lovely is an overstatement

[ameliae]

Their evening ritual was starting up again. Every night when the sun went down, it never failed that Hehlo and Tully were in the mood for a cup of coffee. Call it habit, call it addiction, call it catching up. Whatever it is to you, it was probably the same for the two of them. The two walked side by side, both of them seeming to have nowhere to go, even though their destination was set.

Hehlo opened the door of the Starbucks for little Tully since he was too small to open it himself. That's not to say that he wouldn't try. The boy was rather stubborn and loved to do things on his own, even things he really couldn't do. He'd at least try, which Hehlo admired in her son. The four year old pouted as the door opened in front of him, but he walked in front of his mother into the coffee shop anyway, without a word of his distaste for having things done for him.

Hehlo ordered for the two-- Tully got his usual decaf vanilla mocha latte, this time iced. He'd learned after much trial and error that hot drinks just did not cool down fast enough for his liking, and the ice really did help. His mother ordered the same for herself. Iced was her usual, for she found that she was rather impatient, herself. Like mother, like son, it seemed.

Tully decided to pick a table with the tall stools that he had to struggle to climb into. Lo didn't bother to help him- He'd have refused the help and done it his way, even if it meant stacking chair upon chair to make a big chair mountain to climb. He made it up easy, and Lo seated herself across the table from him. The little boy hadn't gotten out of the habit of stirring his latte with the coffee straws, so he got started right away as if his drink was extremely hot.

Lo watched the boy for a while, then her attention fell elsewhere. They were seated in the very back, away from windows, so she found herself staring at cups, for some odd reason unbeknownst to her. She began tracing lines on the table with her fingers, taking a sip of her drink finally. One might think she was bored, and to an extent, she was. There just wasn't anything to do at night with a little boy and no babysitter. Perhaps something would come up. Perhaps she'd get a call, have a guest. Put Tully to sleep and visit. Something, anything different.

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan was in New York on a visit, He had plans to visit Coney Island before he headed home. This was business, he had to tie up some loose ends from his Mother's death and settle some affairs with the Museum of Art, they had several relics his mother had donated and he had to decide to allow them to permanently purchase them or if he wanted to take them with him. He knew he would try to permanently donate them, but he wasn't sure they'd agree. This was why they were on long term loan at the present time.

He was wandering the streets, it was dark and he was happy that he could be out and about. The thirst was still overpowering...but he dealt with it as best he could. He kept Harry Potter blood flavored lolly pops in his jacket pocket. They really did taste similar. He grinned as he sucked another of the candy pops. The melted candy was thick and ran down his throat almost satisfyingly.

He approached a coffee shop. Eating food could also help him quench the thirst, for a time. Some things nauseated him, but a good rare steak was still palatable as ever it had been. He decided to enter the shop, and there was a pleasantly strong aroma of coffee in the air. That was good, the blood smell was there but the coffee helped cover it. He saw a few people, some customers, a woman and a child.

He ordered a coffee, black and took it to the back of the room. The woman and child had the darkest corner, but he could make do with a table nearby. He settled his cup and cast another glance to the pair. The child was adorable, like the chibi he read in Manga sometimes.

[ameliae]

Hehlo noticed the man make his way to the back of the shop, sitting at a table rather close to her's. She quirked an eyebrow, curious now why he would pick a table here. Most people would go to the least populated area, feeling awkward if they were too close in an uncrowded area. It was a slow night for the coffee shop, it seemed, and more people were taking their coffee to go rather than sitting down to drink it.

Tully noticed the man, too, obviously more intrigued than his mother and for much different reasons. He'd noticed the lollipop and was more than eager to go see if the man had more candy to spare. Lo had never told him, "Don't take candy from strangers," mainly because they were never really around other people. It just wasn't one of those things that came up for any good reason.

So, Lo seemed to be staring. She was wrapped up in a sweater and her hair wasn't exactly done. She wore a cutesy headband that was really just an accessory. Her bangs were getting long, so they skewed her vision just slightly. That didn't keep her from watching this guy intently, almost studying him. She just couldn't figure out why he'd sit back here. It was sort of cramped...

Tully was out of his seat in seconds and standing next to the stranger's seat in a flash. He was ogling the lollipop, not really paying any attention to the man who was holding it. "Do you have any more?" he asked, eyes wide.

"Tully," his mother scolded in a gentle voice. "Don't be a pest," she halfway teased, unsure of how the man would react to a child walking right up to him and asking for candy.

Lo went back to her latte, watching Tully from the corner of her eye. This sort of thing wasn't unusual, and most people just brushed the child off with a ruffle of his hair. Something was making her nervous, though. She began to chew at her lip, gnawing furiously until she tasted blood. "Damn it," she whispered, blotting her lip on a napkin.

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan could feel the woman's caution; that was good. They child was pure innocence. He looked at the child as he approached. He heard her complaints, but he wondered what the boy would do. He had some regular candy in his pocket, and he pulled out a blow pop; the gum could also deter cravings some. He handed it out to the child with a soft smile and an affirmative glance to the mother.

Her complaints were pretty lax, and he didn't feel a lot of conviction behind her words. The child was already drinking a coffee, decaf but sugar rich all the same, what would a little sucker hurt? He was glad he had taken his eyes off her face and turned back to his coffee as her teeth tore through her skin on her lip. The smell of blood was instantanious and his reaction was forceful. His fangs lengthened without his control and he had to practically shove the coffe into his face to break the smell.

He had his eyes shut tightly to hide their deeper blue hue; and to try to regain some control over his urge. He wanted blood, the bloodlust filled him and he had to struggle against it. He almost grabbed his cup and ran out the door; instead he signalled for another cup and pulled out his wallet to pay. Carefully crafted actions to distract and control his mind.

When he looked up as the cup was set in front of him his eyes were back to their now stormy blue grey hue. This was his new eye color. They only had real color when he desired something, then they were deep blue. He smiled at the girl and thanked her as he gulped the steaming coffee. He felt their eyes on him and pretended that it burned him.

He pulled the cup away quickly and gasped, "Oh!! Hot!" with a defensive posture. He felt their eyes leave him as another customer eneterd the shop. He kept up the charade just in case and blew on the cup. This worked well, this unplanned diustraction, and he no longer wanted to tear at the woman's throat right there in front of her child.

[ameliae]

A faint smile crossed Lo's lips when the man pulled out the blowpop and gave it to Tully. Nothing like randomly produced manufactured and wrapped candy to soothe a mother's nerves.

"Thanks!" the little boy's voice rang out, a bit too loud. Lo shot him a glance, and he flinched, realizing that he'd spoken too loud. "Thanks!" he whispered this time, which brought a quiet giggle from his mother. It's not like she was going to yell at him about a too-loud voice, but it was nice to know that he knew her disapproving look, and that he knew what he'd done wrong as well as how to correct the error.

Tully was rather distracted by unwrapping the candy and he retreated back to the high stool at his table. Sucker finally in his mouth, he seemed satisfied and intent on only the sucker now.

Lo gasped when the man gulped down his coffee and exclaimed in pain. Her eyes widened and she looked around for something that might help. A cup of ice next to her latte should suffice, she decided, and in just a moment she was at his side, offering the ice to him, gnawing her lip more furiously than ever. Nervousness did that to her. She was always biting something-- Her lips, the inside of her mouth, her cuticles, scabs. She was odd that way, she supposed.

"Here, ice," she spoke quietly, not noticing that she was tearing her lip open more. The pain never hit her anymore. It was just so typical that she inflict it upon herself that it didn't bother her. She looked up at the man, her eyebrows furrowed with worry. "Please," she held the cup up to him, her face riddled with concern. "Coffee's hot," she teased, her accent thick. It had only been two years since she'd come to the United States from Russia, and although fluent in the English language for many years, she could not hide her origin.

She felt the blood from her lip turning cold and beginning to drip and raised a hand to wipe it from her face, which turned to hide the bleeding. How embarassing...

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan looked up as the woman materialized at his side. She spoke in a Romanian... Ukranian... definately European of that area accent. He grinned up at her as she tore her lip open again. His eyes flashed deep blue but he had good control for the moment. He discreetly pulled a vial out of his jacket and palmed it as he accepted her ice. His ruse had been believable then, good. He hadn't ben sure his act had fooled anyone, he had not practiced with humans since his change. In fact he really should not be here right now, but he had business affairs to contend with.

He pulled a chunk of ice out of the offered cup and slipped it into his mouth dumping the vial of blood in at the same time. He almost sighed as it calmed him instantly and his eyes faded back to their usual steely blue. He was in total control now. He was thankful of his foresight in grabbing the small vials as an antidote against temptation. "That is much better, Thank you, Ma'am," he admitted with a charming grin. His own voice lilted with the song of Ireland and his eyes were bright and matched his soft smile. Welcoming and open, he should not be encouraging her in his state. He was not old enough to really control his desires, and she had a son who depended on her.

He was feeling hospitable now, so he held out his hand, which was warmed from the coffee to her and offered, "I'm Morgan." He gazed at her with a cool expression, and then diverted his eyes to the boy. He appeared content now, and Morgan grinned. Could he have a child of his own someday? Duskarie had once, would he have such luck.

[ameliae]

Lo watched him, satisfied that the ice seemed to have helped a bit. She couldn't help but to try to hide a laugh behind folded lips at how silly the man had been to drink a fresh cup of coffee like that. Of course it would be hot, she thought to herself. Everyone knows that coffee is hot. Her head shook in amusement at the thought that she kept to herself. "It's nothing," she said finally. "That's why they serve ice water with coffee," she lightly teased, unable to hide her amusement with the situation any longer.

She took his hand gently, almost reluctantly. "Hehlo," she introduced herself. She noticed him sending glances to her child, but she really paid them no mind. His eyes didn't say that he was going to try to take off with him and hurt him, nor did his body language. He seemed to be admiring the boy, which caused Lo to be a bit confused. She didn't voice her confusion, though, content in their introductions.

"Do you want to sit down?" she offered, obviously offering for Morgan to sit at her table. He had, after all, given her boy a lollipop which was still occupying his time and concentration. What a nice change. It was too easy to distract Tully, to make him pleased and content. Sometimes Lo worried that he'd never be interested in doing anything really challenging, but time would tell. He was still only four years old. There was plenty of time to interest him in a challenge.

She'd noticed Morgan's thick accent and decided to begin conversation about that. "That's not a New Yorker's voice," she noted with a chuckle. Well, neither was her own voice. Seemed like a mighty fine conversation started to her.

She watched Morgan from the rim of her latte, shooting a glance at Tully every once in a while. "So, where does it come from?"

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan was still smiling politely. She offered for him to sit with her, and he knew he shouldn't but he felt risky. His confidence was through the roof, and he had a few more vials on hand. He also had a doctor who owed him big and would love an opportunity to pay the favor. So he could get blood without resorting to anythign untoward. He grabbed his now tempered cup and moved to the seat at their table she had indicated.

I'm from Ireland, Donegal actually. And you?? You speak with a cadence that says old world like me. His eyes were dancing, and he felt alive. More alive than he had for awhile. He hated travelling alone, and they seemed pleasant company. Morgan marvelled that the boy didn't just chomp into the sucker like a lot of kids. He took his time and enjoyed it. It was refreshing to see a child so serious. He was small, and yet he had a independence that was clearly stated. He had jumped down from the stool and climbed back up again after Morgan had given him the candy. He had not asked for help nor acted as if he expected it. rather he had just gotten by on his own.

He looked between them again and he could clearly see the hints of the mother in the child. When she wasn't looking he slipped another sucker into the boy's pocket. It would be a treasure he would find sometime later and enjoy. Maybe he would think of the strange man who had been in the coffee shop that New York day.

((soz ish a bit short, my first ever short post))

[ameliae]

Lo didn't exactly enjoy speaking about her days in Russia. Although her childhood had been happy, the last three years she spent there were not at all that. She'd been tormented and frightened thanks to the happenings that had lead up to her being blessed with little Tully. She couldn't complain that he was here, just that she was so young and not at all ready. She could also complain about how he came to be, but she didn't exactly dwell much on the past anymore. It seemed futile, to consider it on a daily basis, to feel sorry for herself. She couldn't complain about her life now. The United States was not what it was all cracked up to be in her home country, but it was still better.

"Moscow," she stated simply. She pitied the person who did not know where to find that place on a map. Another sip of her drink and she was back to stirring it with the little coffee straw, aimlessly pushing around half-melted ice cubes. "I travelled here two years ago," she added, her gaze falling down to the table. "I suppose it shows."

She'd never travelled to Ireland, but she'd seen photographs and videos of the land. 'What would make you come here?" she asked, considering Ireland to be rather peaceful and homey-- a place no one in their right mind would ever leave for more than a short amount of time to sight-see. "I've never visited Ireland, but it looks to be a nice place. Perhaps I should have settled down there rather than here." She rolled her lip in and began to lick at it, making sure there was no more dried up blood clinging to her skin.

Tully sat happily in his seat, taking turns between sucking at the lolli and sipping at the latte. He was always so indecisive and tended to do things like this often. He pulled his knees in to his chest now and hovered over his drink with lolli in mouth, mimicing his mother's stirring.

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan listened attentatively and politely. She seemd lost for a moment and his newfound ability to sense the mood of a person close to him told him she was meloncholy. Eventually she confessed that she was from Moscow. He had been close then in his guessing. Her demure reaction and averted eyes clearly went with the change to embarrassment in her countenance. Moscow seems such a different place. what more could he say? The subject seemed closed and he didn't want to cause her sad mood to resume.

He was therefore grateful when she asked about Ireland.Ahh, Ireland. My beautiful island home. I am here on a business trip. My mother recently passed, and I have some dealings with the museum for her. There is always business to tend to, it seems. His face was sad, it was his turn to feel morose about his situation.

He perked himself up and plastered a smile to his face. I love my homeland, and my Castle there. It would have been lovely to raise your son there. We have our problems, but where I am is so old and peaceful. I love the river, and the bay. there's also the ocean and hills, mountains and cliffs covered with heather.

He turned to look fully at her, To tell you the truth, I can't wait to get back. I'm surely missed there. My family is new for me, now. Since my mother is gone, I now have a new family, people close to me and I care for them deeply. But you...why are you here in New York! It is so loud and dirty! What brought you here? Oh, I'm sorry, I should not have asked so personal a question! I just get carried away... his voice trailed off in embarassment as he feared he'd overstepped the bounds of civil propriety.

[ameliae]

"Tully, go play," she requested of her son. He complied, easily sliding out of the stool and wandering off to pester the women who worked behind the counter of the Starbucks. She refused to speak of her homeland around him, especially the events leading up to her coming to America. She really probably shouldn't say a word about it, but this man seemed harmless enough and interested. Besides, conversation was conversation. She'd probably never see Morgan again after tonight, or so she assumed.

"It sounds lovely," she commented on his speech of Ireland. He sounded rather dedicated to his home and she could admire that. With so many good things to say about his land, how could anyone resist the portrait he painted. "Perhaps that should have been my choice. I've never been much for the life in the city," she said quietly. Now, on to his question.

"I came here to protect myself and Tully," she began. "Although he is a blessing, I must admit that I am not proud of how he came to be." She drew in a deep breath and took a sip of her latte before exhaling and gaining some composure over the subject.

"I was taking part in a protest when I was fifteen. I didn't realize it, honestly. All of the people made it sound so appealing, like we were doing something good and going to make a difference. Everyone seemed so sure of it. I was just going along. I wanted to do something good." She stopped, considering how to word her thoughts.

"It went horribly wrong," she said, a hint of distress crossing her face. With a quiver in her voice, she continued. "The military threw some sort of gas grenades at our protesting group. I picked one up, and woke up in some dark room, someplace I didn't know. One of the soldiers was there, if you could call him that. I don't think he was worthy of that title. It's supposed to be a noble title, right? Anyway, lots of bad things happened to me. I didn't understand what was going on. I don't know how long I was there, but one day they put me in a car and drove me far from my home, dumped me on the road. I remember rolling and hitting lots of rocks, then I woke up in a hospital. My parents, I was told, were dead. I was only fifteen, so I was sent into custody of what you would call an orphanage. That's where I had him," she nodded in his direction. "I raised him there until I gained citizenship here. I came here two years ago. Its not wonderful, but I at least feel safe knowing I am out of reach of the Russian officials..."

A long story, and she'd been talking a while, pausing to think of her wording in the English language. Although she was pretty much fluent, she found it difficult to speak a lot at once.

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan's protective side wanted to pick her up and carry her with him back to the penthouse suite and force her to get on the plane with him back to Ireland in two days time. But he said nothing. He reigned in his overreactive self and shoved him into a tiny box where he couldn't rear his face again. He was very good at self control. She would be unable to even tell his inner turmoil, especially now, his mind seemed able to think leaps and bounds ahead of his body and prepare for reaction or inaction. He looked at her without pity, but with concern.

I am sorry for your plight. You are so young to have so much pain in your life. Tully, your son, seems so bright. It is to your credit that he is such a good boy. The look was back in his eyes, the longing for a child of his own. He was glad he'd never know who had done this to her, for some reason he would find it terribly satisfying to feast on his flesh. An avenging angel; or demon take your pick.

He never changed his considerate expression, she would never know his inner turmoil...the instinct to do good. To undo the evil turn on an innocent. Instead his eyes offered a tiny glimpse into his meloncholy. But mostly he was friendly. He profused an air of collected calm and trust. He tried to phrase a response, surely one was required. Something more to clear the air of gloom. He pulled another blood pop from his pocket and absently stuck it in his mouth. He had nothing to say, and it was uncomfortable. His coffee was irreparably cold, but he was no longer in the mood for coffee, he wanted vengeance for the lost innocence.

[ameliae]

She could tell that something was bothering him-- Whether it was her true life story or something unspoken. She refused to pry, though, rather content in her company and unwilling to scare him away so quickly. She had a tendency to talk too much sometimes, which made people a little uneasy and unwilling to endure her presence. She wouldn't do that this time-- a silent vow.

She couldn't help but to be curious, though. He spoke in such an old-fashioned sort of way. Perhaps it was a thing of the Irish. She'd never actually met anyone from Ireland until just now. "It's alright," she dismissed his condolences. "To dwell in it now is just ridiculousness, rather futile. It was terrible at the time, I admit, but now things are different. Perhaps I am not exactly where I want to be, but to achieve your goals you must have direction, yes?" She quirked an eyebrow. Surely he could agree with that.

"And, right now, that is something I lack. My only direction is to keep him safe." She smiled sweetly, raising a finger to gain a worker's attention. Another latte was brought to her table. "Could you bring me a pastery as well?" she asked, answered with a nod. Soon the pastery was at the table, as well. "The boy isn't bothering you, is he?" The girl shook her head and smiled, shooting the inquisitive child a glance.

Lo turned back to Morgan and smiled, readjusting herself in her seat before taking a small bite of the pastery. "So, how long is it that you'll be here for? Is that undecided? You said you had business here to do with your mother, yes? Did she go recently?"

[morgandubhbraon]

Morgan smiled at her, he enjoyed how her face was an open book he could easily read. She was so connected withher son, it was something Morgan had only ever been on the receiving end of. His mother had loved him implicitly. She would travel for her work, but she was attentive and loving when she was home, which, when he was younger, was more often than not. There were times he could recall where he'd gotten to go with her on digs as a child. To Egypt, South America, Mexico, and other exotic locations. Her untimely demise had hit him hard, and he could not keep the look off his face when she posed the inevitable question. She just passed a few weks ago, and my life has completely changed since. his eyes were dark and brooding again, but hepersisted. she was an Archeologist, and she loved the excitement of the dig. She had discovered a new tomb in Egypt, in the valley of the Kings. There was an accident, a collapse. She never recovered. I was able to be with her at the end, and that was gratifying. But so much is different now. I think she would be pleased with me now, but I cannot say.

He looked at the boy again, He was keeping the serving crew entertained, probably asking a million questions. His mother said he never went through that phase, but then again he was reading by then and she would help him find any answers he needed so he never had to do the Why, why, why thing. Tully was a lot like him inquisitive and curious, and fearless! Of course he could not know he had spoken to a newborn Vampyre. Morgan grinned again. He would have to ask Duskarie about children, if he thought it would not upset her.

[ameliae]

"Oh," she said after hearing his story. "She must have been an amazing woman, to be able to travel and do that sort of thing. I would have loved to hear stories," she smiled, sincere in her words. "I'm sorry that you lost her."

She sighed, sitting back in her stool. "I guess there isn't a person in this world who hasn't suffered through something hard. As is life, I suppose. Time can heal, though. That's what amazes me about people. We can always heal, no matter what we've been through. It may take a long, long time, but things do always get better." She paused, gnawing once again at her lip. "At least, that's what I'd like to think."

Hehlo knew it wasn't at all completely true that time healed every wound. Some people suffered such terrible trauma that they had to be permenantly put away under the supervision of their nation. Some people didn't show it, but cried every night, or hurt themselves thanks to their inner pain. That's something she didn't like to think about, though, especially not in her own situation. She couldn't imagine being so distraught over what brought her such a wonderful child that it would effect her like that.

"I'm sure she would be pleased with you," she finally said. "You seem to be doing what is right. The business is on her behalf, yes? So responsible of you to travel to another nation and deal with things on your own." At least, she assumed Morgan was on his own. If he wasn't, wouldn't he have someone here with him? That would only make sense, especially at this time of night.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like if things worked out differently?" She pondered aloud, hoping she didn't take him too terribly by surprise. She looked up at him, noticing some distance in his eyes. He'd seemed so direct when speaking of his mother--that couldn't possibly be what was on his mind now. "What are you thinking about?" she asked, as if she'd known him forever. As if the question was appropriate for their level of acquaintancship.