@BlackPanther

Jaze watches as her soulmate walks towards her, he had changed into jeans and a blue t-shirt. She smiles, admiring Astley as he approaches her. He offers his hand and an invitation for a walk. Jaze happily accepts both, extending her hand as well. "A walk sounds lovely." She agrees. So, honestly, this guy is pretty hot... Jaze blushes, "Shall we continue?" She nods towards the door of the hospital. Curious to find out about this man and his background, Jaze takes the lead. I know this guy is our soulmate and all, but you never know, he could be dangerous... Jaze loses her smile for second, Oh shut up, just look at him. I mean, maybe he is dangerous, if you know what I mean ;) then regains it with a slight giggle. She shakes her head and looks back at Astley. Jaze knows she is always worried about men in general, so she gets dismisses the thought of being in possible danger. Besides, Jaze would much rather think about what she said about Astley being a different kind of dangerous.

@Willow Breeze
Astley nods and smiles widely. "Of course" As they walk he keeps smiling, he feels so happy to have finally meet her...his soulmate. "So...tell me everything about you...I want to know everything." He finds a bench and sits on it gesturing for her to join him. He wasn't demanding, rather asking. He really wants to know everything...including what she felt about other races. Like his own. Especially with his birthday coming up tomorrow..which means gold glitter everywhere. At least it eventually vanishes on its own or he would have to constantly carry around a bag to clean it up. The flask in his pocket becomes slightly more visible.

When her words had failed her, Tholo slowly reached out to turn her. The touch made her flinch reflexively. Since when was that a reflex? Dead or not, adrenaline was racing through her veins… fight or flight, she couldn’t let another man touch her. Not yet. Too soon. He meant no harm though, he simply wiped a tear from her cheek. Damnit, she hadn’t meant to cry in front of the wolf.

Her wolf…

Bartholomew Whitlock.

“I knew nothing of this” he assured her ”I’m sorry about what happened, I should of been there. I failed in that regard, but he is gone and can’t hurt you anymore. And if he somehow lived, I’ll him myself. He’s no father to me. I’d understand if you want space from being near a wolf, but if you are still willing to try, I’ll show you I’m never going to hurt you.”

Béatrix felt more naked now than the last time they were together, and that is saying something. But maybe that was what soul mates were for? Who else should you feel comfortable baring yourself to? Completely bare, to the core of your very being. When she spoke again, her voice was low, but steady.

“No. I do not want to be alone.” Trixy raised her eyes to meet his with rediscovered boldness. She was much too proud a creature to play the victim for long. “Just… don’t touch me again.” the demand stood in stark contrast to their previous encounters where she’d much rather feel his touch then hear his words. The tides were changing and Béatrix strapped her investigator boots back on. She had came here for answers, and she would get some.

Wandering over to the liquor cabinet, Béatrix selected The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve. The irony was not lost on her there. Uncapping the bottle, she nosed the rich buttery notes before pouring two glasses. She couldn’t give a damn what time of day it was, she needed a drink… or twelve, because, you know, alcohol doesn’t quite work the same when it isn’t tainting human blood. Trixy offered Tholo a glass and sat down with the other.

“Why would he say that… if he isn’t your father?” she asked about the maggot-like words that ate away her thoughts. Her crystalline eyes settled on the blade once more, but she felt no urge to touch it again. Thinking on it, an idea blossomed in her mind. The monster was an alpha… aggressive… centuries old… English. “Bartholomew?" she broke the silence of thought. "Were you born wolf, or turned?” it seemed silly that she didn’t even know exactly what kind of were her soul mate was, but there it was.

@Argetlam350

Jonathan looked at the name and date on his arm. The meeting would be in a few days, which just so happened to be the day he was supposed to start working at the new office. Logically, this would mean that his soulmate was probably going to be a new co-worker, probably another middle-aged guy like himself. Maybe if he was lucky Jonthan would be the less bald of the two. His hairline was receding, but right now it wasn't too bad. He had maybe another 10 years before something would have to be done about it.

The thought of that dark future made his stomach settle. Jonathan truly feared few things, but male pattern baldness was definitely one of them. Not only was it a sign of growing old, but an indicator that you would not even have the luxury of aging gracefully.

The honk of a horn behind him woke him back up to the reality of the present. He was driving a moving truck, on his way to his new apartment in New York City. The radio was broken, as was the air conditioner, but the fake leather seating was that comfortable softness that it gets when it's been used enough to get kind of cracked and squishy, but before the whole thing totally breaks down and needs to be replaced with new seating. He was bored at a red light when he started spacing out, thinking about the Baldest Timeline.

Jonathan sighed as the engine of the truck groaned before moving forward. According to Google Maps, that was the last stoplight he would be at before reaching the apartment complex. He was not looking forward to moving a decade's worth of boxes and furniture up four floors and down three hallways.

Mystique at the Corner Cafe waiting for customers

Mystique had a lot of fun with her new little kitten but now she had to go back to work. At least she had the morning shift for the next two weeks. Shadow Cat was at the moment sleeping off a big breakfast while Mystique showered and dressed in her work clothes. Thankfully she was allowed a bit of food while she was working and didn't need to pack a lunch.

She checked on the Shadow Cat's food and water. She left a note on the door stating that she now had a tiny kitten inside just in case of anyone going inside while she was gone. The Manager was not pleased but she promised him that she would take care of Shadow Cat and make sure that he would get shots and what ever else he needed. Now it was the time for the hard part of saying good bye to her tiny baby.

"Shadow Sweetheart, it is time for mommy to go to work so we can have food and a place nice to live in. I'll b home as soon as I can. There is plenty of food and water so there is no worry. Be a good kitty for momma." Mystique spoke as she cuddled the kitten, kissed it's tiny head and placed him on the pillow before she hurried out the door.

Twenty minutes later, she had arrived at the Corner Cafe with ten minutes to spare. Hopefully, she had a few good customers that gave decent tips today.

[@Dragoknight] Valyna Valance

Valyna had only glanced at the name and date on her arm once in several days. She knew today was the day and she found herself to be a little nervous and irritated at the same time. She decided she needed extra confidence this morning and pulled out a silk dress that complimented her figure and she found some matching high heels in her closet. After her hair and makeup she took another look and decided she was putting too much into it. If they were really her soulmate then it wouldn't matter much what she was wearing. They have no choice in the matter.

She drove her sports car that day. The local cops knew it was her but they ignored it. Most of them either had a crush on her or just realized that she would ignore them anyway. Since she argued with them or blew them off they realized it wasn't worth their time. She pulled in and went up to her office. People seemed to be waiting to drown her in paperwork and before she got to her office she was carrying at least ten pounds of work to go over. She also had a new assistant and a new acountant starting today.

As she passed the assistant's desk she said, "Come in." The young man followed her in and sat down. "Are you the assistant or the accountant?" he answered. "I'm the assistant. I was told knowing the airport was a must. I am very well versed in all of the terminals and entrances to them as well as parking hubs." Nodding Valyna said "Okay then....Patrick is it? Go ahead and get setup and I'll buzz you in a few minutes." He left and she sat down to go over the contracts and accounting records in front of her.

@Silent Observer
Tholo gave a chuckle slightly at her remark of him touching her."All right done," he said with a slight smile. She still had the same personality even after what had recently happened which he had started to enjoy about her.

Tholo took the whiskey offered to him and was about to drink when she asked him her question."I was turned," he said uncomfortably as he set the glass down ",Against my will but when my other choice was dying I fought to survive. I don't think the monster that attacked me was looking to make a new wolf but here I am. Never met the bastard who did it." He said with a hint of hatred in his voice. He then went back to her first question she had asked.

"A pack is a rather close knit group, pretty much a family. Alpha's have varying looks on those they lead, some see them as brothers and sisters, others as their children, some are cruel and just view them as slaves to follow them," he said then adding ",Or its an enduring term they could use for those they turn, again it varies from wolf to wolf."

@Ace of flames01

Before Scorn could find herself getting into trouble a voice spoke that startled her slightly as she turned to it only to receive the news of Dorian's demise."Oh that is such a pity," she said with a sigh ",One of the few paying patrons who were fun but I'm sure he would rather have his time celebrated rather have us mourn." She walked over extending a hand.

"I'm Scorn," she said giving a smile ",Dorian was a... Client of mine. Normally I would of had a subordinate call but I was in the neighborhood and was coming by to check on why his latest payment was over due but it seems that it due to his unfortunate passing. I don't want to seem insensitive about him but to get straight to the point since you are now in charge I guess we might have to renegotiate or see if you are interested still in my services."

Arna Renheim

"Alright then." Arna put her arms behind her back and moved out of Liana's way as she went to her room. Arna decided that it was probably a good time to sleep, herself. She looked over at the slumbering form of her mother which lay on the couch, realizing that a couch probably wasn't the most comfortable location for one to sleep. Arna walked over, shut off the television, ending the terrible light of that terrible movie.

Arna shook her mother lightly, waking the women, but only just. She helped her mother up, and had her mother lean against her as they walked to the hall. Arna opened the door to her mothers room, and led her to her bed.

Arna took her leave, and left to her own room. She spent a few moments lazily changing into her pajamas before jumping into the bed, falling asleep within seconds.

That next morning, Arna was rudely awoken by her phone blaring loudly. She awoke slowly, and groggily, rubbing her eyes. She reached for her phone, hoping to grab it in time to accept the call, but alas, it had already gone to voicemail. It was Brian. She immediately sprung up from the bed, her hand moving at some rediculous speed to return Brians call. She didn't notice if he picked up, or if it went to voicemail, but either way, she already knew what she would say.

"That sounds absolutely lovely, I would love to join you!" Arna was full of energy. She was going to be going on a date with Brian later that day.

@VarionusNW

As Brian studied his cards he heard his phone ringing where he'd left it at the bar. 'Excuse me a moment Marc' he smiled putting his cards down on the card table and walking to the bar.
Marc looked up from his own cards 'Sweep her off 'er feet sir'.
Brian reached his phone and just as he picked it up the call went to voicemail, in his nervous excitement he fumbled with the phone unable to answer it in time. 'Damn' he said aloud finally getting the phone to unlock and walking back to the card table with Marc.
'Just message 'er sir'
'I'll just call her back'
Marc sighed putting his cards on the table, 'Now don't go being daft sir, thought you were the clever one here?'
'I am the clever one here' replied Brian casting a questioning look at Marc 'That's why I'm going to ring her back'
'You go do that sir and you'll look desperate'
'Oh come of it Marc, what am I 17 or something?'
'Might as well be sir as you've clearly no idea what you're doing'
Brian shrugged his shoulders, Marc was rarely wrong in these matters and he was hardly an expert by any means. He started typing, and after a minute or so he handed the phone to Marc. 'Any good?'
Marc looked at the phone reading the message

Excellent, I'll bring the car around. Mind telling me where I'm driving?

'I've seen worse sir, sure you don't want me driving?' Marc handed the phone back to Brian who sent the text and then pocketed his phone.
'No, not this time Marc, think I'll take the Porsche out for a spin'
'Fair enough sir, pulling out all the stops in order to impress then?'
'Not at all Marc, not at all' he replied sarcastically picking up his cards again, 'But lets not think of it for now, for now lets finish this game'.

The game went on for about another 30 minutes, when it finished Marc set about cleaning the glasses behind the bar before taking his leave. Brian had decided to give Marc the night off, the man certainly deserved it. However, having done so without much thought it left Brian to get everything ready including the Phantom.

Brian changed out of his suit into a pair of jeans and a simple grey t-shirt, pocketing his keys and his phone he entered his lift and pressed the button for the garage. The lift slid down silently the doors opening to reveal a relatively small garage, his limousine was parked along one side, and next to it sat a silver Porsche 911. Brian smiled and rubbed his hands together eager to get to work, he activated the cars radio with the interface chip. The radio began playing Sinatra's New York and Brian set to work.

Jonathan woke up on top of a mattress lying on the floor amidst a sea of boxes. Some of the were closed, sealed tight with liberal use of clear packing tape and arranged in aesthetic stacks. A few were cut open, but still held various doodads and semi-essential goods. More still were emptied out and flung into some corner where they wouldn't get in the way. If one looked hard enough, some semblance of a room had been planned with the way the boxes were arranged, but it would take many days more work to work through them.

As he raised up his arm to yawn, he noticed that today was the big day. First day at the new job. It would probably do him some good to get there a bit early. Start things off on the right foot with the new boss. Get to know the co-workers. Usual stuff. Groggily, he blinked a couple times and looked at the digital clock beside him.

5:49AM.

Well, at least he had plenty of time to get ready. A quick shower, some quick ironing and 20 minutes later he was all cleaned up and dressed. He had on a white dress shirt, black slacks and a green and blue striped tie. Nothing fancy, but perhaps a bit cleaner than he would otherwise dress for a day at the job. Breakfast would be a raisin bagel eaten plain and untoasted. Some cream cheese or toasting would probably make it better, but he forgot to pick that up and the toaster was buried in a box somewhere in the sea.

The trip to work was long, but uneventful, Jonathan opting to walk rather than take a taxi since he had the time to do so, however, by the time he had made it to the office, he was only 15 minutes early. Oh well. He approached the front desk.

"Jonathan Ackermann, I'm the new accountant. Where should I go?"

Valyna Valance

Valyna was in the middle of her third report when Patrick buzzed her. "Yes?" She said automatically while still reading the report. Patrick announced, "Mr. Ackermann is here to see you. He says he is the new accountant." Valyna still involved in her report recognized the name. "Send him in." She knew the name but why?

Her mind kept going over it Ackermann, Ackermann "Why do I know that name?" As the door opened she felt her arm start to burn and she remembered. It was him, her soulmate. Over the years she had learned not to judge a soulmate by his physique although sometimes it was difficult. Her mind wondered and she remembered a particular soulmate of hers that was just horrid looking and she was grateful that even though he wasn't a model Jonathon Ackermann was not hideous either.

She rose and saw him looking down at his arm and back at her and he seemed startled. "Hello, I guess you are my accountant and my soulmate. How very interesting karma is." She smiled sincerely and extended her hand and shook his.

"I must ask you as your soulmate and yes I know this is extremely forward of me. I have a mansion. Would you like to move in so we can get to know each other? You can live way on the other side if you wish. No pressure, I just think it would be nice to know each other."

Valyna pulled out the reports and handed the two she had gone over already. "I'm looking at the third one and it seems that there is something wrong with this one." She pulled the report over and showed him what she was finding. "I think that this might be the proof that he was stealing from us. What do you think?"

After finishing up with the business talk she looked at him and asked. "So, if I send movers would you come and move in. If you think I'm horrible you can always move out and I'll pay for it."

@Dragoknighte

Huh, I didn't expect them to be a kid. Or my boss. In the pit of his stomach, there was relief. Over the past few days, the back of his mind had been forming an image of some Eastern European middle aged man with greasy arms and greasier hair. He would smell like garlic and gasoline, and tell lots of bad jokes.

But then she went and proved to be maybe worse than what he'd had in his head. For awhile he just stood there, because he wasn't sure how to reply. There's forward and then there's buying a wedding cake before the first date.

"Ma'am, you're supposed to be my boss, right? Well since we work at the same place, we'll be seeing a lot of each other no matter what. Although your offer is," Jonathan paused for a beat looking for the right word, "gracious, I'll have to pass. I'd prefer to adjust to working at this new place and with these new people first and foremost. If you really wish to get to know me better, then maybe we should get coffee in a couple weeks." Valyna seemed like a person who wasn't denied what they wanted very often, and those types of people usually erupted the loudest. This might not end well.

Valyna Valance
@Dragoknighte

She hung her head in defeat when he left. "I knew it, I scared him away." Valyna crossed her arms and dropped her head on them. "Well I guess he won't be interferring in my life. So much for soulmates. I guess karma got it wrong this time." She headed out of her office and told Patrick to cancel her schedule for the day. Walking down the hall she went to the accounting office and asked where Jonathon's office was. When she went inside she shut the door and he turned around a little surprised.

She paced back and forth for a minute and she closed the blinds. She wasn't sure how to say this to him. "I'm not here as your boss. My name is Valyna and you are my soulmate. You are not my first soulmate nor my second." She stopped and looked at him. "Grab your jacket, I need to show you something." Reluctantly, he did and she took him out to the garage and the valet brought around her car. His eyes got big when he saw it. It was a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.

She smiled. "Get in." She didn't have to ask him twice. She took him for a drive up the coast and he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. He seemed fascinated with the car. She stopped at the beach and got out and tossed her shoes in the backseat."Come on, I need to talk to you." She pulled a blanket out of the trunk and a couple of bottles of water out of the cooler she kept in there.

She put the blanket down and spread it out about 30 feet from the water and sat down on it. He was slower to get there but he could barely take his eyes off of the car. It was a car that dreams are made of. It was a car worth over a million dollars.

When he sat down she looked at him and handed him a bottled water. "Pretend I'm not your boss and that we didn't meet with me asking you quite the way I did to move in. Let me start over, please. What I'm about to tell you only two other living people know and they are not on this continent at the moment. Here goes nothing, I'm not as young as I look. I have more money than I can even imagine to spend. I have no living family and no friends outside of work. If you move into the house it would finally be giving me someone to look after besides my dogs..." She looked out at the water and back at him. "Okay, fire away, I'll answer anything you want to know."

Valyna Valance
@Silent Observer @Dragoknighte

Jonathon looked at Valyna still thinking she is a weirdo stalker and decided before he made any decisions that he would ask her the one thing he wanted most. "Can I drive the Ferrari?" Valyna looked at his cute chipmunk cheeks and said "Sure, just be careful not to go too fast. Don't forget to come back and get me." She tossed him the keys and he ran for the car like a child at Christmas. She watched Jonathon get into the car and he drove away and she had a sinking feeling.

After about thirty five minutes his name disappeared off of her arm. Valyna cried and she lay on the blanket and the next morning she awoke as a police officer was going to pick her up for vagrancy until he saw who she was. He was visibly relieved to see that she was safe. She asked him.

The guy you guys found in my totalled Ferarri, where did he crash at?

The officer could see she was visibly shaken and he replied, "They are still pulling the car up, it went over the cliff up by the 90 degree turn."

A week later Valyna buried her soulmate once more.

“I was turned.” Bartholomew admitted somewhat uncomfortably. Trixy wondered what bothered him more: the question itself, or the implication of it? “Against my will, but when the other choice was dying, I fought to survive. I don’t think the monster that attacked me was looking to make a new wolf, but here I am. Never met the bastard who did it.” hatred colored his words. Béatrix supposed she would be angry too… well, maybe she would be. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like without vampirism, she could hardly remember what it was like to be human. Trixy saw a blessing in eternal life where Tholo seemed to see a curse. Would she feel the same if she had been forced into it?

“A pack is a rather close knit group, pretty much a family. Alpha’s have varying looks on those they lead, some see them as brothers and sisters, others as their children, some are cruel and just view them as slaves to follow them,” he said and then added “,or it’s an endearing term they could use for those they turn, again it varies from wolf to wolf.”

Béatrix nodded slowly and took another sip of whiskey. The warm amber liquid snaked down her parched throat. She probably should have been smart and went home to feed before coming here, but hindsight was always 20/20. Shutting off her humanity always awakened the bloodlust in a bad way. She felt like she could drain a whole blood bank… or Times square’s current population, depending on her mood.

“That sounds similar to sire lines for vampires. I was blessed with the vampiric bloodline I inherited. I call Francis’ sire the equivalent of grandmother in her language, because that is what she feels like, though she hardly looks a day over twenty-five.” Trixy chuckled at the the thought of the exquisitely beautiful viking vampiress that was Frida. “But others aren’t so lucky, and sires treat their childer like slaves - not as many as there once were since I took my job as a supernatural reaper.” she managed to laugh yet again. The mood seemed to be lightening, but the underlying awkward tension was still there.

Turning the attention back to Tholo, she spoke again in an attempt to get a response. “Though, no matter the relationship, a vampire always knows when their sire dies. You can feel it, and it hurts. It’s almost like losing a piece of yourself, like losing a limb… but in your soul.” Her piercing blue eyes were on him. Surely the pieces were coming together by now but, just in case they weren’t, Trixy was blunt.

“So, did you feel it? When I tore the head from his shoulders, and the heart from his chest?” the words held more venom than she intended, but she had every right to be angry about what that monster did to her or, at the very least, the things he allowed to be done to her. “It didn’t feel like anything to me. Not victory, nor loss, but I wore his blood like war paint just the same. You smelled it on me the moment I walked in, you recognized it even though it was washed away hours ago…” But, would it ever really be washed away?

@Argetlam350

Valyna Valance

Valyna went about her life as usual. She hired a new accountant and put her soulmate of half a day behind her. She changed her attitude on life and just decided that she wasn't going to let it bother her one bit. If they were truly meant to be then something would happen to prove it. She certainly wasn't going to allow her heart to be played with by fate any longer. She only wore long sleeves these days. She didn't want to see the name and date when the new one showed up.

She was going to change a few things in her life and enjoy herself. She started throwing parties and getting very drunk. Her maid and butler asked for raises from all of the excess cleaning up they had to do. Valyna started dance lessons and she bought a horse and started riding regularly. She went to dances and for business dates she would take a co worker or her friend Derek when he was in town. She still felt the need to have someone to love and take care of so she started volunteering at the animal shelter. Valyna also started working with kids. When she met a kid sho had leukemia she started setting up trips for them and thier families. Why not? she thought. She had more money than she would ever spend on herself.

She did need another sportscar since her Ferrari was totalled. So she went out and bought a New Corvette Stingray.

@Silent Observer

"Well its not like I know when you did the deed but I did have an odd feeling earlier, just out of no where. A strange numbness a slight feeling of something tearing internally, as if perhaps I was going to die, a brief moment of cold and then nothing. Everything went back to normal after that," he said piecing the information together and not liking the conclusion that was coming into focus. He wanted to deny the conclusion, deny the truth, a slight piece of him always wondered who his creator was but with the final pieces coming into light he wanted nothing more to scatter the puzzle again and forget it forever.

He took a drink of his whiskey, it's warmth now grounding him to the reality that he was in."I guess that bastard wasn't lying when he called me son," Tholo sighed finally accepting the clear image in front of him, another cruel twist in their fate of life to be dealt. Yet despite this new truth he refused it, rejected it especially after what the monster had done to her. His only regret now wasn't being their himself to rip out his heart and feast on it while he took his finally breath.

"Maybe he turned me but it doesn't matter to me, he wanted to kill me not turn me that night I'm pretty certain of that," he finished his whiskey and set the glass down ",The only thing that matters is his corpse will rot where it belongs along with others like him."

@Argetlam350

Saoirse was intrigued by the strange looking woman and her business with partnership with Dorian. "My name's Saoirse. Nice to meet you." She replied with a pleasant smile as she shook Scorn's hand. "Tell me... What kind of business did you do with Dorian, if you don't mind my asking." She was getting straight to the point. If she was going to do further business with this woman, she needed to know exactly what the hell she was getting into. She wasn't about to let herself fall into another demon filled adventure that would only leave her in heartbreak.

If anything, she most certainly knew that whatever business the two had; it most certainly was illegal. As for what kind of illegal activity, that was left unknown. This was probably for the best but it slightly annoyed her that her soulmate didn't trust her enough to tell her about these things before he disappeared.

Mystique at the Corner Cafe waiting at the cafe for customers and studying.

Jake was looking at a girlie magazine so Mystique went to the usual table where she rested or ate at. Today however, she brought her own study materials and sat down to study. Soon the manager came in the Cafe and glanced at Mystique who had her head down before moving on.

"Hello, Mr. Jackson. Is there anything that I may do for you?" she asked softly though she did not look up.

"How did you know it was me?" he demanded as he glanced around the small cafe and he noticed Jake staring at a magazine.

"By the way you walk, pause and such things." Mystique responded.

"Humph...Dead as usual... gonna have to change things around here. Going to my office." he spoke gruffly.

@Ace of flames01

"Ah always good to meet someone who goes straight to the point," Scorn said with a smile ",Pretty much me and my associates do whatever you ask us to do that through normal legal means either takes a long time or could not accomplish without a lot of red tape. Of course it's a monthly payment deal thus why I came here today since Dory is slightly late but hearing the unfortunate news well I see why. So now it comes to you, do you think you will still want our assistance?" She said formally as if it was nothing more then a simple business deal. In a way it was, though part of her wanted to also make friends with this new acquaintance and see what fun they could perhaps have down the line. Meeting new people was always so interesting to her.

"I'm curious do you know how Dorian passed, someone out to get him? I can have myself and my people look into that. Law enforcement probably won't look into it for awhile if you go to them," she added ",All we ask is a small payment in return and we take care of whatever you want, after all someone taking out a supplier hurts business partners as much as loved ones as well."