Cio

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Nessa eyed Beck through the reflection on the window as she spoke. She'd seen this question coming, sure, but it didn't mean she was any less bothered about how to answer it.
Nessa was a private person, mostly. She relied on herself, and generally didn't trust anyone with anything. She had learned long ago that getting involved with people would only get her hurt. Besides, waiting for someone else to show up and do the hard stuff was pathetic. Still, Nessa did feel a lingering respect for this woman. As annoying as Beck might've been in Nessa's opinion, she was also smart, talented, and not a rookie by any means. Nessa could tell a fellow lone wolf when she spotted one. But indeed, what had stopped Nessa from attacking Beck in her hazy state?
A foul smirk tugged at Nessa's lips as she answered: "The power of true love, what else?" Nessa hoped to pull a laugh out of the woman with her snarky reply. Okay, sassiness aside. Nessa knew this woman was not stupid. Taking a breath to indicate she was about to continue, Nessa turned her gaze back to the road.
"I guess I had a moment of weakness, you had saved my life, after all. And between the two of you," Nessa hummed, "he was much more annoying."
Although a believable reasoning for most, Nessa could sense that even with her smooth tongue Beck wasn't taking any of her bullshit. The woman seemed like a scientist more than a hunter, a healthy dose of curiosity seeming to power her actions. After a small pause Nessa gave in.
"I realised your blood wasn't fit for my taste." Vague, but perhaps telling if Beck was sharp enough.

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Vanessa had to admit, Beck was a quick thinker. Something she greatly appreciated in a person. Hearing Beck's explanation for the less than comfortable start on their journey earned her a little appreciative look from Nessa. It was the most impressed Nessa was of Beck's doings so far.
The van drove a safe speed on the cobblestone pavement, filling the charged silence between the women. Nessa was out of words, and the silence betweem them was filled with unanswered questions and secrets. Although theor destination was just a mile away, Nessa could tell this was going to be a long ride it things continued this way.
Trying to keep her calm, Nessa stared determinedly out of the window, trying to appear busy or in her thoughts. She couldn't help but glance at Beck ever so often though, breaking the illusion. What was she thinking, Nessa wondered?

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

So, the woman knew the cops. Vanessa nodded to herself mostly, making a soft 'hm' sound with the back of her throat. That could prove to be profitable for Nessa. Choosing her alliance was of utmost importance. A new plan began forming in Nessa's mind.
As Beck went to the van and opened the passanger door with an inviting motion, telling Nessa she would take her wherever, Nessa hesitated. The woman had already proven to be pretty trustworthy. That didn't mean Nessa trusted her, but she from what she'd observed Beck seemed like a woman of her words.
After musing for a while, Nessa nodded and got up gingerly to avoid putting too much weight on her left foot. She tried to walk to the van as normally as she could, both to maintain her dignity and to hopefully make Beck think her leg was already healing. It wasn't. Or it was, but it was doing so rather slowly. Vanessa would feel this gunshot for at least a week even if she wouldn't limp with it more than a few hours, a day at most. Still, Nessa hoped Beck wouldn't question it. She'd already roused suspicion by revealing one of her abilities.
"Very well," Nessa said as she mounted the van with a smile that was more out of politeness than genuine emotion, "It'd be rude to turn such an offer down."
It was kind of cosy inside the van, actually. Now Nessa could truly appreciate it. It wasn't overly clean and high-end, and it was what Nessa liked about it the most. Despite her more... posh appearance Nessa found herself being pulled towards this sort of decor. It was something she'd never had growing up, all she'd ever had was a lot of objects you weren't allowed to touch and rooms you weren't allowed to play in.
"Do you know where the Redhaven Bar and Grille is? You can drive me there - it's a mile south," Nessa said. She didn't really feel like going to a bar, but she wasn't about to reveal her home address to this woman, no matter how trustworthy she might've been. And as it turned out, Nessa lived practically next to the bar in question. So it was the perfect disguise.

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Nessa observed Beck every time the she turned away. Golden eyes examining the other person in an annoyed, but curious manner. It was hard to read what Beck's deal was. She was a slayer, that much was obvious, but she seemed more like a lone wolf than a pack animal.
Soon Beck asked, if Vanessa had somewhere to be. Sighing with a nonchalant shrug, the ravenette replied: "I was going somewhere, but then this happened, so..." she motioned her leg. Most vampires had a strong healing factor. Nessa did not. She couldn't walk even if she tried to, not without support. Not that she wanted Beck to figure that out. She was pretty much out of options, however. Maybe she could stall for a bit.
"Might want to get rid of that thing," Nessa commented, nodding at the now corpse of a man with carefully controlled distain. "I apologise for the mess. Doing things the old fashioned way isn't my style. Usually, that is." Although Vanessa apologised, it was clear she wasn't apologising to Beck, but rather her own erratic behaviour from earlier. Nessa hid behind a shell of elegance, after all.

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Nessa is just a bitter loser, I love that Beck isn't taking any of her shit personally. Seeing them in a conversation is so much fun haha

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

@Kinjaav Poor Beck, Nessa is being a jackass... That's just her hard shell, though. Beck just had the unfortune of using words that didn't sit well with Nessa xD

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Beck complimented Nessa's shot with a snort. The ravenette remained silent, face neutral and trying to conceal off the pain she was feeling. Shortly after the bullet was out, not before a sharp intake of breath from Nessa's part, though. The bullet was coated in blood, but the silver shone through, making Nessa wince in distain. She didn't comment on Beck's next words, not really all that interested in what the man had been after.
The moment the bullet had left Vanessa's body, she no longer felt such a burn. There was still pain lingering in her system, but her eyes were no longer blurring like crazy and she could breathe more evenly.
"Serves him right, the little moron. Slaying isn't some game, it's a big fucking deal, and you put your life on the line to protect innocent people. Even if that means innocent vampires," Beck continued with what looked an awful lot like a sympathetic look. This earned her Nessa's attention, her eyes now fixated on the woman. She had to bite her tongue to refrain from making a snide comment. And surely enough, Beck wasn't done talking:
"That's the reason I stopped you. Even though I could tell you were a vampire it was obvious you didn't want to hurt me. You just wanted to be left alone, but along came this idiot. No one deserves to be killed like they kill, bleeding out like a deer or staked to the ground. So I just keep prying out and hoarding information and trying to save who I can."

What Vanessa felt for this woman right now was pure annoyment. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, too, she didn't know why what Beck was saying rubbed her in the wrong way. It just did. Nessa couldn't stay silent any longer.
"You know nothing about me," Nessa deadpanned in an irritated tone, "and I'm certainly not the innocent vampire you're making me out to be," she added, watching the woman sit next to her. "Save your apologies for someone who cares," she murmured, gaze cold and closed off. However, she didn't make a move to get up or leave.
Nessa's intention wasn't to start a ruse. She was simply stating what was on her mind. She didn't know what the woman expected of her - to thank her, or to assure her it was okay. It wasn't. Beck was right in saying Nessa hadn't intended any harm to her, but someone analysing Nessa to her just didn't sit right with the ravenette. And while Nessa was thankful of the help, she didn't intend to communicate that. She hadn't asked for help, and she didn't like owing favours to anyone. The whole speech of 'put your life in line to protect innocent people' especially agitated Vanessa. No one had been there when she had been turned. No one had asked her what she wanted then. So why should she try to go out of her way to feel sympathy for those who protected others when she hadn't recieved help in the moment of her greatest need?

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Nessa eyed the tool in Beck's hand warily. She didn't want to let the woman touch her at all, but deep down Nessa knew she couldn't get tge burning bullet out on her own. That's why the devil was made of silver - it made it near impossible for vampires to interact.
Fine beads of cold sweat settled on Nessa's skin as the longer the bullet stayed in, the weaker it made her even with the blood she'd just feasted with. Letting out a sigh that came out more like a grunt, Nessa repositioned herself better to achieve a more comfortable position. There was no comfortable way to do this, she could only grit her teeth to prevent pained hisses while the woman digged around.
From beside them, a pained grunt could be heard. Oh, shit, Nessa thought. She hadn't accidentally converted the man, had she?
Through her pain, Nessa simply felt around for the gun before she found it, took the safety off and aimed it at the man who was starting to regain consciousness. With a single silver bullet aimed right between the man's eyes, he was dead.
Nessa lowered the gun back down and resumed her attention to her leg. She disliked getting her hands dirty in all cases.

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Nessa took the canteen from the woman - Beck - after a brief pause and an untrusting look. She opened the thing, smelling the liquid inside. Water. Pure, it seemed. And while Nessa didn't trust the ex-military now-slayer, she did trust her own sense of smell which was pretty on point. Besides, she didn't want to start spitting on the van floor. Not that she cared if the van got dirty, but she didn't want to look ridiculous. Taking a careful first sip, Vanessa took her time making sure the water was clean before downing the gulp.
"Maybe that's for the best," the ravenette replied rather shortly at the question of her name. Then she seemed to think it over once more. "Olivia. But you may call me Nessa," Nessa said then. She wasn't at all fond of her full name, so using her middle name felt easier. And safer, too. Beck had earned the right for her name, anyway.
Vanessa wondered whether the woman was at all aware of the kind of vampire she was. Most slayers weren't. There was almost no data of Nessa's kind as they were few and far between. Maybe Beck wasn't questioning why Nessa had spared her, which really was more than okay with Vanessa. The less information she shared, the better.

✹☽ Vampires of Redhaven ☾✹

Vanessa Poirier

@Kinjaav

---

Blood, sweet, iron-filled blood.
As the taste hit Nessa's tongue, she almost sighed, primal instinct gradually wearing off. Then the reality of the situation sunk in, and the first thing Nessa felt as her head began clearing up was mortification. And then, closely after, disgust.
I can't believe I just... did that, Nessa thought as she paused her motions, slowly retreating from the man's unconscious body. She was acutely aware of the other presence in the room - or van, should she say.
Licking her lips discreetly, Nessa slowly retreated from above the man, a lush head of hair covering the blood trickling down her chin.
"Ew..." Nessa muttered under her breath, feeling dirty. She was graceful and full of elegance, not a bloody animal. She could still taste the sweaty skin of the man, a taste she wanted to spit out of her mouth desperately. This was downright humiliating.

Sensing movement from the corner of her eye, Vanessa peeked from behind her dark curtain of hair, eyes gleaming with focus. The woman was there, apparently recovering faster from the sound stun. She held a bunch of fast food napkins in her hand, a bunch of which Nessa quickly grabbed away from the woman, wiping her face clean with discreet motions. After feeling confident that she had gotten all the blood out of her face, Vanessa pulled her hair out of her face and slowly turned to face the woman.
"Never did get your name," Nessa stated, her voice slightly hoarse from the events that had unfolded. No use in pretending anymore. She had not only almost attacked the woman, but also drunk blood in front of her. With a burning silver bullet in her calf. Vanessa braced herself whatever came next.