Cross to Bear

Oak Cliff


Perhaps the most beautiful neighborhood in all of Dallas, Oak Cliff offers a panoramic view of both the downtown skyline, and the rolling hills of Texas. The area is surrounded parks and recreational facilities. The houses here look slightly older but are not suffering any disrepair, and the yards all seem to be well kept.

St. Cecilia Catholic Church rests at the northern end of the neighborhood. In contrast, the southern end of the neighborhood is a very funky, eclectic art district full of bistros, cafes, specialty boutiques and jazz clubs.


The sun has set but perhaps just barely. Most are just waking at his hour, those of his kind, yet he is already wide awake. Dressed in all black, the almost priest is not shy about where he intends to go. Elliott stands outside of the church that he used to call his home and stares at the large doors leading within. This is not to be mistaken for longing to return to his past life, yet the comfort of the church will never leave him. For quite some time he takes position on a bench across the street from the building, a bench that will long live in his memory. Where it not for the fact that he's a semi familiar face around the area one might consider him a statue as he uses the time to be alone with his thoughts.

~*~

Clear skies are a good omen. This perhaps means that there will be less poltergeist activity than if there were cloudy skies. Alexa honestly has no clue what causes the ghost to bother her. She can hope that it will leave her be at work this evening. Dressed comfortably with her hair twisted up in a loose twist she makes her way down the street toward the pharmacy. Hours early but there was little to do at home beyond read yet another herbal remedy book. A quiet step takes her down the street. The lights illuminating a figure in front of the church she passes every evening.

"Mr. Grant?"

Drawing closer she clears her throat.

"Apologies, Mr. Hartigan."

~*~

Were he a careless man who cared little for his unlife he may actually flinch whenever someone refers to him as Grant. His eyes move not as the mistake is made, not until the correction soon follows. Only then does Elliott dare pull away from the beauty of the church to settle those distant eyes on Alexa. "It is a mistake that I should grow accustomed to, it should seem." There is no warming smile emitted from him this eve but he is mindful not to appear too 'creepy' before her. "Miss Whyte. A beautiful evening, is it not?" Perhaps it is his youth but he knows nothing of these ghosts, nor does he fear them.

~*~

"Human eyes may not be all that great in the dark," Alexa reminds him with a smile. "Warm but not humid. No sign of rain. Chance of poltergeist activity low." For her this means that it is indeed a beautiful evening. "Were you able to look into the matter at all? I know that it has only been a few days so if you haven't, please do not think I will be upset."

~*~

A hand moves ever so slightly to indicate the bench next to him, offering her to sit if she so desires. "Perhaps I should invest in such a paranormal detector. I'm afraid that my radar is broken." This would be what Hope would describe as him trying to be normal. "I'm also afraid that I have yet to speak with the one who would have the answers that I seek. I've been rather preoccupied with managing a particular location and have missed her barely quite often. I assure you that it has not escaped me." Only then do Elliott's eyes wander back to the church. "I have requested a meeting with her since this is the case. You shall have your answers soon."

~*~

"A paranormal detector?" Alexa does seat herself. Her bag is pulled onto her lap. A security blanket of sorts. "Oh you're teasing me." The smile is faint but it is in existence. "I just find on clearer nights the poltergeist doesn't seem to be so active." The why of it is what she doesn't know or understand. "Managing a particular location? You mean, where you work?" She hasn't delved so deeply into who he is just yet, primarily out of fear. "It's fine. I didn't expect you to have answers so swiftly. Even if you don't find any, I appreciate the effort."

~*~

The fact that she's even smiling is a start. "That's what I believe they call it. It isn't something that I've honestly ever been good with. I was once told to act more normal and to attempt such things. Clearly the attempts are rather lacking." The explanation of the poltergeist brings no change of expression. "Each detail that you are able to observe is yet another clue." Ever so slowly Elliott shifts his gaze to the side to consider her form. "If you would choose to refer to it as such. I have been overseeing an establishment that has recently reopened under new management." He has no reason to keep it from her but doesn't right out indicate it. "I gave you my word, Miss Whyte. Hopefully you will find that it is a strong pact."

~*~

"I'm quite used to getting teased, but it took a moment. One of the ghost hunters that came to our house had some electronic device. Electromagnetic-something. They called it a paranormal detector, so I thought that's what you'd meant at first." Alexa keeps the bag close as though she fears that moving it will make him do something foolish. It's silly, but the presence of the church does nothing to make her feel more at ease. "It may be another clue but it is really of no help. Sometimes it comes on clear nights, others it doesn't." Twisting her hair nervously around a finger she looks down at the bag. "Please don't think me nosy, but which establishment is this? There are quite a few that close and reopen around here and it's hard to keep track of them all."

~*~

"It was not. Next time I attempt humor I may take a different approach." A smile would do the man wonders though he feels no need to do such things at times. "It means little coming from me but please do not be afraid. I have no intentions to harm you in any way and I doubt that will ever change." He is a man of peace after all. "If your surroundings offer you no solution, perhaps the answers are more internal?" It may be difficult to have a conversation with Elliott due to his staring off at the church but he continues for as long as she'll have it. "I currently oversee certain tasks for Medieval Times. It is far different than when I spent my nights within those walls but it is enough to keep a humble man preoccupied." The last bit is said with the most minor of inclinations of his head, to indicate the church.

~*~

How can he…? Alexa blinks once, then again. The bag is clutched to her tightly and she twists the hair around her finger in the opposing direction. "I'm not afraid," she lies, trying hard to hide that she is. "Internal? The poltergeist? I've heard such things, but as I'm sure you can see I'm not pre-teen with raging hormones, nor do I have anything that's unduly stressing me out." Except the constant run in with vampire-kind. "Medieval Times? It's funny, you know. I'm involved with the SCA and other events, but I've never been." Drawing her eyes to the church she tilts her head to either side. "It looks the same to me."

~*~

Again the vampire looks at her, slowly. His demeanor isn't just calm, but it is relatively soft considering his current condition. "Miss Whyte, lying does not become you. If you would prefer, I can educate you as to how I know these things, but you would have to trust that I would not harm you. I believe that is a trust that I will not earn." Even as Elliott speaks he doesn't move, mindful of the fear that she already feels. "That also is not quite what I had in mind. When these ghosts appear, do you ever take note of how you feel at the time? Perhaps they are attracted to emotion." He doesn't believe this for a moment but it perhaps will give her something to consider. "Differences lie in different perceptions. I do suggest that you visit the show at some point. I would furnish your ticket, of course, if you were to alert me ahead of time."

~*~

"I'm not lying," Alexa says, feeling a bit paranoid now. There is no edging away. Instead she clutches the bag more tightly. "Very well. I suppose I am. Not afraid. Unnerved. Concerned. I want to believe that you mean no harm, but you can't deny that you need blood to live." The majority may be synthetic but that doesn't mean the desire isn't there. It would be like waving a steak in front of a starving dog. "They come whenever," she says with an exasperated sigh. "I'll try to keep note of it." He receives a few more blinks. "I can purchase my own ticket. I'd need to find someone to attend with anyhow. I don't think that it would be something that a person normally does alone."

~*~

He would like to believe that for all of his life and unlife he has been a decent man. He's not acted out of spite or malice and has only tried to help those around him. Yet everyone seems to believe he has ulterior motives or simply is hiding something. It is rather fitting that things be no different now. "You need blood to survive as well, Miss Whyte. Simply in a different context. It would be wrong of me to take from you what you need just as much as I. Although you do make valid points that I could not dispute. I have bitten one once. It is a burden I believe I will never forget, at least not for a time, as I allowed my foolishness to cost me a dear friend." The ghosts are forgotten as Elliott believes that they should be. "Then bring whomever you would like. I feel that it is the least that I can do for unnerving you so."

~*~

"Well yes, in the sense that my heart needs to pump it through my body. I do not need to drink it to sustain myself though." It is not prejudice that has Alexa wrinkling her nose up. Just the fact that the idea of drinking blood is rather gross to her. "I appreciate the thought and I will do my best to not continue with the concern." It will take some time. None of the vampires she has met have done anything harmful to her, but that doesn't mean that they can't. It's a healthy fear but not one she can't overcome with time. "Well truthfully, Mr. Hartigan, I don't have all that many friends. The poltergeist tends to keep me from making many. Even those I've known for years don't generally want to be seen out in public with me for fear of an attack." If it sounds pitiful that's because it is.

~*~

There is the faintest hint of amusement in her reaction. "To each their own. It is still valuable to us both. Yet I can rely on synthetic to ensure that I never again harm another. Would synthetic keep your body functioning?" Elliott turns then to look back at the church. "There is no rush to sedate your fears. Trust of any kind is to be earned." What she says is rather pitiful, in fact it is downright perplexing. "I would find it hard to believe that any who know you as a person would refuse to remain in contact with you. Yet you seem to use this as a crutch. Do not be afraid to venture out on your own at times, or associate with those willing to stand by you no matter what may come. I believe that these people do exist, even if you have not quite met them yet."

~*~

"That's what it was originally made for," Alexa says with a tiny little laugh. "Hospital use. For blood transfusions and the like. We learnt about it in our pharmacology class." Now that her hair is officially untwisted from the twist she'd had it up in she works to twist it back up and pin it more securely so she doesn't nervously play with her hair again. "You say this but you have not been subjected to the poltergeist so much. Even my father ran off due to it." She doesn't seem upset by this at all, just very matter of fact.

~*~

"I still believe that you are better left with what naturally runs. I believe that it is better off there." Could this be flirtation or merely a man attempting to be comforting? Elliott is never easy to read. Again he watches her, the little nervous habits she has and the way that she speaks. "Do you honestly believe that I would be frightened by such a thing?" She obviously doesn't know him but he isn't exactly like others that she knows, either. "I can say this with a great deal of comfort, Miss Whyte. I would be saying the same five months ago when my heart would beat the same as yours."

~*~

"I agree, but the synthetic does help in instances of first-response. Did you know there were actually two different varieties used before the Japanese created the first over-the-counter synthetic?" Alexa smiles briefly at this knowledge and then laughs. "Mr. Hartigan, I've yet to come across anyone who wasn't chased off by the haunting. Most think it amusing at first, until random objects fly toward their heads. I have periods where things are quite normal, then periods where the activity is so bad I wish to lock myself in my room and avoid the rest of the world."

~*~

There are things that he doesn't know and isn't afraid to admit to. The fact that she's calming and actually speaking is reassuring to him. "Do tell. I'm afraid that I know little when it comes to blood and synthetic. I did learn long ago, prior to my current state that synthetic is far from desirable for taste." The laugh actually causes him to blink before tilting his head ever so slightly. "You should never lock yourself away for fear of what might happen. I firmly believe that there are those who would stand by you no matter what would come to be. Besides, I believe that I could benefit from having a bit of knowledge aimed towards my brain."

~*~

There is much that he doesn't know, and hiding is one of the only things Alexa knows how to do to avoid that poltergeist attacks. "My mother is the only one thus far, and she's so concerned that we'll never rid ourselves of it that she keeps quite a bit in storage or in boxes. Only the essentials in the house now." She's not ashamed to admit she still lives at home. She should have her own place, but the security of having another human being by her is enough most nights to keep the ghostie away. "Well you have your volume expanders. These are the ones generally used by paramedics. They increase the volume of blood in body. Then you've got the oxygen therapeutics that mimic the carrying of oxygen through the system. It's quite ingenious really. I've never really looked into the OTC synthetics, but I'm guessing that they're volume expanders."

~*~

What exactly is a man to say to all of this information? "Perhaps you should unpack something, even if you are to repack it soon after. It may feel therapeutic. I personally do not feel that you should allow this ghost to be the dictator of your life. There are always options, even when you believe that there are none." The way that he twists slightly to look at her again reveals that oddly shaped scar. "There will come a time when you are ready to take charge." That may not be for some time, Elliott realizes. Every word spoken about the synthetic is taken in even if he makes no obvious sign of it. "Your knowledge could likely cause you to release your own brand, if you were ever in the market to amass money. Although I would highly suggest discovering a way to allow for a better taste."

~*~

"I'm a pharmacist, not a scientist." Alexa has neither the skill nor the knowledge for such things. "I really only know the medical uses for the blood substitutes, not what makes it viable for a vampire." The bag on her lap is adjusted as she notes the scar. "Crosses work then, or is that just a myth?" The question is more inquisitive than meant to be rude. Just like that she does her best to avoid conversation about the unpacking of items. Better to leave the non-essentials packed in case there needs be another quick move in the middle of the night.

~*~

He will have more of this conversation with her another time. She did invite him to visit with her, after all, so it likely will come up. "Pardon?" Eyes filter down to his chest before moving back to her. "A myth. The irony to this scar is that it is the cross that I would never take off that left such a mark. Unfortunate and unplanned, yet it does remind me of that life that I used to have. I suppose that there is humor to a pacifist baring such a mark." Elliott however has yet to see the humor in the situation. "It was merely a suggestion, and more of an attempt at a light comment. Although I have learned that you need to degrees at times to invent useful items."

~*~

"Have you thought of getting another?" Alexa finally glances down at her watch and slides off the bench. "I mean, if they don't all burn you that is. You could probably get another." Though there is a thought that the one he wore may have sentimental value for him. "Either that or you can perpetuate the myth if need be." There is part of her, despite her fears, that make her loathe to leave. "I should get to work. It's still a bit early but I need to pick up a few things for home anyhow."

~*~

If only he were comfortable enough to speak fully of such things. "It would need to be a unique cross, perhaps. String and wood if I were to have my choice." That which has scarred him is still in his possession but clearly will not be worn. The slightest hints of a grin surface on Elliott. "Miss Whyte, would you be suggesting that I tell untruths? Perhaps for entertainment value?" Yes, this does seem rather entertaining. He stands along with her but is certain to keep distance between them. It is the gentleman thing to do. "Travel safe, then. I shall end my procrastination for the evening as well. Soon I shall have your information."

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