[IC] ~Nyte Bloods~

[Mister Thirteen]

Liza gave Alice a kind smile in return, replying,"Your welcome. I'm glad to have you along. It might not be your kind of scene, but at least it'll give you a chance to unwind in the 'normal world'."

Liza turned back toward the bathroom door and suddenly stopped again.
"Shit," she hissed, turning back to Alice,"I just remembered your supposed to be in hiding. Hmmm..."
She thought, bringing her right hand to her chin, her eyes drifting over to her dresser. Her face then suddenly lit up as she caught an idea.
"There's a pair of sunglasses and a pony tail holder on top of my dresser," she said,"you'd better wear those or someone might recognize you. Believe it or not your on the news, Alice. The police have put out requests for information on your location or any possible leads. I saw it all on tv this morning while you were asleep."

Liza turned back toward the door and stepped inside, as she turned to push the door shut, she said,"There's also a pair of sneakers under my bed. I don't wear them much, so feel free to have them yourself. I'll be out in a minute."
Liza pushed the door shut gently behind her as she finished her sentence.

[LadyRunic]

Alice blinked at the woman. "I'm on the news-?" She whispered and color drained from her face. "Oh dear." Well at least they were looking she supposed. But that was horrid timing! They left her in a hospital and let that man get to her! Now they were concerned. Giving a short huff of annoyance at the lack security. Alice nodded to Liza as the older vampire slipped into the bathroom. Pulling her hair up into a pony tail she pulled it further into a messy bun that people thought were cute for some strange reason. Perching the too large glasses on her nose, she kept having to slide them up her nose.

"I look like a utter geek." Alice complained, with distraught. While the disguise accomplished it's goal, it did make the fashionista look exactly as she claimed. "No one will recognize me looking like this-! I would never dress like this!" She grumbled under her breathe as she patted the blasted bun. A proper bun did not sit on the top of the head unless you were doing a Eastern styled outfit! Even then! Tugging on the shoes, Alice frowned at the bathroom door. "Li-Liza? Dear, I- I don't mean to be rude. But you're shoes are a little big." Indeed they were and threatened to fall off Alice's feet. Tying the laces fast, the tiny tailor still had to be careful when walking.

[Mister Thirteen]

The bathroom door opened and Liza stepped out, pulling the door shut behind her. She now wore her black button up shirt, a pair of dark jeans, and her simple black shoes from before, along with her earrings.
She looked at Alice with a look of satisfaction, she was disguised well enough. Between the clothes and the dim lighting of the bar, surely no one would piece together who she was. The shoes would be an inconvenience, but Alice would just have to manage.

"Tighten them up as best as you can. I would give you something else but those sneakers and what I'm wearing are the only shoes I have. You'll just have to make do for tonight I'm afraid." Liza said.

Liza stepped over to her night table, grabbing a small ring of keys and a wallet, which she stuck into her pockets. She pulled the window blinds shut after taking a final look at the red evening sky and the sun which was nearly vanished past the horizon.
Liza was now turning off the apartment lights, as she did so she looked to Alice, asking,"Are you ready to go?"

[LadyRunic]

Alice nodded her head. Her black ponytail following the motion, which made the tailor reach back and adjust with a annoyed frown. This was exactly why she preferred braids, buns or the sort. This was going to be horrible for her hair, but it was a much needed sacrifice. After all, being locked in a small room was the greater of the two evils. Alice nearly scoffed at the thought. She enjoyed her tailor shop or her living quarters well enough! But then again, both of those places were of her choosing. Not keeping herself bound inside by no choice or fault of her own.

Following after Liza, she shifted the shoes a little bit and paused to tighten them. Everything had just gone so terribly wrong after Liam attacked her. Had walked into her shop actually. Thinking back on it, Alice had little doubt the man wouldn't have taken her blood then if she had refused him. So, perhaps it was a good thing she had gone with him. If only to spare her beloved shop. A shop she might well lose after this fiasco! Again, no thanks to that vile villain!

[Mister Thirteen]

"Alright," Liza said,"let's go."

________________________________________________________________________

It was a busier night at Benny's Bar, every table and booth had at least one patron occupying it, though most of them were crowded out with anywhere from four to seven people. Waitresses hustled too and fro across the establishment, rushing trays of drinks and finger foods to the customers. Mugs of beer, glasses of wine and whiskey, plates of greasy meatballs and pork rinds, the air was heavy with the scent of alcohol and fried food. A chorus of roaring laughter, cursing, and lewd conversation swirled through the atmosphere.

The patrons were of a rough variety, truckers, cab drivers, a small group of bikers, the occasional washed up businessman, and mobs of your typical loudmouth barflies. There was the occasional woman spotted amongst the crowd, most of which were acting as rowdily as the males, and were dressed either cheaply or scantily.

Most of the bar stools were empty, having in fact only three other patrons spread across them, quietly tending to their drinks and keeping their heads low.

Liza and Alice had entered the bar only minutes ago, and Liza told Alice to have a seat at the bar while she reported in for her shift. She also told Alice to sit quietly and avoid eye contact with anyone in the room, be it the male patrons for obvious reasons, or the female patrons, who might take Alice's staring as a challenge of any sort.
After promising to get back to her, Liza rushed off toward the back.

[LadyRunic]

The bar was old, Alice noted. Good and busy too. Though as she studied the clientele, Alice concluded this was not a place she would have visited herself, ever. The rough language and folk were fitting to the atmosphere of the bar, and Alice found herself not sticking out too badly as she nibbled at her thumbnail. Like that of a impatient friend waiting for another to get off work, it was even true. The smells of the place, however, caused the emerald eyed woman to wince slightly. The sour stink of alcohol, the greasy grim that made her want to scrub the place from top to bottom. This wasn't however Alice's first time in such a place as this, though she didn't mention it to Liza. She once worked part-time as a busser. Clearing tables and the like, when her business first was starting off. It didn't last long however, Alice found sewing absolutely lovely and her patrons were happy to pay for her pieces.

Tracing the stained and dinged wood of the bar, she listened to the chatter of the crowd. Hoping no one would come onto to. Even if they did she could pretend to be uninterested and surely she had enough facts about 'higher physics' from when one particular client had stopped by for a fitting. The woman had been nervous around the tiny tailor, but was desperate to look good for a scientific dinner that was coming up with her colleges. Alice had fitted the dark woman in a stunning cocktail styled dress that was just long enough to not be a cocktail. Why? Because when she wasn't talking about physics the woman was mussing about her looks. Obviously trying to attract the attention of a man or another woman. It didn't matter either way to Alice. Letting her eyes rove the room from beneath her overly large glasses. Careful to not catch anyone's eyes as before she studied the wood again. Contemplating her harsh future.

A vampire? Doomed to drink the blood of animal or human? Did immortality come with it? She had not asked and was slightly terrified to. For what good came from living forever. Friends died, family would too. No children either. Not that Alice had really any desire for any offspring of her own. The prospect however of drinking blood forever made her frown slightly at the dinged bar top. It was a hard thing to wrap her mind around. Immortality? That was near impossible and as much as she didn't want to ask Liza she knew she had little choice but to ask the damning question at some point.

[Mister Thirteen]

"Can I get you anything?" A voice suddenly blurted.

The nightly bartender stood before Alice. He was a tall man with wide shoulders, which stretched at the black button-up shirt he wore. His skin held a caramel complexion, his hair was dark and curly, and his grimacing face was mottled with scruffy black stubble. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up past his elbows, revealing thick, hairy forearms sculpted with muscle to match his burly hands, which were placed in a relaxed state on the bar before him.

"Drink Miss?" He asked,"Anything to eat?" Despite his grizzled appearance, his tone was patient and friendly.

A sudden crashing could be heard across the bar, causing the bartender, and a score of patrons, to whirl their gaze in the direction of the commotion.
On the far side of the bar, a man was sprawled back on the floor, beneath him lay the shattered wooden remains of his chair. Standing over him was Liza, her arms against her sides and her fists clenched tightly.
"I said hands to yourself!" She snapped loudly.
A chorus of laughter, cheers, and taunts exploded throughout the bar at Liza's deed.

"Alright shut up!" roared the bartender suddenly as he slammed one fist down on the bar strongly, so hard in fact that bottles and mugs along the bar all rattled loudly.

The noise receded and the bartender called out,"You alright Liza?"

"I'm fine Conner." Liza replied loudly as she turned and headed back toward the back area. The fallen man on the floor, a middle-aged man in a ragged suit with a scruffy beard and hair, scrambled up from the floor as a waiter walked over to gather up the broken remains of the chair.
The lecherous patron was now too busy retorting at the sneers and taunting from those nearby at Liza waylaying him.

Conner, the bartender, turned back to Alice,"I'm sorry about that," he said,"now, do you want anything?"

[LadyRunic]

Alice looked up shyly, startled by the voice. Staring at the tall man she frowned a little bit. Was he talking to her? Of course he was! Alice chastened herself, he was staring right at her after all. If she was going to be potentially immortal she would need to get better at dealing with people when she was out of her depth. Which summed up this particular bar nicely for it was as far from her lovely shop as 'depth' could get. Not realizing she had left him hanging to have her monologue, Alice blinked again as he asked if she wanted a drink or any food. Though his tone was patient and friendly, not annoyed, which Alice was thankful for! Many people would have been annoyed by that, herself included.

Opening her mouth to answer a timid 'no'. She was save from the awkward answer by a resounded crash. Turning to look, she watched as Liza smacked down a man who had apparently laid hands on her. Something that was a wonder the tailor. Liza had moxie that was impressive. Dealing with that Inquisitor, herself, and now this thug. Though the thought of the Inquisitor made her wince mentally. Killing a man was a harsh thing, but was it okay to do if the man was going to kill someone else or you? Alice wasn't sure she wanted to be place in a situation where she would have to answer that question. She was passive by nature and killing was something she didn't do. She was civilian! Not a solider, criminal, or hunter. Or anyone who would need to kill anyone else really!

Watching Liza head to the back, after assuring the bartender she was fine. Alice found herself worried for the woman. As the bartender, Conner, turned back to the tailor. Alice shook her head slowly. "It's quite fine." She assured the man with a shy smile. "Is she alright?" Concern seeped into her face and voice as she looked after Liza with a worried frown. The lecherous attitude of the patrons was worrisome to the small woman, but she brushed it off. She wasn't her usual beautiful self, and besides she gathered that were she was sitting was the safest place in Benny's!

[Mister Thirteen]

Conner nodded at Alice's response regarding a drink, and at her worried question regarding Liza, he shook his head with a thin smile,"Don't worry about her. She's tougher than she looks. I've seen her handle worse easier. She's fine."

A sudden thump resounded from further down the bar, the sound of a fist rap against the wood. Several stools down from Alice, a younger man had seated himself. He was in his early to mid twenties from the looks of him. He wore a coal black letter jacket and a flatbill cap to match it, and on his hands he wore fingerless gloves at his wrist. His pants were solid black jeans, and his feet were capped with black and white sneakers.

His face bore a casual look, like that of a young fellow who had wandered into a bar at night for a steep drink without a reason.

He sat directly down from Alice, as two of the patrons from when Alice had first arrived were now departed, leaving only her, the man to her left, and the newly arrival at the far end of the bar.

"Need a drink?" Conner called to him.

"I do," the young man replied,"Brandy."

"Coming up." Conner replied, reaching under the counter for a glass and then turning to a row of dark bottles behind him. As Conner began filling the glass with dark brown liquid, the young man at the bar's end turned his gaze to Alice.
He looked at her for a minute, the left corner of his mouth quirking up as he did. He casually threw up his left hand in a short wave as Conner placed his drink before him.

[LadyRunic]

Alice nodded to Connor's remark. It was good that Liza would be fine. She knew the woman was tough, but confirmation she would be fine was a relief to her. "That's good." She smile to the bartender, tracing the wood of the bar as her mind wandered down the roads of what vampirism could entail for her. The atmosphere wasn't her cup of tea, Alice would admit, but it was a relief of normality after a hectic last few days. The smells, the sights, the noise! It was so much better than being in the hospital. She almost wished the man had tried to kill her sooner. A stern frown at herself cut that thought off at the source. It wouldn't do for to look forward to being attacked. After all, she wanted normality!

A thump down the bar startled her as she looked over at the man who had sat down. Unable to help herself. He was young, pretty average, and utterly in need of getting a proper outfit. But so did half of the patrons of this bar, by her reckoning. Emerald eyes blinked at his slight smirk and wave, before she remembered Liza's orders and looked away. Her gaze fastening on the bottles behind the bar. Looking over the types and choices. The different colors giving her ideas for a potential dress that would work with the coloring of the bar, thought not the clientele or the atmosphere. She fingers picked at the wood as she hoped the man didn't stir up trouble for her. That would cause trouble for Liza and that was the last thing she wished to do!

[Mister Thirteen]

The young man noted Alice's disregarding of him.

"Hmph." He grumbled.

He didn't like to be ignored, but he wasn't about to pursue the young lady. He had other matters to attend tonight after all. He was just here for a short drink before getting to work. He hadn't the time for extended flirting with a barfly. Although, truly, she didn't look the barfly type at all, nor did she act as such. She was just sitting quietly to herself, not mingling or drinking even. Though briefly wondering, he brushed her from his mind and turned to his drink.

As he raised his glass and began sipping down his Brandy, his eyes darted across the room, soaking in the surrounding patrons and nightly activity. Tonight was a busier night at Benny's, and busier nights usually provided entertainment, be it a fight or a loud, liquored up tramp getting too loose with it. He lowered his glass, half of his drink drained away.
As he wiped at the corners of his mouth with his thumb, that's when he saw her, and his eyes lit up.

"Liza!" He called, his hand leaping down from his mouth.

Across the bar, Liza was serving a beer to a newly arrived customer when she heard her name being called.

Oh great. She thought moodily. She knew that voice instantly. She really wasn't in the mood tonight, especially after her little dust up shortly ago, but she couldn't be entirely rude either.
With an inner sigh she turned and headed for the bar.

The young man down from Alice was smiling ear to ear as Liza approached, dimples were imprinted into his cheeks as white teeth flashed in the dim bar light.

"What's up, Dalton?" Liza asked as she arrived at the bar, her tone neutral, her right hand was on her hip while her left hung freely at her side.

"Nothing," he responded, still smiling,"just here for a nightly drink. Where've you been? I haven't seen you here in a week or so."

"I took a few days off, I just got back tonight." She said with a shrug.

"I guess everyone needs some time off, huh?" Dalton asked, raising his glass to mouth and guzzling away at the rest of his Brandy.

"Yeah I guess so." Liza said flatly. She turned to Alice, her tone rising a bit as she addressed her,"You doing alright, Alice?" She asked.

[LadyRunic]

Drawn from her potential ideas in fashion design by the man's call. Alice glanced at the man as he smiled and called to Liza, slightly worried she had insulted him. Which in retrospect she had, she could have at least spared him a smile! Berating herself, Alice glanced toward the waitress as she sauntered over. Apparently she knew the man- Dalton- as the tailor learned. Marking face and name in memory for a later date. Though their short conversation did fill Alice in that Liza had been off work for a few days. Was this a vampire thing? Or perhaps it had been her merely taking a few days off. It wasn't because of her she was certain- or at least hoped- as it had been a week.

As her new found ally turned to her with the inquiry of how she was, Miss Lynch nearly winced at the name. Surely 'in hiding' and all, they would have thought of a different name or something! That's what they did in the movies and television shows. Not a fan of horror, Alice did enjoy a good mystery when she took a break from her work. Though it was the mystery of it. Not the horror of being attacked in an alley way! She sighed and refocused herself on the waitress. "I am." Her smile was small, but true. "Though I doubt I'll get on your bad time any time soon." Her green eyes lightened as she poked a little bit fun at the waitress.

[Mister Thirteen]

Liza smiled slightly at Alice and replied,"Intimidating am I?"

"You've no idea." Dalton grumbled to the side, resulting in a narrow-eyed stare from Liza and a responsive sideways grin from Dalton.

"Just make sure to remember that, buddy." Liza said to Dalton, playing on his little joke.

"Oh I will, your qualities are as hard to forget as your physicalities." He replied, still grinning sideways at Liza.
"Watch it." Liza hissed leaning forward at Dalton, her amber eyes burning into the side of his face.
Dalton's grin remained plastered to his face as he responded,"Whatever you say, doll face."

"Don't call me that!" Liza snapped, a slight red tint began to swirl around in her pupils that only Dalton and Alice might see. Her cheeks were noticeably pink as well, quite pink in fact.

"Alright, fine." Dalton said with a smirk, his left hand held out submissively before him.
Liza leaned back away from Dalton and flung her hair back past her shoulders.
She turned to Alice and said,"If you'll excuse me I have to get back to work, I'll swing back by in a little while, maybe I can talk to you without any rude interruption." She gave Alice a soft pat on her right shoulder as she walked away.

Dalton had turned to his empty glass, absently tracing the rim with his right index finger, staring into the bottom of the glass at the few drops of Brandy wedged against the glass's interior.
He casually looked around at Alice after a minute, asking,"What'd she call you? What's your name? Allie or something like that?"

[LadyRunic]

Alice gave a beaming smile to Liza. "Somewhat." She admitted and chuckled at Dalton's shot at the waitress. As the two bantered back and forth, Alice's eyes grew larger and larger as she bit her lip to keep from laughing. For all that Liza was annoyed by this man, she was playing right into his flirtations as far as Alice could see. It was actually adorable to watch and Alice found herself wondering if something was between the two of them. With how they acted? It was plausible. Noticing Liza's eye begin to change as she grew more and more irritated with Dalton, Alice tensed slightly. Unsure if she should intervene. Surely Dalton had noticed and that was a horrible thing wasn't it?

"Yes, Liza." She smiled at woman as she passed Alice with a pat to her shoulder. Looking a good more deal confident and pleased with herself, Alice grew less so, at least visibly, as the moments wore on. Everything was going just fine! It was a lovely, normal night and Liza was a lovely woman. Kind enough to help her. To offer her shelter. It was something that touched Alice deeply. So when Dalton asked his question, she was startled from her thoughts. 'Pay attention, Alice!' She chastened herself for the umpteenth time. "Something like that." She answered shyly. Her voice subdued from it's usual cheery nature. Wanting to move him off that topic she grabbed the first choice with both hands. "Are you and Liza a...?" She trailed off blushing slightly at the question. That was out of line for her, and worse romance was something that made her heart ache. Liam had flirted and looked where that led. Straight to this whole situation. Though with Liza's help it was becoming bearable.

[Mister Thirteen]

Dalton smiled shortly as Alice questioned his relationship to Liza.
He looked back to his empty glass, his finger still casually circling the rim.
After a minute, he looked back to Alice and responded,"Well, she and I are not together per say no. But I will tell you that she and once....we did have something once."

His smile had vanished and his mind trailed off to the past, he let his right hand drop from the empty glass before him gently onto the wooden bar.
His eyes and face held an indescribable expression that resembled longing, but was not truly that.

"Another drink?" Came the voice of Conner suddenly, snapping Dalton from his trance. Dalton nodded and pushed his glass forward, allowing Conner to pour it full of Brandy again.
Once it was full, Dalton raised his glass and took a drink from it as Conner stepped away. Dark brown liquid poured past Dalton's lips into his mouth and down his throat. He lowered the glass back to the bar, having drank it a fourth down.

He turned back to face Alice and spoke,"So how do you know her? Are you a friend? A relative?"

His eyes, though curious, weren't prying.

[LadyRunic]

Alice nodded as Dalton answered, though she did give the man an apologetic look. "I don't mean to pry." She apologized even as she wondered away on her own thoughts. So they had something between them. Did it pertain to Liza being what she was? Was that why they were not together any more? It wasn't any of her business of course, but Alice was curious and people loved to gossip while being tried for clothes. So deflecting and urging for juicy tidbits was something she had gotten used to. But with Liza it was not something she wanted to do, Alice did owe the woman her life.

Tracing the grain of the wood, she watched Dalton drink. Watching his vulnerable neck tilt back as though he was merely taking a swig of brandy and not just revealing a weak spot to a potential predator. Alice refocused herself on the wood, feeling sick to her stomach as she thought that. It wasn't right to see people that way, to see them do something stupid that could leave them open to attack and want to slap them for it. But she knew why she felt this way. She had been stupid and opened herself up to Liam. Even now she was in danger and putting Liza in danger as well. Alice did not feel alright with that. "Friends." Her quiet voice answered Dalton quickly, even truthfully as Alice saw it. She also saw it was time to deflect again. "You enjoy wearing quite a bit of black and white. Why not spice it up with another color?" She questioned Dalton, the man seemed safe enough to talk to. He at least wasn't trying to stab her, rip her throat out or get her set up in the loony bin.

[Mister Thirteen]

Dalton chuckled slightly at Alice's suggestion.
"Well, what's wrong with black?" he asked,"I find it a very charming color really.
It's shadowy and mysterious, like a dark shroud hiding away what should not be seen. It holds an air of unsurity, true it's not flamboyant and expressive like say red, or blue or yellow. But it makes a statement of it's own. And white, well, it just adds a little 'seasoning'. In truth I've never been one for bright, showy colors. They draw too much attention."

He finished his sentence with a smirk. In truth, black and white were the most appealing colors to him. The dark and mysterious theme that black held was what he strived for, and the white added a speck of clarity to the black. When one brandished bright colors, they drew attention to themself. Something he preffered not to do on average.

[LadyRunic]

Alice nodded slowly. "Yet too much black and you do draw attention." She argued, her green eyes alight with delight. "Goths, emos, and such are perfect examples of this. Your blend of white and black however, is a clever implement of color! Just enough of the white to make the black not stand out!" The tailor didn't raise her voice over much but enough that the man could hear her clearly. "I personally just like seeing a little bit of color to things generally, and you wear that particular outfit a good bit." She noted, though it was said unkindly. In fact, Alice seemed a little caught up in the threads so to speak.

Running a careful eye over Damon she frowned at the bits of wear she could see on the jacket and pants. Not enough it would need tending to, so they were kept in decent repair. Though she did lean back a bit to examine his shoes. Those seemed rougher, but that was typical of shoes and Alice was no cobbler. All in all it was pretty standard and not enough for her to get up in arms and find the nearest needle and thread. Though she could not say the same for several of the patrons in the bar. Several of them needed their clothes rescued and, as she watched one woman spill a bit of beer on her top, most likely from themselves.

[Mister Thirteen]

"Hmm, perhaps." Dalton replied simplistically with a short smile.

He raised his glass to his mouth and in one heavy swig downed the last of the Brandy from his glass, the flesh of his throat writhing about as he guzzled down the dark colored liquor. He sat the now empty glass down firmly with a combined clink of glass and thump of wood.

He then reached into his left pocket and pulled out a brown leather wallet.
He opened it fished around inside the folds of leather with his right index finger and thumb and pulled out three bills and lay them on the bar in front of him. He firmly pushed his wallet back down into his left pocket, and as Conner gathered up the three bills, Dalton said,"Keep the change." Which Conner replied to with a short nod and a "thank you".

Dalton turned around in his stool and stood slowly, looking to Alice as he stood,"I'm afraid I have to dash now," he said,"it was nice meeting you....what's your name now? You didn't really tell me earlier."

[LadyRunic]

Alice gave the man an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I'm some what in love with color." She admitted, hedging about the color fact. For clothes were indeed color, or lack there of sometimes. Though Alice was quick to turn her gaze to the bar as he finished his drink. Not wanting to tempt herself. Drinking blood was hard enough from a bag, but fresh from the source? The tailor didn't want to try it even once, she wasn't sure she'd be able to resist the lure ever again. So she was abstaining til that was not an option. Perhaps she could abstain from human blood completely, but she doubted it. Alice enjoyed many things, so when something tasted 'foul' it was quickly off her palate.

Blinking she looked over at Dalton as he moved to leave, a mistake she realized as he asked after her name. Again! Really she wished he hadn't, but Liza had used her name so perhaps it was alright? But looking slightly peeved she leaned her chin on her hands and shrugged absently. Trying to look anything unlike the prestigious Alice Lynch. More along the lines of a nerd who had come far out of her comfort zone. Though the comfort zone part was true still. "Alice." She answered simply. "Liza got sick of me burying myself in my work so she dragged me here." She lied slightly, though the key parts were slightly true. Liza had brought her here, saving herself from having article of clothing analyzed though the waitress didn't know it.