Tsuka grasped at a hand rail to avoid falling down the slick stairs to the underground. The doctor sighed in disgust at the mortals shoving their way through the mass of bodies attempting to approach the rapidly filling subway. She was already sure that she was going to be late for her shift to the point where Tsuka didn't need to miss the goddamned subway to be late. Dr. Nitta hated to reduce herself to the level of the human mob but she resentfully began to push her way through the crowd, hissing in anger. Reaching the bottom of the stone stairway, the woman snarled in annoyance as the subway left the station. There wouldn't be another shuttle for at least a half hour. Perhaps she should call in sick for the night, take a break. She hadn't had a day off since her transfer, not that she knew anywhere to go anyway. There were enough med students in residency to take the load for some doctor that would be dragged out of bed to supervise the skeleton crew, plus med students, to keep the hospital running steady. She smiled at the expression she imagined this on call doctor to wear each time some low self-esteemed student ran for advice.

"Bloody subway, bloody ungrateful humans..." As her anger rose, so did her bloodlust. She looked at her now muddy, wet scrubbs which had become so after being sprayed by slush on the main road. She watched the mob instantly filter away towards ticket booths or other means of transportation, leaving the dismal hall much less crowded. She walked into a corner to stay peacefully away with less sound and much less disturbance from any snoopy mortal or drunkard looking for a good time.

Observantly, Tsuka noticed that the subway tunnel had a walkable ledge on both sides. The width was long enough for someone to walk comfortably without feeling cramped. The ledge creeped steadily into the darkness, to the point where even her gloom adjusted vision could no longer see farther. She stared curiously down the tunnel almost expecting the darkness to be solid if she were to approach it. Caught up in her studious examination, she almost missed seeing someone, a young looking woman approaching quite close and quite deliberately towards the area of her corner and the long dark tunnel.

Even Nyx herself didn’t know why she was out walking around the fucking subway station this night. Maybe it was for the simple fact that she just didn’t want to go back to the Macabre Dance. Yeah, so Seneca had been dealt with. Bully for him. That didn’t mean the bastard hadn’t ruined her own fucking club for her. She couldn’t even sleep in the room she’d personally designed for herself because it reeked of him. Just a small whiff of it made her want to hurl up whatever blood she’d fed on. She’d been staying with Anton, the Ishak leader, for a while. Well, that wasn’t entirely accurate. She’d been fucking Anton for a while, and in turn, getting to share his bed during the daylight hours. It seemed that even being raped couldn’t screw up her libido.

Cabin fever had finally set in on her. So she hadn’t been in the same house the whole time, it didn’t matter. She hadn’t gone out to hunt in what seemed like forever, and she was looking for a fresh, gory kill. Torture was in there as well. What better place than a subway to go looking for someone suitable? Every type of person imaginable used the subway, though few were liable to approach her, especially given what she was wearing. It was black – her clothes always were – and made of some light material. It was one piece and the shirt came into a hood that she had thrown over her head. All in all, Nyx looked like an off duty hooker.

Did this bother her? Not at all.

She stood leaning again a pillar somewhere in the middle of the station. Her arms were crossed over her chest, a feat that wouldn’t be possible if her breasts had been just a bit larger. In one hand was a cigarette, most of it ash. She flicked most of the ash away, before taking one long drag, the small burst of ember lighting up the shadowed face that peered out from under the hood. Smoke billowing out her mouth; she flicked the butt away, not even bothering to put it out. Her green eyes spotted another vampire in this, what she considered her territory. Not only that, the chick was wearing scrubs, which meant she worked at the hospital.

Pathetic.

Pushing off from the wall, she approached the woman who was now looking down the subway tunnel. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Nyx padded closer, following the woman’s gaze before saying, “You planning a little hike?”

Tsuka, who had no true mental powers, beyond her illusions, still immediately accepted the idea that this woman, however young she may look, was very likely quite old. Most likely more so than herself. She felt her usual calm expression falter a little from being caught off guard. What could this undead want of her? Vaguely she remembered her features from somewhere...perhaps the Beltane Feast? Still unsure of who this vampire was, she tried to create an answer to the question which had been posed.

Tsuka tried to supress the obediance which had been ingrained through to her soul since she had been a mortal child. It had been so long since she had confronted a superior and yet her instincts came flooding back to her. Despite her tries, Tsuka's eyes slid to the floor. She hadn't felt so unblalanced since she had killed her last formal client of her mortal life. The doctor became quite angry with herself as she heard her own voice leave her throat, quiet and meek.

"No..." Tsuka's traditional one word answers did not seem to be enough for her vampire kin. She savoured the moment...almost smiling, despite herself, at the pain of embarassment. Tsuka tried once more to raise her eyes, her voice a little stronger this time, "I came down here...waiting for the subway...bloody humans...missed the damned thing. I was just waiting here. I'm new to the city...I'd never noticed much about the subways in the past week that I've been here. I haven't had the chance to look around or anything until now...why do you care...are you angry?"

Tsuka could not decipher the face of the one facing her. She flicked her eyes once more towards the cement floor then held out her right hand. "My name is Tsuka Nitta..." She paused wondering whether how her kin would react to this gesture and curious to see what pain or help she could inflict and how the favour would be returned. The doctor licked the backs of her teeth in anticipation. Who knew how the night would end, let alone how it had even started...

The woman in front of her looked slightly familiar, but Nyx didn’t remember from where, nor did she give a damn. There were too many vampires in this city to keep track of them all, and seeing as this vampire wasn’t Tarepha, Nyx wouldn’t even bother unless the woman could offer her something – Nyx doubted it – she didn’t seem to be worth knowing. There were few who were nowadays. Of course, that was probably the cynicism working its magic on her, but she didn’t really give a flying fuck. She was grumpy, but this girl looked like she needed a hard slap of reality when it came to mortals, and Nyx felt it was ‘civic duty’ of sorts to help the chick out.

Nyx saw the woman’s eyes fall to the ground, and couldn’t help the bitter smirk that crossed her face. At least someone still respected her. If she were alone, this would be about the time she’d crack out the morphine and the Bloody Marys and drink herself into oblivion… And that would only happen at her club. Anton wouldn’t allow it at his house, damn it. Still, it helped her ego that little bit and allowed her to hold her head high, flipping the hood off her head to reveal her new, short and stylish haircut.

“Angry?” Nyx chuckled, pulling out her pack of cigarettes. It was a good thing she was already dead what with that lung cancer shit. Sticking one in her mouth, she lit it, taking a long drag. She gave a short shake of her head. “Naw, I’m not angry. Why should I be? And as to why I care? Honey, I don’t, or not really. I was bored; you were here, end of story. I saw you in your hospital clothes and was a tad intrigued. To tell you the truth, I find it a tad ironic that a thing with no pulse is trying to save lives… Human lives.” She took another drag, inhaling slowly.

“The only good human in this city is a dead one,” said Nyx, leaning against the wall again. “Unfortunately, we have the Amman and the Enashe to make sure human hunting doesn’t take place all that often. I tell you, that Amman leader? A good lay, but damn, the second Beltane is over, boom! Back to his usual self with that stick right up there.” Okay, so this wasn’t exactly true, but she was grumpy, hungry, and wanted to get drunk, and that didn’t look like it would be happening anytime soon. Inwardly, she cursed that bastard sire of hers for affecting her so.

Her eyes traveled down the woman’s hand. Giving a forced smile, she simply said, “Nyx. Tarepha.”

Tsuka smiled gently. After being around so many people, she thought that Nyx looked agitated, she acted friendly enough but something might be on her mind. 'Nyx'...had she heard the name before? 'Tarepha' was a word she had heard at the Beltane festival. She had gathered that it was the name of some coven here in the city.

She wanted to soothe the one in front of her. Her mortal life and even parts after had revolved around pleasing others. She shuddered in rememberance of what she had left behind. For so long she had been in control of her own life. Now there was someone new to please...even if temporarily.

"Who are the Tarepha?" She could feel her throat relax a bit. She waited for a response. In the dim light of the subway she looked at the attractive female vampire who had deemed Tsuka worthy to speak to.

Before Nyx had the chance to keep talking, Tsuka began to speak again, "Where are you going tonight? Have you fed already...this early in the evening?" Tsuka paused. She wanted to get to know this new vampire in her life. "Would you like to go to my apartment?" Tsuka looked into Nyx's unreadable eyes, "We could grab something to drink there."

Nyx leaned against the cool concrete wall, folding her hands behind her head and holding onto her cigarette with her lips, smoking like a chimney. Her eyes widened slightly, before turning into a not-quite-glare, though whether it was at this Tsuka vampire or just in general couldn’t be determined. But damn, had no one informed her of the fucking Tarepha? Nyx took it almost as a personal insult. She was the Tarepha, and as far as she was concerned, the Tarepha was her. After being leader for over seven fucking centuries, it better bloody well be.

“The Tarepha,” she said around her smoke, giving her words a slight muffle, “is the best goddamned coven in this whole shit hole city. They don’t give a shit at what anyone thinks, and play by their own – or, in specific cases, my – rules. They’re the bloodiest, goriest, most sadistic sons of bitches out there, and they enjoy every second of it. As for me?” Her green eyes roamed up to the roof, a hard edge mingled with a touch of nostalgia. “I’m they’re leader. Anyone messes with ‘em, they deal with me, and trust me honey, that ain’t ever pretty if it comes down to fighting. Sex? Well, that’s something else entirely.” Her grin was as wolfish as it could get with her cigarette still jammed in her mouth.

Deciding that the cigarette was getting old, she spit it into a puddle at her feet where it fizzled out of existence. Looking pointedly at the woman with a raised eyebrow, she said, “Darling, if I had somewhere to go, I wouldn’t be hanging out in this hole. Normally, I’d be at my club, but fuck, what can I say? It just didn’t seem so damn appealing tonight.” Yes, she was using coarse language, more than she usually used. Yeah, she was known for swearing and being crude, but it never like this. Her entire perspective seemed to be skewered by cynicism.

She thought about the woman’s offer. What was the worst that could happen? Barring the fact that the woman set her on fire or staked her (she really didn’t seem the type), not a whole lot. Who knows? She might even get laid tonight. If there was one thing Nyx didn’t mind when it came to sex, it was the same gender. Not everyone shared the same views, but not everyone had been alive as long as she. “I haven’t fed, but sure, I’ll come with you. I could go for a rum on the rocks after a human happy meal. That sound okay with you?” In reality, Nyx didn’t really care if it sounded okay or not, but one tended to stand on tradition.

Tarepha? She saw that her guess had been correct, but now she was tangoing with her leader. Tsuka had never been one for western dance anyway. She had now had an offer that could not be turned down now that it had been accepted besides, it was proper that she would offer her superior something to drink. The woman had never broken a few of those habits which had been enforced into her mind for over a hundred years now.

Even if she had not been a coven leader, anyone could tell that she was much older than the doctor. Give or take a couple hundred years. Unsure of how she should lead the other woman back to her apartment, she took a step back and motioned for the other woman to step out of the damp corner.

"I do not have what you had mentioned, though I do have access to sake. Its said that it will not give one a hangover in the morning, though I've never really tested that theory, and remembered it the next morning. I've come across a particularly potent version. Its a pity that one gets sometimes drunk after only a drink or two, not enough time to savour the taste and build you up."

The young doctor looked into the eyes of her kin, wondering of the knowledge they held. "Come, let us leave this place." Tsuka nodded gently toward stone steps, a little snow blowing along with the people wo tried desperatel not to slip on the steps.