No Room at the Inn (Vain)

[tomod]

Tormod sighed and stretched; it was almost dawn. He'd been unable to sleep, so he'd elected to take an early-morning stroll through the streets...he wasn't a big fan of Hollywood, or of California in genera, but he had to admit...the weather was lovely.

He walked back into the lobby of the hotel was staying at, mentally debating if he wanted to try to catch more sleep or just stay up. If he slept, he'd probably be up all night again. But if he stayed up, he'd have to find some breakfast...

A voice caught his attention; the desk-girl, looking a little rattled, her expression rather flustered. "I'm sorry, sir, but we appear to have overbooked...I'm calling other hotels, but this is the busy season...hello? Yes, I'm trying to find out if you have any open rooms..."

It didn't seem like she was having luck. Curious and a bit sympathetic, Tormod wandered closer, wondering what unlucky sap had been left without a place to rest his head this night...

[meg]

Other than the crying baby to his right, the sleeping man to his left, and the rambunctious child behind him, constantly kicking his seat, the flight from New York was uneventful. Unfortunately, he had the eye of each and every one of the stewardesses. At least the tea was good, not that it did anything for his everlasting hunger.

Vain stepped from the plane, the lone duffle bag slung over his shoulder, and breathed a sigh of relief. The airport was quiet since it was only about 4am. He would have plenty of time before the sun rose to get into his room. The shuttle was comfortable and the ride was mercifully short.

The hotel stood tall and proud, singing praises of it's reputation. Unfortunately, the inside was less than pleasant. On his way in, he felt a stillness as a family angrily left the hotel, and got on the shuttle to the next hotel. Glancing back, he watched the sky begin to brighten. Walking to the desk, he smiled sweetly, "Hi. My name is Vain Daughtry. I should have a room."

"I'm sorry, sir, but we appear to have overbooked...I'm calling other hotels, but this is the busy season...hello? Yes, I'm trying to find out if you have any open rooms..."

The worst. There was no time to get to another hotel before the sun rose. He calmed himself and didn't let his panic show through. He reached behind his head, pulling his long, red ponytail over his shoulder to stroke it nonchalantly. Glancing back to the front door, he saw the sky steadily brighten. He couldn't wait much longer... if need be, he'd stay in a windowless hallway until the sun set.

[tomod]

Tormod wandered closer, eyeing the poor unfortunate. Too bad...looks like he might be sleeping on a park bench tonight...

Then he stiffened, looking agian. Oh...my. Well now...a vampire. He cast his eye at the window and raised his eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. This wasn't good...he hesitated, torn between walking away-after all, he had no idea who this guy was, and it wasn't really any of his concern-and helping out.

He cursed his good nature and drifted a bit closer. Perhaps the desk clerk could find him something. After all, Hollywood was a very big town...

But the clerk was having no luck; her increasingly harried expression told a woeful tale of the height of tourist season. Tormod sighed, still debating with himself.

One one hand...what did he care?

On the other...oh, crap.

"Hey." He said quietly, smiling. His voice was low and rolling; the Irish lilt clearly apparent. "This is going to sound kind of weird, but...my room has two beds. All they had when I got here." He cocked his head, giving the other a significant look. "It's almost dawn...and it'd be a shame for you to get caught out...with no where to stay..." he glanced at the clerk, who was still trying unsuccessfully to secure him a room. He leaned a little closer and sighed.

"Look. No strings, no attachment, no weirdness. Just...take the bed. My name's Tormod", it sounded like Tormot-gaelic..."and I'm aware of your...issues...and as long as you promise to keep your fangs to yourself..." he shrugged, his eyes laughing. "What do you say?"

[meg]

As the search continued, Vain became unable to contain his helpless feelings. He put his elbows on the counter and propped his head in his hands, "Now I know how Mary and Joseph felt." He sighed and was about to ask if he could just sit in any area that wouldn't be hit by the sun, but a man walked up next to him and offered the second bed in his room. Both Vain and the girl behind the desk look up, surprised. The smell coming off of him was that of a werewolf, but he seemed nice enough. It was strange that the man had known that he was a vampire, but he was glad that the fact was not made clear to the girl.

"No way!" The said in unison, then looked at each other and chuckled. Vain looked back at Tormod and nodded, "I would really appreciate that, Mr. Tormod. My name is Vain." He extended his hand.

The girl behind the counter looked like she was ready to cry, "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience! Please, the room service is free tonight for your room and there will be no extra charge for a guest." She handed them a stack of fresh-baked cookies which had been delivered from the kitchen only minutes before, "Have a great stay!"

Picking his duffle from the floor, he gentle put it over his shoulder. Suddenly, a puppy bark rang out. Vain stood still, searching for an excuse. Pulling out his cell phone, he looked at the screen, "Ah, got a text! Forgot to call my superior about my flight, heh." He quickly walked from the desk, looking back at Tormod, "You have no idea how grateful I am." He still had a few minutes before the sun came up from the horizon, so he'd have to use them wisely.

[tomod]

Tormod chuckled, shaking his hand easily. "No problem. I've been in similar situations before." he said, his eyes darting to the window. Still some time...that was good. He'd hate to have gone to all this trouble only to have it wasted.

When the girl said that about the room service and the no extra fee, he grinned and shrugged. "Thanks." He said. When she handed him the cookies, he raised his eyebrows, chuckling. "Oh, the rewards of virtue..." he sighed, grinning. He wondered if vampires liked cookies...oh well. He'd share. If he had to.

Turning to the vampire, he shrugged off his thanks and raised his eyes at the puppy bark. On his cell phone? Kind of cute for a vampire. Tormod glanced at the window again, thoughtfully, and nibbled on a cookie while he waited for him to take his call or whatever it was. Tormod didn't have a cell phone. There really wasn't anyone to call him anyway.

[meg]

After thanking the girl behind the counter, Vain looked at Tormod, "Shall we?" He started walking toward the elevator, but made sure Tormod was with him. He didn't want to seem rude by walking too far in front of the wolf. He wanted to quicken his pace, but calmed his nerves before his legs could take bigger strides.

"So, on what business are you out here? Convention, family... pack?" He was completely serious, since he no idea how werewolves traveled or under what circumstances, "And, by any chance, would you know if there's a hospital near by?" His version of small talk was odd, but he had little interaction. In any other situation, Vain would probably be more cautious of the stranger, but he had a room and was offering to share. He couldn't be that bad... but there was a question that Vain wanted to ask, but he'd wait.

[tomod]

Tormod followed him, grinning a bit. The vampire was unsurprisingly eager to get up to the room-the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. Trying to remember if he'd closed the curtains before he left, Tormod hit the button and leaned on the elevator wall. "Just traveling." he said in answer to his first question. "I travel a lot...I'm not in a pack." He shrugged, obliquely shunning any further discussion of packs and groups.

At the second question he raised his eyebrows, shooting the vampire an odd look. "Uh...I believe so. Right around the corner." He didn't ask why; he wasn't sure he wanted to know, honestly.

When the elevator doors opened, he led the way down the hall to his room and unlocked it. "Let me make sure the blinds are closed-I can't remember, honestly." He said, walking in and leaving the door open behind him in an invitation.

[meg]

In a burst of adrenaline, Vain almost threw himself in to the elevator and tucked himself away in a corner so any rays of light would pass in front of him. As the doors closed, he relaxed. Glancing at Tormod, he smiled kindly, "I see. Me too. The priest I stay with sent me here in his place to a meeting of eastern right churches. He had to stay to keep daily liturgy." He blushed a little, "Sorry, I talk to much."

"Ah, that's good. I haven't had any blood for the past few days. I'll go there tonight so I don't pass out on you." He chuckled, remembering the first time he passed out on Father Tateno. It had been an interesting experience.

Following close behind Tormod, Vain was careful of any hallways, making sure that none of them had windows that would send deadly rays at him as he passed. Fortunately, no windows pointed in their direction. Nodding, he waited a few moments before entering the room. Immediately, he made a beeline for the extra bed and opened his duffle, revealing his clothes, as well as a small, grey and white colored puppy. It jumped into his arms and he grinned, rolling it around a little. He turned to Tormod and grinned sheepishly, "Do you mind dogs? I think he's house trained, so we don't have too much to worry about."

Vain set the pup on the ground and watched as it ran around on it's short legs, relieving the energy that had built up from being inside the duffle bag. Stopping for only a second near Tormod, it barked cutely and wagged it's tail, then ran off to explore the room again.

(((ooc sorry about the late reply, this weekend is like bleh ooc)))

[tomod]

Tormod laughed softly and watched the puppy dance around. "I'm a werewolf." he said, shrugging. "Dogs don't bother me."

He sat down on his bed and stretched his legs out, watching the vampire move around. "So...you live with a priest?" he asked, his eyebrows rising. "That seems like kind of an odd situation-a priest and a vampire." He privately thought it sounded like the beginning of one of those jokes that's only really funny when you're durnk-So, a priest and a vampire walk into a bar... He kept that thought to himself, however, and just watched the puppy again, a smile on his face.

((OOC: No worries. My whole week has been killer. Sorry for the shortness; I'm exhausted. XP))

[meg]

"Oh yeah... I guess that would make sense." Vain laughed and strolled around the room, following the puppy to make sure it didn't try to tear things up, or worse. Carefully, he picked the puppy up from the floor and held it as if it were a baby. The puppy just kicked it's legs and panted cutely.

"So...you live with a priest? That seems like kind of an odd situation-a priest and a vampire."

Vain set the puppy on the ground and laughed nervously, "Yeah... it is." He looked sadly at the floor, "Most other vampires don't exactly like that, but it's ok. He was my first friend after I turned, really." He sat on his bed and grinned, "He brought me bags of blood as a way to extend his friendship. Funny, huh?" The fact that he was even associated with a priest made vampires even more dangerous to Vain than werewolves.

[tomod]

"I suppose..." Tormod said, rasing his eyebrow. He could believe that the vampire's choice wasn't popular among his fellow night stalkers. Sighing, he shook his head, then stretched out on the bed, yawning a bit. Late night, early morning. Too early.

"So." he said, surpressing another yawn. "You vampires...how does the whole 'sleep through the day' thing work, anyway? Am I going to have to make sure to put a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door so some poor maid doesn't come in and think you're dead?"

He grinned as he said it; the idea was amusing. He wondered briefly how much trouble it would cause, then reluctantly dismissed it. Too much, probably. Oh well...

[meg]

That was a good question. Sleep? Vain remembered what it was, but he couldn't remember that last time he had done it. It's not like he had much to do today anyway, and the puppy would surely get tired and want to take naps.

"Well, I don't actually need to sleep... and I haven't for a while. Though, I probably will today, since I can't do anything else. As for the sign, it's not necessary. If anyone comes in, I'll wake up. Over the years, I've kind of had to train myself to do that." He laid back and put his hands behind his head with a sigh. Almost immediately, the puppy jumped up onto the bed and onto Vain, who just laughed after a second of being startled.

"YOU are going to be a handful... hey, that's right, you don't have a name." Glancing at his werewolf friend, Vain propped himself up on his elbows, "What do you think would be a good name for him?" Suddenly, Vain realized that he didn't even know what gender the puppy was. Slipping his hands under the puppy's front legs, he lifted it into the air, "I'll be damned... you're a girl!" He chuckled and cuddled the pup.

[tomod]

"Well, that's good." Tormod said, grinning again. "I'm probably going to sleep a bit; I'm pretty tired." He shrugged, kicking his shoes off casually, and rolled over on his side, propping his head up on his arm. He watched Vain and the puppy with a faint smile, his eyes tired but pleasant.

"A name?" He blinked, his face wrinkling thoughtfully. A name for a girl puppy...he sifted through the options, then laughed. "I've always like Caitlin." He offered. "Or Kathleen...many a bonny woman I've met named Kathleen..." he thickened his accent comically a moment, his eyes lit with laughter, then shook his head. "What do you think?"