First time in Central Park [Open]

[talon]

Talon R. Consance walked down the dark path in Central Park. He had just arrived yesterday evening. He had spent the day unpacking and arranging his new abode...
Talon had fled from Chicago because of his willful act of provoking a long-standing coven of the city, and now he was thirsty again. Excitement and drama generally caused him to hunt more frequently, but tonight he was not only hunting for the life blood that would slake his thirst...
Talon R. Consance would have revenge. The vampires of the coven he had provoked were powerful, but young and (in his opinion) foolish. He was affronted by their hostility, most particularly because, as long as their coven had occupied the city of Chicago... Talon had lived there long before that coven had formed. They had been encroaching on his hunting territory, yet they had driven him away...
No, tonight he would begin the seeds that would mark their end. Talon R. Consance would form a coven strong enough to retake his chosen home. And so he came to Central Park. To slake his thirst, to perhaps turn a willing human into an underling vampire in his soon to be coven... And most importantly, to meet any resident vampire who would be prepared for a war against a powerful coven in Chicago...
Surely there was at least one vampire in New York City who had dreams of creating a coven strong enough to control Chicago... perhaps even more...

[talon]

After a short time walking through the shadows of the park, Talon comes across an anxious woman walking quickly through the park. She is short and beautiful by human standards... Green eyes and dark red hair, alabaster pale skin, fit but not particularly strong. She has one hand in her purse, most likely closed tightly over her can of mace...

Well, he could at least slake his thirst and start the evening in a good mood. Talon swiftly stalks up behind the woman and then, only two yards away from her, he calls out, "Good evening ma'am, you know you shouldn't be wandering Central Park alone."

The woman froze and slowly turns to face Talon. "And I should instead be escorted by the likes of you?" she asks in a shaky, but confident voice. Looking him up and down, she thinks he might not be all so bad though. Talon is wearing an expensive leather jacket, a silver cross emblazoned on its back. Under the jacket he wore a silk shirt that was completely black. Designer blue jeans that were dark blue and soft leather boots, the kind of boots you expected to see a medieval re-enactor to wear. His pale skin stood out to an amazing degree in such dark clothes...

"Well I actually was offering... but if you'd prefer to walk alone I will trouble you no more." Talon responded with a flash of a beautiful smile and turned to walk away. "Wait!" she called after him. A slow smile crept onto Talon's face as he turned back to face her, "You have changed your mind already? Perhaps you shouldn't trust me though. What if I really did want to kill you?" He asked in a husky voice.
The woman flushed and mumbled, "Well I don't think you would really hurt me... you look pretty nice." Talon's grey eyes roved up and down her body, his thirst beginning to take more control of him. "Oh but I suggest you run, dear lady... It won't help save you, but hope is such a wonderful thing and it makes the chase so much more fun..." his voice was now almost a whisper as his eyes locked onto the woman's eyes. She saw the hunger there and knew she couldn't out run this man, nor would any amount of help save her.

All this time Talon had been inching closer to his victim, he now only stood three feet away from her. Her hand snapped out of her purse holding the can of mace directly to his eyes and sprayed. Talon did not blink, but chuckled and grabbed her wrist, "Well you may have ruined the chase, my dear, but you have at least amused me... It has been a good decade since someone tried to fight me."
Suddenly he was standing with his body pressed against hers, his right hand shot out and touched her cheek with his icy cold hand. Her scream caught in her throat as his grey eyes laughed down at her, as his left hand traced her collarbone. A shudder raced up her spine and he slowly lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. He could feel her warmth... her heart pounding erratically. Gently he parted her lips with his tongue and probed her mouth. Then subtly bit her lower lip and drew blood... yes she tasted as appetizing as her body indicated... Her last scream was, again, caught in her throat before it could escape her lips.

He felt slightly displeased with himself. She had a fighting spirit, she could have been a contribution to his goal of creating a strong coven. If only he could have fought back his thirst... Ah well, such is life. The night was still young, and the opportunities of the city called to him... Yes, Talon R. Consance would find members for his coven here... All it would take would be patience.

[morgan]

Morgan walked the shadows in a quiet mood. A slim black dress failed to conceal the faint glow of vampiric skin and a halo of soft blond hair. She flickered brightly as she stepped between the dark places. She moved quickly- smooth and silent as a hunting cat. Her ink-dark eyes probed the night, she listened to the whisper of traffic further away, and closer there were the soft sounds of mortal men. Breath, heartbeat. Brilliant points of life in this mostly deserted area of the park. She slipped across a path, and stopped, silent, in a hidden corner. This was her favourite place to hunt. In this quiet part there were few people and so each became special- a worthy kill. In the more crowded areas she would be distracted, and wouldn't properly appreciate the life she was taking.

Far ahead of her, something moved. Something that couldn't be human, it drifted lazily then flitted with frightening speed. Vampire. Shit. she thought, groaning. This was all she needed, some blood-sucking tramp dropping in on her spot. The last time this had happened she'd started a fight, then nearly been killed by some older monster. Shaden. No, she wasn't going to let this creature see her. There were very few vampires around who were younger than her, and she already had first-hand of what a bored centuries-old vampire could do to a fledgeling. With a vague shudder of remembrance, she drew back further into the dark.

[talon]

After the kill was complete, his thirst gone, the scraps of his meal placed in the proper manner to indicate a homicide... he could smell a more underlining scent to this area of the park. Talon's eyes brightened with anticipation, another vampire was close by. It appeared he had accidentally encroached on her hunting ground and for whatever reason, she did not wish to attack him. He flitted back along the path to a bench and sat, waiting.
"I apologize for my rudeness, I will refrain from hunting here in the future, but I would very much like to meet you and have no intention of fighting anyone." He whispered into the darkness. He knew she was close, her scent captivated him... he hadn't smelt anything like it since... He hoped she would come and talk with him, he was patient enough to wait all night if he had to. One way or another he would begin the night by speaking to a vampire of New York, his list of allies and his knowledge of the city must improve...

[morgan]

((gah, sorry to start and then abandon you mate but I have to go.))


Morgan in the shadows felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck. With a dull fury she tried to work out how she'd been detected. Wind, she was upwind from the stranger. Why me? Ruban will kill me if I get into another scrap. She moved so that she could see him through the plants, but still be in the shadows. He seemed alright. No lecherous remarks yet, which put this one step above her meeting with Shaden. She cringed at the memory. It had been idiotic to approach him. She wasn't about to make the same mistake twice.

Outside the circle of light, she watched him. And watched him. He hadn't moved after twenty minutes, and that was the limit of her patience. With a couple of quick steps she was in his field of view. A too-bright creature in the yellow NY dusk. She blinked dark, almond shaped eyes.

"Haven't seen you around..."

Her voice was guarded, her shoulders set tensely. She was far enough away that she could probably outrun him if necessary. And she would run. All the confrontation had gone out of her the first time round.

[talon]

((No problem, I should probably sleep myself. But I'll be on and continuing tomorrow))

Talon looked at the enticing vampiress before him. A fledgling, and rather defensive as well... She seems to be overly tense, possibly with a bad experience within the last week or so...
Talon stood slowly so as not to alarm her further and spoke in a calm, appraising voice, "My apologies, dear lady. I have only recently moved to New York City... I'm afraid that in my thirst I forgot myself and my senses. I did not mean to encroach upon your hunting ground."

Talon took a moment to take in the sight of the vimpiress, she was striking of course. And her smell... He did not know he could be so attracted to the smell of his own kind. If she were a human, he would probably eat her now... but he was partially at a loss for what to do so he continued...

"I will do my best to not hunt in this area of the park again, but while I have you here, would you mind a conversation? Here I shall start things as formally as I know how; Good evening, dear, my name is Talon Reynolds Consance. I'm new to the city, having just moved here yesterday morning and would you be willing to share some common knowledge with me?" A slow smile crept upon his face as his eyes met hers. "May I ask your name?"

[morgan]

Morgan seemed to relax a little the vampire's reassuringly banal conversation. Though she did not move any closer. With one white, slender hand she brushed the honey-blonde hair back from her face and looked him over. Beautiful, naturally. They were all beautiful, and she was constantly amazed at the variety of their beauty. The way his cool grey eyes were on her was familiar too, she'd had enough of that as a mortal woman. But he didn't have that cold, hungry gaze of an empty predator, and that alone was a relief. His eyes weren't gentle, or even vaguely human, but they were intelligent and calm and certain. She found herself liking him. See Ruban? No need to be afraid of everyone. A small smile curved her lips in response to his.

"Morgan Liebmann. And it's fine, really, about the hunting. It's a big park, there's plenty for both of us... unless you're the fox-in-a-henhouse type. What brings you to New York?"

A little less guarded, she stretched her arms languidly behind her head. Her eyes never left him though, alert and gleaming darkly. They absorbed the very modern clothing, expensive, and the bizarrely antiquated boots. She was starting to pick ages by clothing, but this was a tricky one. If he'd updated the rest of his clothing, then he might be far older than the style of his shoes. He was, as expected, far older than her either way. For whatever reason, that didn't disturb her as much as she'd been expecting. She didn't think that Talon would hurt her.

[talon]

Talon's smile warmed and he fell away from his guarded, polite speech.
"Oh no, I usually only drink once every other day... sometimes more often if I get anxious, my mood unfortunately has an influence on my diet."
Though she still seemed cautious, Talon was pleased that she wasn't afraid of him. Perhaps he could start making friends this very night?

Talon decided to keep his exact reason for being in New York City for now... Why alarm and alienate someone so quickly? No need to tell her about the young pups that had driven him from Chicago...

He noticed her careful interest in his attire... He had the feeling she guessed his age was greater than hers.

"So, what causes you to be so on edge? I hope you haven't gotten into any trouble" Talon spoke with a mischievous but kind smile.
"I can't imagine why someone would want to start trouble with you."

[morgan]

Morgan gave a short laugh, raising an eyebrow. Why indeed, would anyone start trouble with little ole' me? His question set her back a little, it was fairly personal. But then, it was no huge secret. She wasn't particularly traumatized, just newly cautious. It had probably been good for her in the long run to have had the scare, she decided.

"I had a bit of a run-in with a fox. Only he was bored with hens."

She shook her head a little, rolling her eyes in a way that said Don't ask. She didn't really feel like elaborating. For one thing it was slightly embarrassing, being in some part her own fault. And for another it would take ages to explain the way things had turned out. This guy hadn't come to NY to be bored by some sob story about poor blonde damsels in distress. He hadn't answered her question either, but she decided to let it go.

"What was it you wanted to know about the city?"

[talon]

Talon tensed slightly at the implications of the 'fox'. This was a particularly strong newborn, not to mention her protective sire was undoubtedly close by. A 'fox' provoking and surviving would mean either a powerful coven or a very confident and/or powerful lone vampire... He doubted he would have any reason to worry if it were a lone vampire, there weren't many vampires in the United States who were older than Talon... but a powerful coven in New York City? He'd have to be more careful than he originally thought. A powerful coven would have connections to covens in other parts of the U.S...
Talon quickly recovered and tilted his head slightly to the side as he spoke in a calm, clear voice.

"Oh I was just wondering if there was anyone in particular that I should steer clear of... If there are any werewolf packs or covens in the neighborhood... I would want to stay low key enough so as not to cause trouble."

After a second of thought over her exact reaction to the 'fox', he decided it was probably just a rambunctious, 'teenage' vampire. Certainly enough to fluster a newborn but after the danger had passed... well he remembered what it was like to be a newborn, himself. A far-away look misted over his grey eyes as he remembered his first few years as a vampire. His first run-in with another vampire... Sudden, new confidence filled him. He was old, wise, powerful, careful, and cunning. That he could become so on edge over the idea of one or two powerful vampires in New York... Well it just indicates how shook up he was for being forced from his chosen home. Something he would rectify...
Talon began to continue but noticed he hadn't been breathing. He couldn't remember a time when he had not unconsciously tasted the air to keep him alert to prey and danger. He took in a deep breath and suddenly realized why he had stopped. The newborn! She smelled so tantalizing! So beautiful! He felt his smile falter in surprise. He wanted to... no. He must control those urges. He would not endanger this lovely newborn named Morgan. Talon replaced his charming smile quickly and continued,

"I can tell you're a newborn, but do you know of anyone I could talk to in the way of business? There are... difficult reasons connected to my departure of Chicago. You are one of the most beautiful vampires I've ever seen and I would not want you to get too close to me." Talon looked directly into Morgan's ink-black eyes, a sadness washing over him that he had to stop a friendship... or relationship, before it could start... to protect her,
"I am dangerous and so are my enemies. I don't want you to become a target or to anger your sire... I can tell from your posture that he is a part of your life. I would simply complicate it beyond measure. But, please tell me, is there anyone you know that I could speak to? I am afraid of pursuit and would be more comfortable having one or two allies."

Another pang swept through Talon's body. He was truly saddened and torn, but he would not endanger someone such as she. No, she had her whole immortal life ahead of her and deserved more than being around an elder vampire plagued by the troubles of his past.

[morgan]

"Oh I was just wondering if there was anyone in particular that I should steer clear of... If there are any werewolf packs or covens in the neighborhood... I would want to stay low key enough so as not to cause trouble."
Morgan could see trouble in his eyes, though he was working hard to keep it hidden. Anger, nervousness. Though not at her, she thought. No, this wasn't a tourist trip he was on. She wanted to ask again why he was here- but decided to wait a while. He was flippant enough that she was sure he would just lie or dodge the question. Low key, huh? Sounds like fun. Unfortunately, his questions weren't much to her. Weres she knew practically nothing about. She knew there was supposed to be a war on, and found the whole
idea distasteful. The sort of war that carries on although both sides have forgotten why it started. She was slightly surprised at the idea of a coven, though it made a kind of sense now that she thought about it. The only vampires she knew were loners or moved in small groups, not Hollywood style swarms. It was an interesting idea.

"I don't know much about any werewolves. There's supposedly a pack that runs in subways... and I know there are loners around, but I have yet to meet any of them. I just smell them sometimes. If you see a guy, um, vampire, spiky blonde hair, too much leather I'd avoid him. Probably he'd fight you just for fun. His name's Shaden.

She tipped her head thoughtfully, spilling fine golden hair on her shoulder. Debating whether to warn him off Vladimir. Vlad was probably just as bad as Shaden, but he had helped her that one time. Even if it was just to get into Valhalla's pants. After a minute she decided against it. All she really had was her own bad opinion to go on. Suddenly she became aware of the way Talon was watching her. She looked at him, startled. The intensity in his eyes made something stir inside her, fear and something else. Attraction. She resisted an sudden urge to breathe in his scent, shivering slightly. This definitely couldn't be allowed. "I can tell you're a newborn, but do you know of anyone I could talk to in the way of business? There are... difficult reasons connected to my departure of Chicago. You are one of the most beautiful vampires I've ever seen and I would not want you to get too close to me..." he was saying. The compliment was pleasing, coming from him, although she had never thought of herself as particularly beautiful. Maybe vampirism had improved her. She listened numbly to his questions.
"I am dangerous and so are my enemies. I don't want you to become a target or to anger your sire... I can tell from your posture that he is a part of your life. I would simply complicate it beyond measure. But, please tell me, is there anyone you know that I could speak to? I am afraid of pursuit and would be more comfortable having one or two allies."

"Please don't.. I would be fine. Who are these enemies?"

She shook her head slightly, trying to clear it. An irrational part of her wanted to stay with him, enemies or no, but the evidence stacked against him. He was exactly the sort of thing she was meant to be avoiding, that she was determined to steer clear of since her encounter with Shaden. Trouble, in short. And really she had no reason to help him. He was just some attractive guy that had wandered into her territory.

"Ah... allies. Right. Ruban Vesillos is my sire. He might help you out, if I asked him. There's Vladimir, whose last name escapes me, black hair and eyes, carries a chain on him everywhere. If there was something in it for him then he'd probably stick by you... but I don't know where you'd find him. He wanders. And then Valhalla, who would probably seduce you..."

[talon]

Talon was keenly aware that the beautiful vampiress was pleased of his interest in her. Tone it down, Talon. This is not the time to have someone fall for you, nor for you to fall for her...control yourself!

"Spikey blonde hair? I'm fairly sure I saw someone like that earlier tonight out here... He was moving away from me and I was thirsty so I didn't think to confront him. Black shirt with zippers on it?" Another smile crept onto Talon face then faded as he thought to himself, "When was the last time I felt so free to smile and just have a conversation with someone?" Too long. He was sure it was before he had moved to the United States.

"Please don't... I would be fine. Who are these enemies?" she had asked... Should he involve her? Every rational part of Talon Consance screamed at him to end the conversation, harshly if needed and distance himself from her. But companionship... He hadn't even had a friend for two hundred years... What was left of his human self was locked away but it was back now in the form of his vast loneliness. Talon closed his grey eyes and sighed deeply. Then another slow smile spread across his face. "How many centuries must I live before I stop using my breathing as a human would?" The smile faded after a few seconds and his eyes slowly opened again.

"Two months ago, a large coven in Chicago gained a new leader. Such large covens as this one have internal feuds and leaders come and go. Nearly all of the members of large covens are young and immature, no more than a hundred years. Usually less than ten. Teenagers." Talon rolled his eyes slightly and continued,
"This new leader, Darkan, decided to expand his territory upon shortly after his initiation. He used his rather heavy influence and charisma, not to mention strength and recklessness, to take nearly all of Chicago. All that was left were a few lone vampires on the outskirts of Eastern Chicago and me. I held the north end of Chicago as my own hunting ground. The hunting ground I'd had claimed for nearly a hundred and fifty years... Darkan moved against me and I resisted...
Talon let out another sigh and looked directly into Morgan's ink-black eyes. So beautiful in contrast to her pale skin...
"I killed Darkan's mate, she was a new vampiress that was leading the first small party to give me an ultimatum to move out. He still feared me and my influence in the city to give me a warning. Darkan had just turned her a few weeks before and... she was not a what I would call the most pleasant of vampires. And she had the nerve..." Talon's eyes flashed with a deadly, inner light and he looked away from Morgan.
"I do not tolerate some things... the ultimatum was that I did have a choice to stay or leave, but if I stayed I would become a side slave to Darkan's coven, I do not take affronts such as that well, I'm afraid." Talon regained control of his anger that arose from thinking of the past couple of months and turned back to Morgan with sad eyes.
"Something I'm sure you will learn in time, dear... Even the oldest and wisest of us can make stupid, rash mistakes. And now Darkan wants my cold blood served to him in a silver cup."

Talon chuckled lightly, "If you would prefer to not help me, I wouldn't blame you. I'm not even entirely sure if there's any way that I can stop Darkan's coven from killing me. And he'd surely kill anyone I'd befriended first as an extra pain just for me..."

[gareth]

Gareth De'nal watched from a safe distance as the two talked. He made absolute certain that he was down wind and he kept completely still. He was actually to far away to hear the conversation at all, but he was reading their lips and he had "heard" every word.
The female was young and inexperienced. Her senses weren't keen quite yet and he doubted she could sense his presence at all.

That other one though... the male probably would have sensed Gareth, but thankfully he seemed intoxicated by the female. A grin spread across Gareth's handsome face. "So the male is from Chicago and he's being pursued by a coven..."
Perhaps Gareth could have some fun with this, a plan hatching in his mind to get close to and then capture this male from Chicago... and sell him to the coven he lashed out against; for a price of course. Bounty hunting was one of his favourite pass times that he had never shaken over the nearly one thousand years of existence.

He stalked carefully and steadily closer, reaching earshot distance and then waited for the young vampiress' reply.

[morgan]

"Spikey blonde hair? I'm fairly sure I saw someone like that earlier tonight out here... He was moving away from me and I was thirsty so I didn't think to confront him. Black shirt with zippers on it?"
She laughed suddenly, that was a detail she hadn't remembered, but he had been wearing some such item. Maybe he never changed clothes. It made her feel slightly better to think that whether or not he was immensely strong and vicious, he was, at least, totally style-less. That was something.

"That's him. Avoid like the plague, you wouldn't want to end up with one of those shirts."

Morgan frowned slightly, struck with a sudden feeling of being watched. All her muscles tensed, her dark eyes narrowed warily. Just the slightest feeling... she turned fractionally to look in Gareth's direction. Nothing. Silence and shadows stirred by the night breeze. Filled with unease, she shook her head and turned back to Talon. He spoke about the way he'd been evicted from Chicago, and she listened tensely to the coiled rage in his voice. At 'teenagers' she was unable to keep from smiling a little, she herself had spent less than a year as a vampire. It still amazed her how differently the old vampires perceived time- like they remained their human age for all eternity, and their human years just stretched out to fill the time that they'd really lived. Einstein would have had something to say about that, she felt. The smile faded quickly as he continued, however. Her eyes glowed as she watched him, rapt, and she listened in total silence. The anger came off him like heat, and she found herself feeling some of it herself as she heard his story. The new coven made good villains, even if she was technically closer to them than to him. She wanted to help, though she knew nothing about fighting. Talon was a good speaker, a natural leader, even. If anyone could rally a coven in New York it would be him.

"I'll help. Not that I'll be much use, but I'll help."

She spoke quickly and certainly, making the decision almost as she said it. Of course it was the wrong decision, but she decided at the same time not to care. Ruban won't be happy... but he's hardly ever happy with me she thought, giving Talon a sad smile. It won't be much of a change.

[talon]

As he fell silent from the recounting of his story and heard Morgan's reply, mixed feelings washed over him. He was ashamed of himself for having involved a newborn with almost no experience. And he would probably never forgive himself if she was hurt... but he was also relieved and happy with the thought that he may be able to stay alive for a couple more centuries at least. More importantly, it seems he will be able to spend more time with the beautiful Morgan.
A twinge of immediate concern did get through his intoxicated mind, however.
"What about your sire? I would love any aid you can give me, but I would not want to go against his wishes. As the one who turned you... well I shouldn't be the one to be driving a wedge in a family."