Something tells Orion that a vampire would not be wandering around on crutches, so that leaves Vera. He sits there kind of awkwardly for a moment, assuming that Vera heard Abbey mention that she was a vampire and wondering if he should just leave. His curiosity keeps him around, though. His only experience with a vampire so far was not a bad one, maybe they're all generally friendly.
A group of five girls walk in and look around, the only open seats are the ones at Orion's table so they come over and ask if they can sit down. After taking a quick count, Orion realizes he will no longer fit at the table if they all sit down. He stands and looks around before turning to Vera and Austin. "Um, sorry to impose, but do you mind if I sit with you guys?" His accent is distinctly Irish, but not difficult to understand. Orion hears a yell behind him and turns to see one of the chairs at the table he was just at collapsed under one of the girls. "Oh! Sorry. I shouldn't have sat there for so long." The girl just gives him and odd look and gets up, brushing herself off.
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Austin smiles at her, "Oh, well thank you." he shrugs and tucks the money and the wallet away. He then takes the baggie and sets it on his knee, that is currently trying to baloon on him. He's been too active today with it. He then reaches for the coffee, taking a small sip, "mmm indeed I really appreciate this." Long busy day, hanging with other teenagers is enough to wear anyone out. Much less one on crutches. He looks to Vera and smiles, "Bless you.." then blinks as he does notice the hint of blood. "Oh, are you alright?" the boy asks, concerned. Not realizing." Then there's Orion, he shrugs, "I don't mind if she doesn't." They are people, right? He shifts a bit, trying to give the man some room.
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Vera tucks the cloth back into her purse, but leaves the clutch on her lap to be close at hand. Her gaze lifts for Orion as he moves over, her nose wrinkling for the briefest of moments. She seems to ignore the question from Austin, and scoots over, offering more room than crutches and a teenage boy can. "I do not mind.." she says, her attention settled now on the man at their booth, rather than the boy. "She reaches a hand out, gently patting the seat next to her. "Sit, please." Her lips curve in a quick smile, chillingly white teeth shining from between her dark lips.
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Orion smiles at the two. "Um, thanks!" He opts to sit next to Vera, since it is true that Austin needs the extra space for his crutches. The man glances over at the girls and the broken chair. That seems a bit…Unlucky. Abbey doesnt know what she's talking about. He looks back to the two of them. "Sorry again, I've never seen it so crowded in here before. I'm Orion, by the way. Like the constellation." He had noticed the blood on Vera's hankercheif, but since he already suspects that she is a vampire this does not cause him alarm.
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Austin smiles, "A pleasure Orion, I'm Austin." Taking another sip of his coffee.. not even adding sugar or anything in it, as most kids would. He sighs contentedly and leans back into his bench, not even paying attention to the girls and the broken chair. Looking to Vera, in hopes of an introduction as well. BUt not sure what else to talk about, so for now he remains quiet and lets the adults talk. As any proper kid should do, right?
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Orion is about to shake Vera’s hand when she retracts it, but he is not offended by this. She DID just sneeze all over it. Interesting that vampires sneeze. Orion takes mental note of this. “Are you allergic to anything? Maybe someone is wearing perfume.” He sniffs the air but can only smell coffee. Orion shakes his head, “No no. I doubt it was…That. She was just tired is all.” He glances at Austin. “How did you break yourself?”
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Austin smiles at Vera, "A pleasure to meet you Vera. Oh, and bless you again." Then to Orion, "Oh, one of the last games, we was away, the opponents were gunnin for us." Then remembers to add, since they don't know him, "Basketball by the way. They started it, was going for the layup and they layed me out instead. Started out with a couple torn tendons and a chipped knee cap. I was origionally going to be benched a few games while I heal." A roll of his eyes, "But then Gram insisted I walk the dog so I took her to the reservour. She loves playing in the water there.. but then she got loose, I went to chase her and well more disaster. Now I'm benched the rest of the season. They all ripped. Hopefully I'll play next season, if I take care of it right and not let the dog loose."
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Vera breaks into another smile as Orion sniffs the air. "I am allergic to dogs," she says simply, though implying a great deal more. Her gaze shifts to Austin as he describes his injury. "Oh, bednyazhka…At least you are young. Plenty of time to heal and play again." She laces her fingers together, settling them into her lap as her sneezing fit seems to have subsided for now. She looks between the teenager and man, a smile never far from her lips as she settles back into the booth, seeming content to just sit and talk, without a drink.
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Orion nods as he listens to Austin’s story, not really comprehending it until he mentions he is talking about basketball. Not something he is familiar with. He frowns at the boy. “Maybe you should just not walk the dog any more. Make your grandparents do it, you’re injured.” Vera mentions that she is allergic to dogs and Orion looks at her sympathetically. He offers a quick apology and quickly sniffs his underarm. Does he really smell that much like a dog? Or maybe it was Abbey…Well they’re pretty close in species.
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Austin figures it might be him, the pug is shedding after all. "Sorry, must be Cuddle's fur on me. I try to leave the house with clean clothes, but well.. nt always easy when she insists on attention before I leave the house." he says with a frown at poor Vera's suffering. Clearly not getting it. Then to Orion, "Yeah I know, but the are old, and like Vera said, I'm young. I do my chores around the house, I get an allowence, so it all works in the end. It was my fault for letting go of her leash in the first place. And pugs are rather fast."
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Vera gives a sudden laugh at the self consciousness she invoked in both men. She shakes her head slowly, "Nyet, it seems to have gone for now. I think perhaps his friend had a dog…not all bother me." She lightly strokes the side of her nose, which appears to still be bothering her faintly. She reaches over to lightly pat Orion's thigh beneath the table with little warning, and seemingly little in the ways of boundaries that most Vampires have, her hand ice cold even through his clothing. "You smell as if you have a dog, as well…though do not fret. Not as bad as your friend."
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Orion chuckles at Austin. “See, that’s why I only have a ferret. If he gets a little anxious I just lock his cage.” He jumps slightly as Vera touches him, giving her an odd look. “Oh, yeah. Her dog is more wild than mine, but mine’s still fairly wild. I think…That dog is a strange one actually.” Didn’t he just say he only had a ferret? Now he says he has a dog, too?
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Austin listens to the pair, clearly something is different about them. Vampires he knows and understands. He knows a couple witches too. Though he doesn't know they are witches. Shifters on the other hand, he's not heard anything much about. Other then TV and knowing the one vamp he really doesn't pay too close attention to what the TV and movies have to say about any of them. Real ones are very different then made up ones. Yet, he at this point hasn't figured out that Vera is a vamp. Though she seems different to him as well. But he also doesn't look too worried. "My father" the word father is spat out, as if it were a bad taste in his mouth, "had one of those descented ferrits.. it still smelled, and it was always biting me and I did nothing to it. Mom made him get rid of it." The distaste turned over to a more saddened tone and look when he mentions his mother. He idely flips the bag of ice over, thatis gradually elting, and the balooning going away. His coffee cup empty, and someone comes to refill it. For which he thanks the person. "Probably not all like that, but I just don't think I could handle one of them. I'd rather have a dog. Though, Cuddles really isn't my idea of a dog. Now my girlfriend has a dog, a big one. He's smart too."
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Vera cants her head as the conversation somehow turns to pets. "I have..never really had a pet." She rests an elbow against the table, resting her chin in her upturned palm as she looks between the two. "Dogs especially. Growing up…they were around, but just used for hunting. Not anywhere near the pets they have become today." She seems honest with that sentence, not seeming to insinuate anything. "I do not mind them, but they seem to not like me. Even smaller animals." She rolls her shoulders in a loose shrug and flashes a smile. "Pets, I suppose…not my subject."
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Orion waves a hand dismissively at Austin. "Oh no, ferrets are sweet. And sure they usually come descented. The odor is in the fur, when you descent them you remove their capability to spray like a skunk. And sure they bite but once they get used to you they are extremely sweet critters. " He nods in agreement with himself and finishes up his coffee. If he notices the intonation in the boy's voice he does not show it. Orion looks over at Vera. "Oh? I'm sure if you were around an animal long enough they would become accustomed to you. Maybe a cat? They can care for themselves while you are…Away."
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Austin shrugs, "Maybe, but one would remind me too much of him, and I might have to give it reason to bite me." Austin's actually a good kid, and not cruel to animals, or anything like that. But with daddy issues, pretty much anything that reminds him of that man, would probably get hurt. Luckily his Grandparents are so good to him. He looks to the pair, "Sorry so grim there. They got me on pretty good pain killers, and they are making me say things, I wouldn't normaly say."
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Offering Austin a soft smile, Vera clicks her tongue a few times. "You are in good company. I am sure we have all had our own issues. But unfortunately milye, I need to be heading home." Looking over Austin a few moments, "You should be at home in bed, not out drinking coffee at this hour." Vera begins to gather her things, which…really is just a purse that she slips over her shoulder. "Orion, Austin…It was a pleasure to meet you both. Perhaps I will see you both again sometime, da?"
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Orion shakes his head at the boy. "Naw, if you saw a ferret now you'd recognise how adorable they are and I'm sure you'd have no issues with them." He nods and turns to Vera. "Oh? Yeah it is kind of late, I should head home myself." He stands to let her out and prepares to leave himself. "Yeah, I'm sure I'll see both of you around. I sometimes go to a bar you are probably familiar with, Vera." He is referring to Bloody Marys of course. "But yeah, gotta head out. I'll see you folks later. Have a safe night." He tosses his empty coffee cup out and heads for the door.
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Austin nods at Vera, smiling at her, "Yeah I will be, probably play a video game before it, but at least I'll be off my knee. So all is good. It was a pleasure meeting you as well, and I would like to see you again sometime. Dallas is a pretty good sized city, but odds are good, we could bump into each other again." He finishes off his coffee, and shakes his head at the offer for more. Siling at Vera, "And thank you for the coffee. I could have paid for it, but thank you. I very much appreciate it." About to say more, when his cell phone rings. Digging for it and answering, "Hello?" Listening, "Yes Gram, I'm on my ways now. Stopped at Bean Scene." Gathering his crutches and slipping the ice pack off the knee.
~Fin~
