The subway was crowded this evening, as many citizens where coming from their late night shifts. The broken tiles of the subway rattled ever so slightly when a tube would speed past. A couple huddled over in the corner reading a newspaper as they waited for the tube to somewhere distant in northern Candia. The gentleman had set up a business here that relayed on furniture, and he had hired his girlfriend as his assistant... how quaint.

Smoke moved slowly upwards as Aracind sat on a bench watching the crowds move by. His arms out stretched behind him, and his one leg crossed over the other as he smoked his cigarette. He had watched the couple for a while now; he did not want to feast from them he just enjoyed the way their relationship was crumbling into pieces.

The floor was littered with newspaper articles and bits of rubbish idly dropped by and Aracind kicked the paper bag that had caught on his foot.

Taking a drag on his cigarette and taking back the intoxicating smoke he watched on the monitors, the train for the couple was delayed for half an hour. The rage built in the man as he started to take out his anger on his girlfriend, shouting and screaming. Luckily the sound of his voice did not affect the crowds of other people in the station, as it was too noisy from the trains and the commotion.

"Mortals are so interesting non?" He spoke to himself before grinning slightly.

Sagaran climbed silently down the stairs into the shadowed Subway. Despite the sounds of the loud transportation devices man had invented, there were still fragments of heated argument floating out from the terminal into the crisp Canadian night air above. This show of emotion was interesting to Sagaran. She had always been fascinated with the things mortals had so foolishly based their lives on in these times. The world wasn’t the same as it was in the Dark Ages. Back then, everything was based on honor, family, and survival. Nothing else mattered, but things changed, and thus the world was now irrational.

Ah, she was doing it again. It was an argument she often had with herself, one that would never seem to end. It was the need to further this quarrel with her own rationality, perhaps, which drew her hypnotically towards the breaking couple.

Her Aquamarine eyes glinted merrily from beneath her Victorian hat and raised veil. Oh how entertaining they were! They were silly things, these mortals; always claiming they were living life to the fullest when they were slowly wasting away.

Sagaran started as she heard someone speaking nearby that she had not taken note of. She tore her eyes away from the particularly emotional male to stare at a fellow vampire. She tilted her head slightly, looking questioningly at his languid form.

“I’ve always thought so,” She answered his question and waited for him to reply. Perhaps she would indulge herself with company for a while

"What on earth are you wearing girl" Aracind remarked, he was appalled at the girls attire. "I suggest you change before the Amman arrive to take you away for endangering our race" He took a drag on his cigarette.

The couple had settled down and the girl had her head now lying on the man’s lap, trying to go to sleep. With a flicker of an eye she immediately sprung up as if startled by something. Chuckling to himself Aracind turned to the woman and scanned the creature with his eyes.

"And you are?"

Sagaran stiffened at her fellow race’s obvious distaste for her attire, but she needn’t be offended or argue; that was emotion after all. Instead she chose to ignore the comment. It was only by accident that she made that nasty cigarette fall from the newcomer’s fingertips. She didn’t have much control over her telekinesis.

“I am Sagaran Ragnarok. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” She curtsied as was custom long ago before remembering that no one curtsied any more. Ah, well. There was no sense in getting embarrassed. "And you are...?"

She snuck a glance at the now seemingly calm couple, but she could still feel their worries and anger, ever churning beneath the surface of mortal façade.

Aaron threw his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out, as he hurried down the steps into the subway station. His car had very recently been stolen, and he was reduced to travelling by subway or taxi. As he felt a strange hostility towards taxi-drivers, he had taken to the subway system. He blew his smoke into the face of a passing man, and laughed when the man actually appologized for bumping into him. How these mortals had changed.

He noted the grimy condition of the subway platform as he took his first step onto it; some of the tiles were cracked, and some were missing alltogether. There were old, shredded newspapers covering the floor, dust in every corner, and what seemed to be the proof of mice. He made his way closer to the edge of the platform, and passed a bench. A man, smoking a cigarette, and a woman, dressed in some sort of old Victorian outfit. It took him a moment to notice, but it would appear, this pair were immortals. He lit another cigarette, and sat down beside the woman, on some empty bench.

''Imagine - the coincidence,'' he said between a long drag on his cigarette, ''of finding three of us on the same subway platform, on the same night.''

Behind him Aaron became aware of some sort of heated argument between a fairly large group of men. He turned his full attention to them, hoping to see a fist-fight break out. He did love a good street fighting match.

''If this gets violent,'' Aaron said, half turning his head towards the other two immortals, ''I've got $100, on the big guy.''

Fiddling with her hatpin, she decided an answer was appropriate to the situation.
“I don’t think he will win.” She paused her thought to look over the man seated next to her. He seemed to have a liking to money. “He doesn’t have enough drive.”

She looked down at her shoes once more, pulling her veil over her face. The next transport would be arriving soon, and she was a little hungry. Maybe she would invite the other two to go hunting?

“I don’t suppose you require nourishment?” She asked them each, looking at them in turn. It didn’t matter because they couldn’t see her face now, but it was the gesture that counted.

Aaron was surprised when the woman offered her strange opinion. But as it turned out, she could read the men brawling in the corner accurately, for the large man, did indeed loose the fight. Aaron grumbled to himself, and grudgingly pulled his wallet out of his pocket, handing the bill to the woman. Replacing his wallet he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit the last one with his current, and dropped the empty package onto the ground.

''Unfortunately, I don't feel the need to feed on humans,'' Aaron said, he was proud of his Coven, though in the company of vampires, that clearly did not share the views of his Coven, he felt a little uncomfortable, ''but, if either of you would still like to feed, I have a fridge full, and I would be willing to share.''

He couldn't tell whether this entire affair was going well, or not. The man on the opposite side of the woman had remained eerily quiet during the entire conversation, and Aaron felt that the mystery vampire would probably laugh in his face, and tell him he would rather feed on a living human. The woman, for that matter, would probably have the same view. Oh well, he thought to himself, can't blame a guy for trying.

The train that would lead closest to his appartment had come to a stop infront of them, and he made to get up, and waited to see if the other two would follow. He was a sociable creature, and didn't like to be alone, whenever possible.

Saga looked away from the endings of the fight to take the money her companion had offered. This would do nicely to feed her cats at home. Smiling, and berating herself for showing emotion once more, she chanced to gaze upon the newest addition to their little gathering. She found herself staring into his dual-colored eyes, and then looking immediately down. All these years, and she still couldn’t bring herself to look into the eyes of men. It was never permitted in her childhood.


Belatedly, she realized that this vampire too enjoyed acrid smoke. She sighed as her nose wrinkled. What was it with immortals these days and nasty smelling nicotine? It served no rational purpose to her, but perhaps they found it entertaining…

She realized his discomfort at her suggestion, and her miniscule smile broadened. She was starting to like him. He seemed to have not only an interest in humans, but a liking for them as well. If he was kind to what she often referred to as her pets, then she would oblige him by waiting as long as she could before feeding. She never killed when she fed, but if it still made him uncomfortable then it was only fair to wait a while.

“Unfortunately, my state of existence does not allow for dead blood.” She declined his hospitable offer as she followed him. It was obvious he wanted company. Perhaps she would oblige him. There was time before dawn, after all, and there was safety in numbers.

Saga seldom rode the train, preferring to walk most of the time, but she already knew this ride would be more pleasant than most.

“May I have the honor of knowing your name?” She asked quietly as they stepped on. The unhappy couple from before was following them, and their nervous emotion seemed to be affecting Saga. She fiddled with her black satin gloves as she waited for his reply.

Aaron wasn't sure, but he thought he saw his companion's nose wrinkle as he blew out smoke. So, in courtesy, he threw it to the ground and stepped on it. He hoped to have pleased her.

''Unfortunately my state of existence does not allow for dead blood,'' the woman said. He should have guessed. Of couse the first immortal he had met that he warmed up to this quickly, and she wasn't able to drink dead blood. No matter, he thought to himself, he liked her anyway. Suddenly he noticed he was trying to discern what Coven she was from. Then it hit him, she was remarkably old. She must be an Amman. At least she wasn't a brutal killer, that he could not stand for. After putting an approximate age to this powerful immortal, he thought it would be appropriate to bow his head in respect. He was sure how she took it because he couldn't see much past that veil of hers. He thought to himself, it would be nice to see what is underneath that veil. Then he stopped dead, as he realized he had spoken aloud. He hoped he hadn't offended her. He wanted to have company tonight; any company for that matter, and this woman would be pleasant to spend some time drinking with. Perhaps they would continue this little budding relationship over dinner sometime. He thought about asking her, and thought he should wait until they had spent some more time together, if his previous comment hadn't offended her, surely asking for a date would.

They stepped onto the train, and Aaron could see that the woman was a little un-comfortable, and would probably have preferred walking.

''Should we walk?'' he asked quickly, he wouldn't have minded a nice walk himself. He stepped off the train, as he was sure she would follow.

''My name is Aaron, my lady,'' he bowed his head again, ''may I have the pleasure of learning your name?''

Aracind had stayed silent even since his cigarette had fallen apparently by chance from his hand. He had heard the boy come, and speak and he had heard his name. He had heard their preferred feeding habits and that was all he needed to know, His head lay bowed down as they had spoke grabbing a cigarette from his box he lit one with a glance to the woman who was leaving, he had no such courteously for her.

He watched as the boy walked towards a train. Aracind’s hair dangled over his eyes blinding his vision for a moment, he had it normally swept back… but in recent times he had it low, and brooding. He gazed upwards towards the boy and stood up.

"Smoke if you wish child, you live in a free world do not let pleasantries get in the way of such things" He spoke as he sauntered towards the boy. "You judge me by my age, you are both fools for you judge each other by how long you have spent on this mortal earth" With a harsh glare he spoke to the woman. "It is your experiences that matter my lady, one may live a thousand years in a cave and grow no stronger, yet one may live five hundred years and fight many battles but he will be stronger than the first"

Throwing his packet of cigarettes to the boy Aracind turned to the woman.

"Judgment if for the feeble minded... expand your mind girl, and you will be the one who will prevail" He turned with his back to them both and took a few drags of his cigarette.

Saga nearly giggled as she watched her companion stomp his newly lit cigarette. Strange, she had never thought anyone would care to be so thoughtful. It was illogical, but kind, and Saga had not qualms with kindness at least.

Then she nearly gasped as he bowed his head in obvious respect. Very strange indeed! Usually no one paid her any mind, and when they did they were not kind. It had been strongly ingrained in her from the beginning of her existence that no man paid his respects to a woman… but she had to keep reminding herself. This was no longer the dark ages. The expanse of one’s time on earth now had more sway than gender, she assessed. Perhaps this gentleman, who was obviously younger than herself, held more closely to the new order?

In any case, it only made her like him more. She also felt surprise once again as he requested to see her face. Two times in one night; this stranger was making her feel. Though she was almost afraid of her own emotions, she couldn’t help but crave more, and thus she craved more of this man’s company. Using her most favorite method of thinking: logic, Sagaran discerned that in order to keep him near to her, she should oblige him. Thus, she lifted her veil, noting at once his nervousness. Perhaps he was just as lonely as she? No… she shouldn’t think of loneliness. It was frivolous.

She saw that he was contemplating his next words, and thus she gazed upon him expectantly, waiting for the next thing that would make her feel.

“Shall we walk?” He asked her almost too quickly to understand. She knew that he was being considerate of her again, and thus she sought to repay him.

“My name is Aaron, my lady,” He told her smoothly and pleasantly, without hint of his earlier discomfort. She almost winced as he bowed to her again, but tried to hold to the new system of age. Things were different now, she repeated to herself.

''May I have the pleasure of learning your name?'' He asked her in turn. Of course, she couldn’t logically deny him her name, because he had given her his. That was why she gave it to him so freely, or at least, that was what she told herself.

“My dear sir Aaron, it would please me if your should call me Sagaran.” She responded, and if there were more blood coursing through her veins she might have blushed. No matter, her eyes of aquamarine gave away her bashfulness. She had not spoken to anyone like this, had not felt anything akin to this, for almost a millennium.

Saga paused, waiting for Aaron to reply. She felt strangely young again, and didn’t know whether this made her giddy or afraid. In that hiatus, the previously silent vampire from before made himself known as the duo crossed the terminal.

She listened to his entire tirade, not even blinking as he spoke down to her. This, she was used to. It was no matter that the man disliked her, so getting upset would be foolish. Instead she calmly responded, only accidentally causing the bench the man was previously seated on to collapse.

“I apologize, sir, if my judgment has offended you. I will not pretend that I am stronger than you or that I am sure I will prevail. I only wish to contribute the most to society that my immortal existence will allow,” She paused, grimacing at the remains of the bench and trying to get it to repair itself, but to no avail. Saga berated herself. This was precisely why emotions were so dangerous.

“Now, kind sir, if you don’t mind the judgment of a weak and close-minded child, I believe there is still time before sunrise, and I would like to make the best of it.” She didn’t bother to watch his back for his reaction, only turned to Aaron once more. Yes, she definitely liked him much better than anyone else she had met.

"Stereotypes" Aracind muttered, "That’s all you two will ever be, the stereotypes of society and 'love' how pathetic"

Without turning he noted the bench "You cannot even control you own powers, you truly are fools, and you will pay for your arrogance and your so called respect"
With this Aracind dropped down onto the train track looked left and right and with a quick turn to them both raising an eye brow and scanning them one last time.

"I’m sure we will meet again, and when we do loose the pleasantries, they suit you not" Aracind had disappeared with the sound of a whisper and a thought.