Is Every Ending a New Beginning? [Julian]

[mindy]

Mindy wandered through the graveyard searching the sea of tombstones for the one she wanted; her fathers. She remembered vividly how he died. In the woods, someone...something murdered him. They found puncture marks on his neck, a most peculiar thing.

It was dark, Mindy had just finished a late shift and she was on her way home when she passed the graveyard. She had her father on her mind so she couldn’t resist. Just a quick visit would suffice, she knew it wasn’t good to go off in a graveyard a night.

No one knew what you would find here. Most of the horror movies centered around the graveyard. They were just spooky in general. Mindy stood on hundreds of dead bodies rotting in a coffin, this made her stomach a bit queasy.

Still looking around, but more frantically she tripped on a root and fell with a slam. Hopefully no one was here to hear it. She picked her head up to come face to face with the grave she was looking for.

She got to her knees and read the print engraved into the gray stone. Same as it was before. Mindy touched the cool, solid rock before slowly drawing away and glancing down at her watch. It was already 11:00pm. Getting up using the grave as support she brushed herself off and looked for a way out.

[gabie]

Julian had decided to take a little trip to Paris, after all...It was a place he had known rather well in its glory and its infamous times. Alas, Paris was Paris, much like London was London -- Times changed and people changed, but the memories of the past and the monuments remained. Tonight, he decided to go to the cementary and possibly visit a marker to where one of his former friends were buried. It had been a while since he had been to see them. If his friends had been immortal, he would likely have attacked Julian.

Walking through the perimeters, Julian stared at the new and the old tombstones. It was interesting to see the old ones fading with time and eventually, Julian found his friend. Crouching down, he patted the stone. "A thousand pardons, Maurice. I know, I know...I'm late as ever. It's a thrill to see your tombstone hasn't been damaged unlike many others. You have the honor of knowing it's me helping that bit of kindness. I miss you, you ol' rogue devil. Too bad the Bastille was lived in vain -- you shouldn't have died, but so's life." Tracing his fingers over the worn out words, Julian could faintly smell to what could only be a pint of ale that they had often shared.

"You know my secret. I couldn't kill you and you may be the only one who gets that chance. Take everything and give nothing back, eh?" Julian said with a grin. Julian's grin faded for a moment as the scent of ale was gone and a new scent entered his nostrils: A female... "One moment, Maurice..." Turning around, Julian saw the young lady just as she tripped over a root of a tree a few feet away. "Looks like we've got company, shall I entertain her since you obviously are incapable of that?" Julian said with a soft chuckle. Walking softly towards her, Julian kept himself unknown until he got right to her. "Bonjour là... N'est pas plutôt en retard pour un à être dehors en ce moment?" he inquired in French. It was only a matter of moments until Julian thought either to have a meal or even the possibility of annoying or scaring the poor girl away.



Translation: Hello there... Is not rather late for one to be out right now?

[mindy]

Mindy jumped with a start at a voice from behind her. She turned slowly to face a man, a rather old man. He spoke in French but his accent and looks had British written all over. A closer looked showed that his skin was snow white, not good. This man was dangerous, Mindy just knew, maybe instinct? She had many run ins with pale people, they were the most odd bunch. Something about all of them didn't settle right with her. It was like she expected one of them to jump her at any moment. She knew she mustn’t act frightened, she had to stay calm and maybe she could make it out of here alive. Dying in a graveyard, whoever heard of such a thing?

Mindy gave him a weak unconvincing smile (maybe he didn't notice) and took two steps back.
"I-I was just heading back home. It's getting awfully late and I need to... walk my dog," Mindy stammered. So much for acting casually. Of course, Mindy didn't have a dog, she was just trying to find a excuse.
"If you don't mind me asking. Why are you out so late?" she asked quietly while looking down. She didn't mean to be nosy but maybe she could get something out of him. Then if it sounded fishy she could report him to the police.

[gabie]

The young lady was obviously scared to death of him -- literally this time, all it always was. "What breed is the dog? Does it lie[/i] at your feet??" Santiago said with a chuckle as he had emphasized the word 'lie.' "I just simply noticed you fell and I wish to assist. My name is Julian, enchante...Originally from the South of this fine country. A Spainard, though my voice would lead you otherwise," Julian said as walked to her and smiled. Tonight had the most perfect weather -- especially if one was lost as she was, but his appetite wasn't on his mind.

Reaching his leather-covered hand, Julian pulled out a leaf her hair and wiped away the dirt on her cheek. "Terribly sorry if I've frightened you, m'dear. I have the habit of meeting people at the most peculiar and awkward places. It's a problem I must come to being breaking. Why are you all alone, as I've said? It's not the dog. Why am I out late? I've come to talk to an old friend. Maurice was his name. May I have the honor of escorting you? Or at least give you a little bit of company? You seem awfully lonely..."

[mindy]

Mindy's eyes widened when the man caught her lie. How could he possibly know she didn't have a dog? Well, it was best to tell him the truth then.
"Oh, did I say dog? Ha! I meant that I really should be getting back home," she said quickly looking nervously around her for anyone who could help her.
"Julian, pleased to meet you. I'm Mindy," when he took a few steps forward Mindy started to step back until Julian was right up to her face brushing dirt away with her own hair. She shuddered at his touch, his hands were ice cold.

"Well, thank you for your concern. Those darn trees, it seems like they grow overnight!" Mindy's voice was shaky. "Oh, I'm just visiting my fathers grave. Died recently," Mindy said as she pointed to grave itself with a shaky finger. The last thing she wanted was to be escorted by Julian. He could lead her down a dark alley and then... she would have to stay here longer than she expected, until she could squirm away.

"Oh, well I suppose I can use the company here. I remember that I should probably visit my great grandfather's grave, pay my respects." So Mindy was going to visit the other grave after all. She wondered how many departed family members it would take to shake him off, maybe he'll grow tired and leave after the first five.

Mindy just realized something. Julian's mouth... wasn't normal. When he spoke his teeth didn't seem to fit right. And then when he smiled. Those teeth were definitely not normal. Two were pointed, they looked sharper than knifes! They reminded her of an animals teeth, a wolf. The teeth were intimidating. Mindy realizing she was gawking at his mouth too long took three steps backward. Her eyes grew wider and she began to sweat.

"Your...your teeth. Are...are they... pointed?" Mindy couldn't resist it, she had to ask rude as it may be. Her voice was even shakier than before and she struggled over words now. "And your skin! So pale!"

[gabie]

Julian raised his hands immediately in protest. "Now before you go and start judging me, Mademoiselle Mindy, do realize if you make it hard for me befriend you, then there can be damging effects to us both. Your misinterpretations can ruin my image of you as well as bringing me down emotionally and as for you, would you enjoy me calling you a liar? I know there's no dog because the dog would have barked at me if it had seen me," Julian said abruptly. No, he didn't dare yet reveal the secret of his vampiric natures, but it was rather rude of the girl to judge him before he could explain himself -- "What are your manners?" he said, wagging his index finger and made a 'tsk-tsk' sound.

"The trees are always growing, Mademoiselle...it's in their nature in doing so. If they stop growing, they die. Much like you and I -- if we don't take care ourselves, we risk the chance of dying and death can either be pleasurable or a suffering of which many do not wish to have," Julian said with a hint of sorrow in his tone of voice. His own death had not be pleasurable or sufferable, but abrupt. He had only been a mere boy of eighteen, only mere weeks until his arrival back home. It was a loss, not to mention a burden at the beginning of his journey as a vampire. "Your great-grandfather? What was his name, might I inquire?"

[mindy]

So he was a smart mouth eh? But still, he was right. Mindy had been rude but could he blame her? Not many people had pointed teeth. She was also scared as hell so you did tend to say things you don't really mean to say.

"I'm terribly sorry monsieur. I surprise myself sometimes. I do say things I don't intend to. So you have pointed teeth? Who cares? Your still normal," Mindy said easing up a bit. She felt a little comfortable knowing that Julian was just a regular man visiting his friend. Nothing strange about that. But what was strange was that he had pointed teeth, his skin was freezing and he was as white as a ghost. This will strike a person as odd.

"So sorry I lied to you too. I do forget myself. You did scare me so the best I could do was make up a silly lie. Again my deepest apologies," it didn't sound as convincing as she had hoped but it would have to do. She was still shaken up but the sweating stopped. She would have to ask him again about the teeth and the skin when they were in a deeper conversation. Maybe staying with him wasn't such a bad idea. At least it was someone, she could have wandered into a mass murderer.

Mindy listened to him go off about the trees and living and dying. Why was he bringing this up now...in a graveyard. She didn't feel like probing for that too so she decided to go along with it.
"Yes, suffering is not good. I'd prefer my death to be unsufferable. But I don't think I'm, going to die anytime soon. As you say I take very good care of myself," Mindy said tonelessly. "My great grandfathers name was Emmet Vasser," she added. Hopefully this night wouldn't last long, she skipped dinner and she could hear her stomach growling.

[gabie]

Julian suddenly felt that the girl and himself weren't connecting and it most certain she was aburrido, boring, although her comment about not wanting to die just yet sent a small smile on his face. It wasn't either of their faults for being what they were, but it was more like their choices of discussions were the parts that were most likely boring her and him as well. Clearing his throat, Julian stared up to the sky and then back to Mindy. "Mademoiselle, it would appear our discussion is becoming very slow and not that interesting. Shall we speak of another subject perhaps? Maybe--" Julian thought he heard something grumbling and then realized she was hungry. "Mindy, m'dear, have you not ate today? Perhaps a small snack or pick-me-up would help you out? I've got the time and money to spend. It would be an honor to escort you to a late night meal."

Moistening his lips, Julian felt his tongue brush against the worn-out skin from the ages. He faintly could recall what the handsome young devil he could've been. The look could have made his presences with Mindy a much better experience. "You are quite beautiful, m'dear. You must earn your looks from your mother or even father, I s'pose. I was much prettier at times in my own youth."

[mindy]

It was true, the conversation had grown rather boring. All Mindy could think of was ways to not die from starvation here. Julian offered to escort her to dinner. Was it the best idea? Mindy needed to learn more about him before she could trust him enough to escort her to a restaurant. She would still have to stall.

"I am a bit hungry I must admit. However, I have gone longer without food before. I'm sure my stomach can hold out a little longer. Work has got me working late hours," Mindy said carefully. She had to change the subject. Not because she didn't want to talk about food but because she had to know more about the stranger. Julius beat her to it though, commenting on her beauty.

"My looks? From my father's side. Well, most relatives on my father's side are dead now," Mindy didn't know why she said the last sentence. Maybe it was because she was desperate for conversation.

"You know, it was so odd how my father died. The search team just found him dead, in the woods. He had puncture marks in his neck. What animal could have done that?" Mindy asked. So if Julian talked about death, then it was death Mindy would talk about too.

[gabie]

Julian took a few steps back at the mentioning of puncture marks as his eyes clouded with a brief moment of greed. Shaking his head, Julian fought briefly with the urge to take her down now. "Well, we both know that saying a bat attacked him is most likely improbable considering that they don't live in Paris. They would be more south than anything. As for the puncture wounds, could have a snake got ahold of him? But wait -- you said the neck. Once again, improbable, therefore, could it have been a spider? There are venomous spiders, namely the Latrodectus variolus, or the Black Widow. Someone could have domesticated it somehow and then used it on your father," Julian lied wholeheartedly. He knew what had gotten the poor girl's father -- a vampire, plain and simple.

"You dare not starve yourself, m'dear. If you do, you risk ending your life from starvation. Every man and woman and child needs food, without it, there is certain...death."

[mindy]

Mindy watched Julian suspiciously. He was acting strange at the mention of puncture marks. There was something going on but Mindy didn't know what. Acting normal and friendly was the best to do, this man was dangerous. Maybe if she did what he wanted he would leave her alone for good. After Julian had gotten over the fit to himself he scrambled trying to find a way Mindy's father could have died. Most of the animals he named weren't even native to Paris.

The black widow didn't seem likely. Who would be the nutcase that domesticated them here and then purposely set it on her father. Mindy would have to act dumb in a situation like this. She felt he was keeping something from her and she had to find out what. She was already in to deep.

"Yes, very creative thinking. A spider could have done it," Mindy agreed. Now she would have to go eat for him, great.
"If you insist, we can go to a restaurant or something. I insist that I pay though. An escort and company would be nice." So over dinner she would pursue the subject about the puncture marks. And the odd features about this old man.
"Would you care to lead the way?" Mindy asked politely.

OOC: We’re going to have to start a new thread if Julian is going to take Mindy to dinner. They can talk for a bit as they walk out of the graveyard though. The marketplace is the only place that could have food so you or I can start a thread there in a little while.

[gabie]

OOC: Moving now, just meet me there -- Pardon! We are fini! Merci!