forum Closed oxo

Started August 01, 2020 by @callycat

tune

(Alright, reply whenever works!)

It had been a long, long night and Cyprus had made the somewhat questionable decision to end it at Haven. He tried to steer away from nightclubs for the most part—vamps loved the damn things, full of drunk idiots just ripe for luring away and drinking from—but this one was specifically made for his kind. For now, anyways. Full vamps had a way of taking over spaces that weren't theirs to take, all high and mighty and old enough to escape any sort of punishment.

Just thinking about it brought a frown to his face so he ignored it as best he could. Wandered over to the bar and ordered something hot pink that came with a crazy straw and tasted delicious. The lights were bright blue and green, sweeping across a thrashing crowd of people whose figures he couldn't quite discern, and for the first time that night he actually felt at ease. Those were his people, yelling and laughing and roiling around like some great many-bodied beast. Those were his people and this was his place, curled in on himself at the bar stool furthest from the action, collar pulled high and head ducked low as he nursed his drink.

There was something soothing about fading into the background. He'd never quite gotten the knack of it when he was human but now, after years of practice, he was pretty much invisible and he didn't even have to use what few shreds of power he possessed. Someone else might hate it but the anonymity was a load off his back. It meant no more paranoia, no more looking over his shoulder until he had to hit the streets again and risk wandering through Toreador territory to make his way home.

Technically, the club was in Toreador territory now, but he tried to ignore that too. Everyone knew this was a thin blood haunt, only a fledgling would be stupid enough to try their luck.

As much as Bryce loved his own space, loved to spend hours painting and spending time on his own with little to worry him, a good party was always needed. He'd been to almost every club in his territory, even traveled outside of town looking for something better which, quite frankly was a lot of effort for someone just looking to get a buzz somewhere but it didn't matter.

He had connections, he knew people who knew people that could get him in anywhere he wanted. His family was well known, as the youngest usually he flew under the radar which he liked. He had a freedom his siblings didn't, free of responsibilities he probably wouldn't have for a long, long time.

Usually a Toreador wouldn't have anything to do with a thing blood, however Bryce didn't give a shit. Besides, as long as his parents and the people of high power didn't know, what was the big deal in hooking up with one or two that wanted it? He didn't see a problem. Tonight was one of those nights where he was arm in arm with two of them, walking into the Haven like he wasn't a full blooded vamp who should be far from here. Not that he cared, if he got into a fight then hey, the more drama the better.

Things shifted a bit when the full blood walked in. It didn't stop, exactly, but there was a second where every pair of eyes in the building shifted to him and then away before the pounding of the base and the sweeping lights regained some of their power and the dance was back on. There was a new edge to it that Cyprus didn't like. Everyone was too busy looking over their shoulders to have a good time, worried the little Toreador prick would try something.

Normally he hated getting involved, but this place was close to his heart and he liked most of the regulars anyways, even if he didn't come nearly enough to be a regular himself. It wasn't even a decision really, he was already halfway to his feet when one of the newer bartenders—Bonnie, maybe? Betty? He'd never been good with names—asked him to get it sorted. That was what sealed the deal, honestly. He could tolerate putting the people who knew how to handle it on edge, but the fledglings had always been a soft spot for him and they had to have one safe place.

"I don't think this is your kind of place, friend." He gave the full vamp a smile, no fangs. His body language was open, shoulders squared, head high and proud. He had a few inches on the man in front of him but he stood a few feet away, minimizing the effect. It was always best to start peaceful. "You don't have enough blood in your veins, go party it up somewhere less exclusive."

Bryce refrained from rolling his eyes, instead sighing through his nose that was barely obvious in the flashing lights and loud music. Of course, he was testing his luck coming here after all, he didn't know why he would have expected any different, "Look mate, all the other clubs in town are boring, been there done that yadda yadda," He waved a hand, the vamp on his arm slipping away to go grab drinks or something else, "I'm not here to cause any trouble, I'm just here with my… friends."

Friends was a stretch, in fact he couldn't remember the name of the male on his left or the female who had gone off to get drinks. However the male didn't speak up about the term that he had used. The thin blood in front of him was clearly older then he was, something that got under his skin more then he would have liked to admit, even to himself. He'd try his best to play nice, but he didn't know how long that would last before he cracked it.

Cyprus was unimpressed to say this least. This was what Toreador was turning out these days? Spoiled brats who tried the club circuit until they got bored enough to barge into places that were supposed to be private? Honestly, he shouldn't have been surprised. If they could do it in the forties before nightclubs even existed properly, they could do it now. "Then go there and do that again." He was still open for now. Conversational. He took a step closer, raising an eyebrow at the Toreador with that same easy smile. Up close it was easy to tell how much bigger he was. If they were humans he could snap this twerp like a twig. "This place isn't for you. Running with thin-bloods for the night doesn't mean you can come here like you are one."

"Never said I was." Bryce slipped a hand into his jacket pocket, keeping his body casual, seemingly not threatened. For once he felt slightly intimidated by a thin-blood. He was bigger, clearly stronger and older but he'd try not to let that get in the way of him having a fun night, "Can't I visit a place with my friends that'll make them feel more comfortable? They've been ever so considerate of me this evening and I wanted to do something nice for them, I don't see how that is a problem." He wasn't looking for a fight, he came in here looking for a drink before he'd go home for the night and sleep well into the morning. Clearly his plans of a peaceful end of evening drink were ruined by this guy and whatever hero complex he had going up in his dumb head of his.

"Your friends are going to have to party without you tonight. They're not fledglings." They didn't have the right nervous energy to be new to this. The full blood did, though. He was too cocky not to be hiding something and with full vamps it was always age, though he probably wasn't much younger than the thin-bloods he'd brought in. It always took them longer to settle into it for some reason. "They know this place is exclusive. If they brought you here it was probably to ditch you, so take the hint and go somewhere else. Like I said, this club isn't for you."

“I’m not hurting anyone,” A fight wouldn’t be ideal. Especially not with a guy who looked like he was ready to snap him in half first chance he got. If it was anyone else.. maybe he would have thrown a punch or two and left but that wouldn’t go down wile with this guy, “Ten minutes. One drink and then I’ll be out of here before you even knew I was gone.” He prayed the deal was taken, otherwise he’d be going home disappointed yet again.

Cyprus sighed quietly. "Listen kid, you seem nice enough, but this really isn't a place where you can bargain for what you want." He was surprised by how well this was going. Normally a full vamp would start tossing punches or insults and tear the place up, but this one seemed content to argue. Sure, it was probably because he was young enough that Cy could beat him to a pulp if he needed, but still. It gave him a bit of respect for the kid. "If you're really so set on getting a drink, come back after hours and I'll make you one. For now, piss off."

Bryce placed a hand over his heart, "Wow, you would? How nice of you, making a drink for a full blood like myself," He was testing the waters here, a part of him regretting the slightly mocking tone he'd used. However he pushed those feelings away, opting for a charming smile instead. He knew that the smile would get him what he would want with anyone else, however right now it wasn't going to, but it was worth a shot, at least. And if it didn't work then well, maybe he would leave, find a human to drink from and go home.

Cyprus rolled his eyes, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. "Sure, if it'll get you out of here for now." It wouldn't be hard for him to get access after the woman who owned it closed up, he'd always been a favorite of hers. And he'd worked many a bar tending job back when he was still trying to live all buddy buddy with the full bloods, craving anything that would get him closer to the night crowd. He met the Toreador's eyes, a challenge in his smile like he didn't believe the guy would come back. "So like I said, piss off for now. I'll wait up for you after this place closes for the night."

Bryce let go of the arm of the vamp he was holding, raising them in a surrender, "Fine, fine, if it'll help your hero-complex then I'll leave." He chuckled softly, slipping his hands into his pockets as he made his way for the door again. Oh he'd stay, he'd hang around and see if the thin-blood actually stayed true to his word. If he didn't then well… he guessed it wasn't the end of the world if it wasn't, however it really would have ruined his night. he supposed it wasn't a big issue, then again he didn't have many other issues to worry about.

Cyprus waved him off with a dawning sense of relief and settled at the bar again, smiling as the atmosphere slipped back to something a little more comfortable. Still, he found himself acting restless as the night worse on. His knee shook. His hands tapped at the counter top. Eventually he gave in and took a smoking break, leaning up against the bare brick at the back of the club as he pulled a cigarette from the pocket of his jacket. If there was one upside to the whole being dead thing, it was that he could enjoy a good smoke without worrying. He puffed out clouds of grey smoke with a sigh, scanning over the gritty back alley listlessly.

The full blooded vampire wandered away from the club. He didn't know when the place was going to close and he wasn't going to hang around for hours and be bored out of his mind. He refused to do so. Besides, the towering buildings mixed with the slight cloud over head mad for a practically picture perfect night. It was why he took out his camera and snapped as many photos as he could, knowing he could go home and paint them tomorrow without worrying about some thin-blood. The smart part of him knew he should just go home, not worry about the drink since he didn't know if the guy was going to fight him when he was alone but… he shook his head. He wasn't going to back down from that challenge.

Cyprus admired the night too. Cloudy, full mooned, cool, it would be a good time to be alone if he weren't doing his best to drown himself in the presence of other people. Nights like this usually gave him a quiet, contented feeling, but he was still edgy from a run in with some Ventrue earlier in the night and wanted nothing more than to be buried among the hundreds of other bodies. Maybe that was why he'd made the cock full blood an answer—even if he was a shithead he was better than nobody at all.

Eventually, when Bryce assumed the night had gone on long enough and the club was beginning to close, he ventured back, hoping the other kept up his side of the deal. He slipped his phone and hands into his pockets, lazily strolling through the streets without a care and back to the door of the club. He leaned against a near by wall, gazing up at the sky and sighing. A part of him wished he could join the stars, but knew that that wasn't a possibility.

Cyprus was waiting at the door, chatting idly with the last few stragglers as they made their way out into the night. It was about five, barely morning but late enough that he wasn't sure the vamp would come back. He might get stranded if he wasn't careful, the sun was due to rise in an hour or so and he wasn't sure how far the guy's house was from here. Still, he found himself hoping that the man would come back as he propped the door open, scanning the street idly for the Toreador.

Bryce knew he had to get home soon. He hated that he couldn't stay out during the day, how many missed opportunities there were. However he glanced towards the door of the club, finding it open. He peeled himself off the wall, a slightly cocky grin on his face as he wandered over to the door casually, "I didn't think you were gonna open it up." He said, waving a hand towards the door and the club.

Cyprus rolled his eyes but there was a smile on his face as he nodded, wandering into the club without looking back to see if the Toreador would follow. "I said I'd make you a drink, didn't I?" It was darker than it had been before, all dark wood and silence. Most of the lights had been turned off except for the ones behind the bar. Cyprus slid behind the bar, running a hand over the polished wood appreciatively before he tossed a towel over his shoulder. "So what do you want?"