It was dark, not yet closing time, hardly past 5 (or was it 6?) p.m. There were a few people in the store, college kids who were studying, and drifters peaking around. They were in their own little couples and mini-groups, chatting quietly amongst themselves. There was but one person who was by themself; a lovely little person who looked very much too young to be in here. This person was partly asleep and barely awake and laying in a little nook in the window. The windows were closed of course, and covered up with some fabric to hide them, but there were cushions in the nook, so it was comfortable.

This lovely person seemed to be very comfortable too, arms above their head - stretched out - and legs curled up ever so slightly. She (or is it a he?) had taken off their shoes, pretty little tan stillehto boots (for lovey little white feet!), and their bare feet were tucked up against the small bum. A long skirt, obviously of high quality silk, with a golden color covered all of his legs - except for the slit that revealed a pretty, white thigh and part of a calf. They must have been warm though, for the blanket they must have been using earlier was right below their legs.

A shift and obviously they must be male, or else a very flat-chested girl. Must be male. A tight fitting sweater, made of probably a very fine quality kerseymere, a sort of creamy color. It looked as soft as if probably felt. His hair almost matched his hair, a sort of pale creamy white color. It had probably been in a braid earlier but now it was loose, the gold ribbon that held it lost within the silken locks. A few fell into the beautiful, pale face, tickling the little nose with every other soft breath. Eyes were closed for the most part, no color was showing.

Below his feet and far to his side was a large collection of books on simple things; etiquette, France, castles, and even a few fairy tale books, and then there were obviously advanced books on astrology and tarot reading. It looked weird but seemed to fit. But the book that fit best was the one partly held in a small, delicate looking hand: Sleeping Beauty. It is an endearing sight really. Too bad he is all by his lonesome, a knight in shining armor is needed here, perhaps to wake him with a kiss?

The 'young' man had been drifting down the streets for some time, alone, of course. He hadn't a set destination, simply moving as a homeless man may move, from one warm place to another. And he was homeless. Verité Ganduin had been kicked out of his small apartment because he had stopped paying his rent. Because he had no job, and had run out of money. Thank God the kind of nourishment he required was free.

'Do I count the cost of a human life as a fee?' He had been brooding darkly this entire night, and the night before .. And everything lead him back to the sad conclusion that he was nothing but a monster. Verité had tried before to steal from Blood Banks, but that caused him to feel even worse. Stealing the blood humans had given to save lives, just so that his dead, disgusting one could continue. Only so that he may kill more of them! Only to steal more of that blood! He hated himself at times. It was a wonder he even kept his body alive, the way he thought of himself.

Alas, he had come upon Jacobson's Used and Rare Books yet again. Hopefully that suspicious old man wasn't working tonight, Verité couldn't stand to be stared at or scrutinized feeling so depressed. No home, no life .. Nothing but a vile beast. The vampire sighed, a fairly human-like expression he often used out of habit. Perhaps a good book would lighten this heavy mood.

Unfortuneatly, he did not notice the small boy [of whom he thought was a young girl at brief, first glace] and moved right to the vampire books, picked out 'Lestat', and slunk moodily into a dark, uninhabited corner to sit on an old cushy armchair.

Poor thing, so depressed and alone, how dreadful. Alida is unfond of being alone, thus why that small frown is on his face. He was in and out of dream land. He hadn't eaten anyone in a while either. Too much makes him stomach upset and too little doesn't do much for him. And he hasn't had sex in a while. So he's been feeling a bit down under the weather himself.

His body was trying to wake up, bleary eyes roaming to whatever had woken him out of this state. It was a presence of something unsimilar to the others in this building. And the smell, his nose twitched as he rolled over, one rm sticking out and the other curled under his chin. His pale eyes roamed the area until they spotted what he had been looking for. Oh dear.

One leg pulled up against his body, the other stretched out, toes curling and hiding under the blanket at his feet. He studied the character and almost smiled. 'Doesn't look very happy now does he?' Alida thought to himself, pulling up the hand that held "Sleeping Beauty", curling it against his chest. Normally he'd go and greet such a dreery looking person but really - he was too comfortable.

So he contented himself with simply staring unabashedly, looking over the very attractive person.

The vampire really disliked being stared at. It worried as well as frightened him .. It made him question himself; was he really that different-looking? Was it easy to tell that he was inhuman? Dark, sorrowful eyes looked up from 'Lestat', and instantly to the young boy in the corner. He was strange to look at .. so feminine .. Verité instantly thought of him as the personification of innocence. Although his hair was alittle longer than what Verité preferred, and his choice of dress was .. a tad odd, there was an undeniable beauty that the vampire could see.

The darkly-clad man held the other's gaze, his own smouldering with quiet worry and sad pleading.

'.. Don't guess what I am .. Don't guess what I am ..

Personification of innocence.

How ironic.

He smiled even prettier when the other met his gaze, but it faded slightly, looking at him with childlike curiosity. The other seemed so sad, such a same for one so pretty...his pretty mouth opened slightly, lower lip pouting and he got up slowly, stretching a little. One pearly white leg was revealed, lovely and well sculpted, stretching out before it was covered slightly by his skirt. He then stretched, as a cat would, yawning slightly, back in the air. His movements were very cat-like, and was even more defined as so when he came over to Verite. Crawling on his hands and knees.

When he finally got there, he simply sat on his knees looking at the other. And smiled.

"You're very pretty."

Verité was completley dumbfounded when the younger-looking one came .. crawling over to him like some sort of .. cat or something. And his greeting was very unexpected.

".. Oh .."

It wasn't that he had never been told that before -- because he had, many, many times -- it was just .. strange. One doesn't usually greet one in such a manner. But the childlike imploring interested Verité, a slight, sad smile touched his pale lips.

".. Merci."

"Ah! Vous parlez français?"

Alida smiled adorably at the other, seeming innocent, and he even clapped his hands. Seeming rather delighted at the thought of luckilly running into another Frenchman. Or is he just from Quebec? He cocked his head, and then lifted up a pale arms, slim wrist, and a pretty hand, offering the other his hand.

"Je suis Alida, ce qui a votre assez ans nommé?"

He smiled even more prettily, slender fingers extended as far as they can go, manicured fingernails on them. He has very attractive hands actually.

(( Ah! you speak French? )) (( I am Alida, what is your name pretty one? ))

Verité's smile broadened slightly as the younger smiled and responded in French. What a pleasant surprise.

".. Oui," His tone was soft, and he took the pretty hand offered to him. "English as well .. My name is Verité." He ended the sentence in English to prove that he indeed could speak it.

'.. How stupid ..', he critisized himself as an afterthought.

I don't know about VeeVee's hand, but Alida's was soft and silky to the touch, but not slippery. And surprisingly he had a rather strong grip too. He only smiled brighter when the other replied in English.

"Yes, yes. English in an important language, but not as beautiful as my beau Français..."

He schooched up to the other a little, at their feet and looking up. yet he never looked submissive or weak. He was the dominate one, the powerful one, and the one who is always on top. Another little grin.

"Que vous apporte ici ce soir?"

(( What brings you here tonight? ))

The vampire grinned at the younger boy's enthusiasm. Someone seemed pleased to meet him .. Perhaps he wasn't a nothing after all. Perhaps he wasn't just a mistake.

".. Je suis seul .. et n'ai aucun endroit autrement à aller à .."

His tone was quite, sorrowful .. But somewhere within its velvet sound was an illusory quality, dream-like .. as if he imagined some palce better than this one. He needed a home, and money .. And all of these thoughts caused him to feel even worse about himself.

"Ah! C'est terrible!"

Alida looked up at the pretty face of the other for a moment. Alida is thinking steadilly. Pretty face, sad expression, no home...Aw! Alida couldn't leave him alone! His face lit up with a smile.

"J'ai un appartement de mes propres! Vous pouvez rester avec moi!"

Another cute smile.

"J'avais voulu que quelqu'un restât avec moi pendant un long moment!"

He clapped his hands.

"And you don't have to pay a penny!"

Verité blinked down at the younger of the two, not quite believing his ears. He .. Had his own apartment? It seemed strange. And slightly suspicious ..

"I .. But you've only .. Just met me .." He spoke awkwardly, unsure of how to word himself as to not insult the trusting male. Not to mention the fact that he was a vampire and would probably burn alive in this house without telling Alida the truth about himself. "I don't make good company, Alida. I'm sorry."

"Nonesense!"

Alida waggled his finger.

"Jst because I have already met you doesn't mean a thing, life is just a collection of moments anyways? Even if you are going to be living either forever or for a long time. Like me."

He grinned.

"Anyways, you don't have to stay permanetly if you don't want to, but just for a while - though I would appreciate it if you stayed to be my roommate, it gets lonely..."

He trailed off, looking rather sad. Awww.

The vampire stared at the male as he mentioned living forever.

".. What .. ? What .. are you ..?" He whispered, his silky tone lowering so that no one else could hear them. Verite felt stupid for not noticing anything about him earlier, besides the fact he was quite feminine and young.

Or perhaps he was only joking. Verite didn't know ..

"What am I?"

Alida leaned forward, up to Verite, and smiled.

"You'll have to find out. Come to my apartment and I'll willingly tell you there - and don't worry, I am not the least bit danerous."

A pretty little smile. How could you refuse him?

Verite sighed, running a hand through his silky, pearl-brown hair.

"I don't think that would be a very good idea," He tried to smile, and gently tapped his finger on the tip of Alida's nose. "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen. Besides, how old are you, Alida?"

Alida smiled softly, shaking his head and chuckling.

"I look like I'm 14, say I'm 21, but I am actually 493 years old darling. I'm not a little child, I know what is dangerous and what is not. Plus I can be most useful when times get rough."

It was almost like a riddle. Alida looked up at him prettilly, smiling softly, an amused epxression on his face.

Verite was finding it hard to believe the young male. What if this kid was just deranged or something, and was trying to lure him somewhere .. Or just playing a game?

"Mm, of course not." He nodded his head, but not in a mocking way, of course. He reclined in his chair, and opened his book again. "If you're 495 years old, I'm 292."

"493 darling."

He smiled, standing up slowly, smiling friendly. He was also taller, even if he was only 5'8". A smile and he offered his pale, silky hands to the other.

"What've you got to fear about me?"

A soft smile as he stood there, soft skirt at his feet, long hair falling around his face and tight sweater giving him a cozy look. He was only dangerous when angry. But then, who isn't?

He watched the other rise from the ground, sighing gently as he offered his hands. But he continued reading Lestat, trying to concentrate.

"Perhaps .. It is not you I fear."

Alida settled for resting his hands on his hips. He was not one used to be turned down, especially at such a nice, plite invitation. Alida was a friendly person, someone who didn't care if you just met, he needed people. It annoyed him that he was turned down so quickly.

"If it isn't me that you fear...what is it?"

He's not fully interested in that, maybe mildly, but not fully, but he seems to be anways, looking at the other with a cocked head.

"Perhaps I fear for you, rather than you yourself."

The vampire continued reading, not really taking in the words, but hollowly skimming them. He appeared interested in his book, however.

"I thank you for .. your offer, but .. I do not think living with me .. would be very good .." He tried to sound less snobby, and he glanced outside for a moment.

"You have no need to fear for me, I am fully capable of defending myself..." Alida pushed the book down, lifting up the chin of the other to look in his face. "...from vampires..."

You know funny things happen. Does Verite feel mildly attracted towards Alida? 'Cause he should. Whiile Alida isn't full Incubus, he still is half, and thus still has many of the abilities of one. He smiled softly.

"I think you and I would be perfectly safe...and really, you'd have a place to stay, a bed, free of charge, all for just rooming with someone who is tired of being all by their lonesome..."

What a tempting, very nice, little speech.

Verite sighed stubbornly again as the boy pushed the top of his book down and lifted his chin. Dark eyes met reluctantly with Alida's .. and he suddenly felt that he hadn't given the male enough of a chance.

Perhaps he had been wrong all along, maybe he really should go with him. He was so pretty, so innocent .. unlike his disgusting, murderous self.

".. I'm not .. I'm not .." He couldn't hear himself stumbling over his words as the boy said vampires.

"Fine. I want .. I want to leave right now."

Verite did not know why he had changed his mind so quickly .. But he knew he wanted to go, and now. He needed a home, and now.

Alida smiled fondly at the other, his heart touched. Did you realize he didn't even really know what he did? He'll figure it out later, but right now he is too happy, smiling and calpping his hands as he grabs onto the other's hands, pulling him up. The boy is shorter than he is, but that is all good.

"Come one! I'll get my shoes on and then I'll show you the apartment!"

He smiled then leaned in, wrapping an arm around the other's waist as he led him.

"Do you need to feed? when was the laste time you ate?"

"Oh .. Alright."

Verite smiled to Alida, feeling quite happy about going to live with him. His sudden change in heart was something he'd have to think about .. But for now, he was too excited.

He wondered if he'd be able to get a job. Perhaps Alida would paint him, or photograph him, and then together they could sell the art .. ?

This caused a faint smile to appear on his face.

"Wonderful!"

He quickly collected his books that were lying around, putting them on the window sill and then grabbed his socks and boots, slipping on his pale nylon socks quickly and easilly. He had pretty white feet, very delicate and lovely. He smiled, grabbing up his scarf, ear muffs, and hair ribbon (finally found it) before turning his attention to the pretty boots of his.

"Now for them."

He leaned forward, shfting as he reached for them - they were a ltitle far away, but that was no problem.

The vampire had left Lestat on the small table beside his chair, and was now watching Alida collect his things. When it came time for his boots, Verite felt compelled to put them on for him.

Was that because of Alida? No, Verite was just a gentleman that way.

"Mm." He kneeled to offer the boy's boots to him, one foot at a time.

Alida watched in bewilderment as the other kneeled in front of him. He even blushed, surprised but not all together displeased.

"You-you don't have to..."

But he complied, lifting up his fist delicate foot and then the next.

"Really, it's my pleasure."

He slipped the boot onto the slender foot, smiling faintly at the ease of it.

Verite stood up, and his smile brightened slightly. The vampire waited for Alida to give some sort of instruction or prompt.

Alida smiled prettilly, then stood up, wrapping the scarf around his slender neck and then putting on the fluffy earmuffs. He was a lovely, adorable thing in this outfit. He giggled.

"Shall we go to my place then? So I can show you around and you can see if you like it?"