moment in time. (( mature, male, reserved))

she grinned.. '' course, never go home without it. '' digging in her pocket she pulled out an old silver lighter and handed it to him'' just refilled it too. don't worry you won't break it. had that thing for ages and dropped it a plenty of times and not once has it broke. '' she was wondering what he saw in the photo but was not about to press him.

'' i agree though he does look a bit like you , probably one of the reasons i am a little interested in you '' she pointed to the man in the photo.. ''he saved my life that one.. then six months later took off.. don't know why but he left me to fend for myself.''

"I'm sorry to hear that," Christopher said, taking the lighter and masterfully flicking the lid open. "And sorrier still to hear that he's partially why I appeal to you. A bit crushing, really."

He flicked up a flame, and held it behind the photo. "Backlighting is more illuminating than frontal lighting." he explained. Then he studied the photo closely.

"You know, I think I do know him. He was running in the coven of the vampiress who changed me."

she shrugged, taking another sip from the glass'' partially, but,, i think its more of your personality that is getting me a bit more interested., so do not feel too bad. ''

she grew quiet as he studied before nearly choking on her mouth full of merlot after he said he recognized him, clearing her throat she frowned'' how long ago was that do you know? and what region? '' she was quick to pull her pad out and pen, wanting to hunt the jerk down and find out why he abandoned her those many years ago.

He set the photo down on the table, clicked the flame out, and set the lighter down as well. He put his elbows on the table and pressed his fingertips together.

"...In the 1940's, during the war." he said. "After the battle in which i recieved the gunshots, my field commander, myself, and seven others were re-assigned to a secret ops mission in Romania. Nine of us went in, I was the only one who walked away."

frowning slightly she eyed her pad to go over the list of places'' damn.. Romania.. didn't even think to look there.. think your ... coven is still there?" she sorta figured that since he was stationed there that is where his coven was at. ..'' take it you where reborn there.?'' picking up the picture she sighed, '' been everywhere else, shoot why not romania. .. '' mumbled, shaking her head as she finished off the merlot. '' how much money is this going to cost me just to sit here with you?"

she was a bit curious on it, wondering what else she can get for her money. '' if they are still in Romania i might have to take a trip out there.. see if i can find him. ''

"I wouldn't be surprised if they still are." he answered. "But also I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't. It's a gamble, most certainly. And yes....that was where I was reborn."
He watched her handle the photo, thinking some things that were probably inappropriate at the time. He then smirked. "Well, for you, I suppose I can cut you a deal."

she grunted slightly '' whole life is a gamble but i take what i can get.. a deal huh?" stared at him a bit grinning at the look he had.. '' uh huh what kind of a deal? a sweet one i bet?"she now took the time to look around, watching the others before smiling again. '' well now. i think you mentioned a more private room , is that going to cost me more? or just about the same?" she wanted to ask him a few more questions, and frankly if they where by themselves none of them would have to worry about eaves droppers.

He chuckled, then looked over her, quickly, but thoroughly. "Hmm, well, the only additional fees one normally pays for a private room are a good time and a generous tip."

'' are you trying to play coy with me dear sir?" she teased, tucking the items back into her pocket. '' tell you what, we go to a private room and i will be sure to leave you good well and happy. with money , and or other things if you like. '' she was beginning to wonder if her night could get any better then this.

'' and you know.. if you have some vacation time i could use a guide for Romania.. that is up to you though.just a suggestion. ''

"No," he said, coyly. "Just being honest." He listened to her, eyes locking on her hands as she put her possessions into her pocket.
"Fair enough. If that's what the lady wants, that's what she recieves."

He got up then, then offered to help her out of her seat.

"As far as Romania goes, I'll have a word with Leo, the floor manager, and see."

she took his hand again and allowed him to help her up. '' floor man huh,, what in the world got you in working here anyways?" she didn't understand it, she would rather work in a bar.. well probably , just so she could toss some people out on their ass.. '' well suppose it pays well.''

she followed him once again , taking his lead since he knew where he was going. '' hmmm met a duke once you know, stuffy old man. but he was very fun to talk to. ''

Chris led her through the shadowy reaches of the show room, and into a series of halls. He escorted her past rows of doors, passing some with an OCCUPIED sign displaying just above the knobs--and there was some moaning that could be heard from within.
"Yes, the job pays exceptionally well, not even counting tips," he replied. "There are other perks as well, such as half-priced drinks, a nice atmosphere, and of course, enough feminine charm to satisfy any man. And being as the hours of operation are nocturnal, it works."

He finally led her around a bend, and to a door tucked away in a secluded back hallway. "My bretheren and I are each assigned our own rooms back here. This room is reserved for me; I...tend to bring in more revenue than most of my coworkers."

He opened the door for her, and waved her inside with a graceful bow. "Madam."

'' really now? well thats not hard to believe, think you look better then any of the ones i have seen. '' she was quick to scan the other doorways before they stopped at the door at the end of the hall. nodding slightly she headed in as he opened the door. '' cozy. '' she had heard most of the moans and other sounds coming from other rooms but it didn't bother her at all.

'' ahh so there is more then one of you is there? strange.. '' frowned, glancing back at him before her gaze jumped away from him again to look around the room'' hmm other then a coven i figured most would be a bit... territory aggressive. '' she has had her share of witnessing fights over a piece of land before. . especially area's concerning other vampires.

He smiled, then stepped in after her and shifted the lock into place--and with it came the occupied sign.
"Thank you." he said, slipping off the vest he was wearing and hanging it on a hook--there was a row of them for patroness' and hosts' clothing.
"We get to decorate the interiors according to our own tastes. Adds a more personal touch for our clients."

There was, of course, a kingsize bed, with an elaborate headboard, a bathroom area, a few comfortable-looking chairs, and one corner with pillows and blankets, padded by throw rugs.

"Well, make yourself comfortable Rose," he said, sitting in one of the armchairs, legs elegantly crossed. "We can stay in here as long as you like."

she couldn't help the grin again as she sat down as well '' you should be careful what you say to a vampiress. to most, getting comfortable usually means getting everyone in the room naked and having some sort of harem..though that is how it was with the last coven i had been with.. very interesting on that one.. '' she definitely liked his taste in decorating, made her feel like she was literally back at home.

'' so then, this coven you came across.. where you in the middle of dieing when they changed you or did they do the whole barbarian thing and say you can become food or become one of us?"

He lifted an eyebrow, a wicked smirk on his divine features. "Sounds like fun, though I prefer mine one at a time; and I beleive the word you're looking for is 'orgy'."
He closed his eyes, leaning his head back and enjoying a few of those inappropriate thoughts he had expereienced earlier, then came back around to the subject at hand, eyes still closed.

"...it was night, of course. Lieutentant Reicher had us hiking through the forest to a clearing he had scouted where we could sleep and not be seen by enemy bombers. There was a flittering in the underbrush, and after about a half hour, we knew it couldn't be animals. Reicher called in his report, and then they struck; three vampires, two males, and one female. Her name was Angelica, and she was the matriarch.
"...i fired round after round at them, but of course they wouldn't die, and I watched my comrades suffer and die, one by one. Men I'd bled with, who had families and lovers and wives waiting for them. There was nothing I could do."

she stared at him a moment, trying her best not to get too affected by whatever he was thinking, but since her special ability allowed her to feel and experience whatever it was he was thinking, it was hard, and by the vibes she was picking up he was thinking of inappropriate thoughts.clearing her throat slightly she grinned'' yea orgy's. though i have never participated in any but i have seen them. and i agree with you , prefer one partner at a time.''

she listened silently to his words as he recreated that night he had still been human. after a bit she grimaced'' sound about as bad as how i was reborn.. wait . did they even harm you ?"

He didn't directly answer her question, byt merely continued his story.

"...I was attacked by one of the males, not the one in your photograph, but the other, name of Varkaald, an old Norseman.
"I had seen my comrades die before my eyes, and I had since accepted that that night would be my end.
"However, when he attacked me, I struck back. My rifle was out of ammunition, and so I simply struck him with the bayonet. The entire barrel cracked, and shattered; and thus when he came to attack me again, I used the nearest thing to me, a fallen branch.
"It impaled him straight through, and I watched him die a death almost as excruciating as those my companions had experienced. That was when your male moved upon me to avenge his coven-mate, and I glared at him eye to eye."

He sighed, eyes still closed.

"That was when I said, 'Finish it then...', and that's what attracted Angelica's attention. I was injured, sliced to the bone in a few places, and I'm certain I had inner damages as well. That's when she offered me the only way I knew to survive--the choice that I be dinner, or become immortal and pick up the slack that would be left in Varkaald's absence. As you can see I agreed."

she grimaced slightly , watching him as he finished his story '' ouch .. .you make being impaled sound like a picnic. '' she couldn't help herself this time as she reached over to flick a lock of his hair out of his face'' i think you faired alot better though.. your very well alive and such.. ahh one question though, if you where to pick up this.. Varkaald's slack.. why are you not still with them then? i am sure your creator is pretty ticked that you left?"

"Yes, she was, and probably still is."
His eyes opened at her unexpected touch, and he smiled softly, looking up at her.
"At first, I saw it as just another battle to win, and so I stayed with them, learning how to fight, really fight, how to feed, how to control myself and my new strength, but after a while, I requested to go home to my family, and she would have no part of it. I breeched the subject again and again, and always recieved the same answer in return. Then finally, out on a patrol, I simply...vanished, without warning. Spent the better part of two years throwing them off my trail, and came home, sometime in the late fifties.
"But after seeing how they'd moved on, after how they'd taken the news that my team was missing in action, I couldn't bring myself to make them greive all over again."

she grinned'' well that is definitely something i would have expected from a man like you. stubborn and dedicated to what he wants.. definitely good qualities. '' taking her hand back she continued to listen to what he was saying, nodding her head a little. '' makes since, once they moved on , definitely no need to hurt them again.. hmm. well atleast you knew your family lived their lives, my parents died when i was young. and no i didn't have any siblings what so ever.. '' frowned'' a bit of a pity.. my family line sorta just... died off.. i am the last and well. can't really have children now can i?"

"That makes one more thing we have in common, Rose." he said, shifting his position a bit. "My family line certainly died with me, but at least I could still produce a child. I do pity the fact that you can't, but any child I put off wouldn't exactly be human now, would it?"

she frowned slightly '' well , as far as i know i can't. haven't gotten pregnant yet. '' shrugged as she glanced at him. ''hmm well, you can still have children though,. just be glad its not going to be a werewolf.. '' she couldn't help that grin though as she watched him'' then again...i am sure you can handle it.. where you married when you where human? or have some sort of.. significant other?"

He smiled, and kissed her hand again.
"Actually, no, I didn't. I was more concerned with enlisting at that age. I wasa bit of a bookworm as well. So, aside from my parents, I had nothing to lose."

she watched him kiss her hand again , one single brow raising once more as she used her free hand to push a stray strand of hair back behind her ear.'' hmm a fellow bookworm ? well glad i am not the only one. and its alright, back in my time most where usually married by the time they turned 16. if not sooner. i think i like this day and age where people don't rush into the marriage as quick as they used to do it. ''

she lightly slid her fingers over his hand since he still had it as she looked up at him once more.. '' glad to see atleast some of us have kept our well ingrained manners.. though id o get the feeling you can get a bit.... naughty?"