Snow had fallen like shining crystal formed by the hands of god, landed with no sound, no force, but such beauty and grace. Creating a fine white layer over every thing in sight. The sun had only gone down about an hour ago, and there were still some brave people baring the cold, and ice skating on the newly frozen pond. The children playground was completely empty, and that’s were Nyarai had decided to go and sit. Nyarai had confused her self into wandering out tonight, telling her self that it was for the best to go for a walk. And the park being the closest place to were she had woken up, which had just so happened to have been in a big waste bin down the back of an alley.

Nyarai was rocking backwards and forward on one of the swing sets. The white of her clothes easily blending in with the snow, but then her beads and hair standing out like a clown in the middle of business men. Nyarai had her hair slightly falling in front of her face and looking at her open sandals.

She knew even though she couldn't feel the cold any more, that the mortal's shooting around on the ice over in the far corner could, she watched them in envy as they lived there normal every day life. Not having to worry about who they would have to take life from next just to survive. Four of the people left leaving just one to be on there own. Slowly skating around in circles and then move slightly more faster to avoid the banks and over hanging trees.

Nyarai spoke to herself in a overly dramatic fashion.

"Maybe they could be next. Innocence has nothing to hold against me any more. No leave them. The fates have been kind to them." Nyarai seemed to nod and agree with herself. Her little convocation had touched her and she was considering leaving to go feed some where else. But she sat, with the snow falling onto her bare arms and her hair.

“You always talk to yourself?” A voice asked from behind the Nubian vampire. The voice for its part was sharp and crisp, with the slightest jagged edges of cockney London for coloring. It literally screamed English and so it was.

Oliver Grey was as English as his accent made him. Born in London, his grey eyes and black hair were twin darknesses against a complexion of total ivory where it showed at his wrists and across the expanse of his neck and face. Though this ivory was hardly natural, instead it made the little boy look sick, tough of course there was a wry and amused smirk on his face that was completely at odds with that theory.

The child vampire looked to be about eight or nine; his attire tonight consisted simply of a button down shirt and slacks, one white, the other black. The loafers he wore, sharing the color of the shirt, expensive Italian leather. That made it plan that Oliver was not interested in playing the street urchin this night. Instead he looked like an innocent child of perhaps higher economic status than most, fresh out of church or some likewise formal occasion.

Still this illusion was even more at odds with what came next as the “child” sat on the swing beside the woman, a cheerful smile on his face as he regarded her.

“Nice night ain’t it?” He gave by way of greeting.

"Only when she is lonely. Which i am tonight."

Nyarai didn't exactly make much sense by saying this. Not only was she talking to herself but also to Oliver and then directly talking to him as well. Nyarai's voice danced through the cold air, as if the world was its own stage. melodic and beautiful and yet it belonged to such a twisted, and rather crazy person. Nyarai hadn't look up yet, so she was still un-aware that she was talking to a child figure. Though it would make no difference really, every one is the same in Nyarai's eyes.

"Now come on Nyarai, be polite and introduce yourself. yes polite.. My Name is Nyarai, what may i ask is yours. Yes yes that was polite."

Nyarai had now just looked up when she heard the swing next to her move slightly. It was a slight shock to see such a fair boy sitting next to her. He was smartly dressed, and had a sweet scent upon his indicating that he was clean enough to be of high heritage. Nyarai smelt like wet news paper, as that was what she was sleeping on last night. Though she had no real care about that in her own mind. She could quite easily call upon the essence of cinnamon, but why would she. She has no reason to impress any more.

Oliver turned eyes the color of storm clouds on the woman, studying her carefully, even as his keen ears picked up her reply. As odd as it was, her speech pattern and no doubt a bit crazy, Oliver had heard worst, met crazier. She seemed to almost narrate herself, strange, ah but who isn't these days?

"I suppose that was polite." He granted, his legs flexing at the swing tossed him into the air.

For his part, Oliver simply seemed the child. And his smile widened at the prospect of an introduction.

"Me? I'm Oliver Grey, at your service. Full time vampire and full time pain in the neck. I was watching you. Sorry bout that, but tis what I do...you looked kind of lonely. And ol' Oliver does like to make wishes come true." His grin was a bit sarcasic at that last.

"Now ya got company."

"Company, did we ask for company? No but it is always nice to gain. Yes i suppose you are right Nyarai. Yes thank you Oliver did you say? Yes he said Oliver."

Nyarai didn't quite finish but slowly her words faded into mumbles and she stop and sat quiet on the swing. Bring her feat up, and with out moving began to move gently forward and backwards, as if the wind had hands and was pushing her from either side.

"You say you were watching me, is there a reason for that. Maybe he thinks we have things of value. Nyarai we have nothing but life of value. Do we value life?"

Nyarai seemed to have just puzzled herself, and sat in quite deep thought and quickly looked over at Oliver, mainly to check if he hadn't gotten slightly freaked out now. But even if he had, it would on be the normal thing for people around Nyarai to do.

"You said you were a vampire. I thought that much. You don't vibrate as much heat as a mortal. How we long for that heat again. Don't be silly Nyarai we are over that. yes to true."

Nyarai smirked as if she had found herself funny, as if she found her own personal three ringed circus amusing. Like when old people laugh at their own jokes because no one else will.

Oliver inclined his head slightly to the side as his gray eyes became slowly and searching force while his smile became a sly expression of thoughtfulness and mirth. The look had a predatory quality that reminded one of a hawk eyeing a mouse. Ollie looked at the other in this manner for a long moment and then finally a laugh.

“Everyone has something of value…” He muttered. “Some simply know not the value of the things they have. Or if you like, one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure and all that rot.”

Oliver’s smile became pleasant and innocent at that moment, but more than a bit of roguishness remained in his eyes.

“And trust me, you value life. Everyone does, at least when they’re close to losing it. Be melancholy if you want. But a good run in with death will clear that right up, hon. And see you’ve just showed something of value there at the end. You can sense heat vibrations…interesting.”

Oliver said that last, with an extra flourish and a chuckle. He didn’t know what to say about her last statement, after all he couldn’t give her heat back…well, actually…

"he says we have something of value. To be able to sense something is of value to us. I suppose it should be, at least we are good for one thing. Yes i suppose so."

Nyarai had come to a halt on her swing now, and was looking down as if she was ashamed of herself for not appreciating what she had been given. Not every one is offered the gift of eternal life. This boy was nice enough. He had been taken into an eternal life at what seems to be such a young age, and yet he has kept himself happy. He would smile and be happy. But he is trapped with in a 8 year olds body. How could he ever be expected to be taken seriously by a fully grown mortal.

Nyarai smiled for the first time during their encounter, the boy was right. But Nyarai could never let him know that. Nyarai stood up and seemed to drift over the white covered floor, and settled down on a bench. Nyarai moved some of the snow into little piles next to her, her innocence in this act was outstanding, but still slightly psychotic. Nyarai looked at the boy.

"Do you ever wish you didn't have to live this life?"

Oliver’s smile vanished, his teasing and slightly sardonic smile dried for a moment. His gray eyes going cool and listless as he crossed his arms and stretched his legs to stop the swing so that he was once more upon the ground or at least hanging above it, the soles of his feet brushing back and forth over the snow and earth sprawled mess the swing had made.

Ollie’s expression then was wonderfully stoic, unflinching as he took in the other’s expressions, carefully. It was obvious that she was psychotic, and yet a part of him was furious just the same.

“I don’t bloody have much of a choice.” He said finally, his expression still not belaying the anger he felt.

“I’m a child now and forever, to consider anything else is foolish, simply a waste of time. We are what we are. You accept it or you whine or you die. The way things are my ducky…”

"Nyarai we pushed a nerve. Yes we did, we should apologise. Nyarai there is no need to apologise. But it is the right thing to do." Nyarai mumbled for a little time after saying this. Looking around as if there was some one fairly interested in what she was saying.

"I am sorry though, some things shouldn't be said. I'm not though. Hush he is not interested in you!" Nyarai was beginning to have a convocation with herself, which wasn't really unexpected. The snow had started to fall from the sky more quickly now, and Nyarai's eyes were following certain flakes with angst to see where they would land.

"You said we have to except who we are, But i cant except myself. Nyarai you love me. No i don’t now hush and let me talk." Nyarai took a quick breath as if it was actually physically hard to be on her own. "Maybe i am reading into this to much. But your saying i should except the other half of my personality." Nyarai moved her hand to her hair and stroked it back over her shoulder as if she didn't even know she was doing it.

Nyarai looked over to the pond to see that the boy had now disappeared, and then back to Oliver who had come to a stop on his swing.

“You didn’t push a nerve.” Oliver replied sharply. A bit sharply than he’d intended, but just as quickly he calmed himself. He was the manipulator if there was to be manipulation, he was not going to let a psychopath get the better of him. Never.

And so his breath came slow and easy, not because he needed it, but rather because it was something to center his mind, help him concentrate and sweep the anger away like the filthy annoyance that it was.

Oliver Grey controlled Oliver Grey, he was always in control, running the game and now was no different, even as he studied the other vampire carefully, listening to her rambling commentary closely. Sometimes even insanity was a thing to be understood at least as much as it could be. And of course he had to admit that this woman interested him.

Getting to his feet, he stared at her.

“What I’m saying is that you are a vampire. Vampyr. Or whatever else your native culture might call something such as us. Never again shall you walk in light, feel the cold, or truly eat as mortal men eat. I shall never grow up, you never grow old. We are what we are…”

He grinned then.

“As for this other personality…why not. I certainly couldn’t hurt, darling…you’re loose as it is without it. I doubt you’d get any worst.”

Ok, perhaps that last was a little mean on his part. Perhaps.

"I don't think he likes me Nyarai. Don't be silly he isn't even talking to you any way. He might be, he is talking to us. Ok i shall have to agree."

Nyarai nodded to her self, smiling whilst she did it. Nyarai looked over at the boy who seemed calm and collected, but she knew what had just been said had through him off his little game. Nyarai enjoyed the attention she was getting and wanted to Cary on talking to him. But she hadn't ate for 2 nights and was beginning to feel the urge to eat. If she didn't go and feed she knew the beast inside of her would take over so it would be best to just allow her mind to do as it wished.

"Before we depart from yourself. What may we ask is your age? Surely a child look-a-like as yourself would find it difficult to seduce a lady into an alley to feed upon her, so i am taking it you must use your strength to feed upon them?"

A wry grin passed over Oliver’s features and he intertwined his fingers in a thoughtful repose before his nose and mouth as if in thought, his gray eyes sweeping the other immortal carefully. He said nothing of her self speech or her observance at his hidden distress; instead he inclined his head to the side at her and slid his hands into his pockets.

“A child look-a-like?” He said incredulously. “What big tact you have grandmother…” His voice continued sarcastically. His smile that came next held just a touch of lasciviousness, a game truly, and now well played that his annoyance had changed in its approach.

“You know Nyarai, for someone as old as you are…your manners are atrocious. The questions you just asked me were akin to you asking a man how it is that he makes love to his wife. But since I’m hardly the shy type, I’ll say that looks can be deceiving and seduction comes in more forms than you’d believe. And if you’re asking if I have to lay mortals out in order to feed myself, then I’d say that you’ve no imagination at all…”

The grin that came then was a slow tease.

“And I don’t have to leave you just because you want to eat,” He added. “I like to watch.”

"He is blind Nyarai take no notice, he also seems to have a very strange fetish!" The joker part of Nyarai began to laugh hysterically and to the un-expecting passer by, she would seem completely crazy with this high pitch giggle. But who would be out on such a cold night like tonight?

"Your harsh words wont anger us. We are far to humbled at heart to take offence to a small child like yourself" Again that disturbing psychotic laugh was heard. Nyarai stood up and began to kick the snow from underneath her feat. If you could cut her body in half and let them live, at this moment in time her arms would try to kill you, and her feat would walk round in innocent circles. Nyarai was truly trapped in her own prison, but maybe that's something she just puts up with.

"When you are dealt cards, instead of just folding, It is best to just try play them." The sweet innocent tones of Nyarai were back again, but she was speaking as if she hadn't an idea of what she had just said. In fact Nyarai looked quite confused to how she had stood up and walked away from the bench and forgotten about it. But shrugged it off and carried on kicking at the white powder at her feat.

"Sometimes when you speak, you have a harsh tone role from your tongue. We think you are verbally attacking us due to a un-dying fact about yourself? What do you not like about yourself?" Nyarai was half teasing him, and half full of curiosity for her self.

“That your prognosis eh sis?” Oliver drawled, his sharp English lithe again mating with his cockney origins. Oliver had been of two very different worlds in his childhood, poor and all that entailed, then chosen privileged and abused as harshly as the world or rather he whom had become his world, could deal it.

Always was Oliver a being of duality, poor/rich, man/child, sneak/leader. For a man that was many things, life was always likewise, many things, many chances and opportunities. Oliver had lived life times knowing this and in the face of a single psychotic woman in the park, he was hardly humbled or destroyed. Well and truly he found himself only interest, something outside of monotony was always good for the soul. And he couldn’t help the grin that he gave the woman.

“Strange fetish?” He laughed, it was almost melodic for Ollie’s high pitch, but nothing childish was in a laugh like that. “I think you know hardly anything about fetishes…and that comes from a small child like me.”

Taking a measured pace, Oliver stalked back and forth in front of the other. To most such might have looked like a childish attempt a imitating a parent, someone older, but if Oliver looked like a child there was almost always an absence of childishness about him. Like all those that were “child vampires” he was little more a child than a grandfather surrounded by his grandchildren. There was age and there was wear in Oliver’s eyes and it showed in his smile as well then when he looked at the woman again, coming out of his pacing.

“From what I can feel of you, we are about the same age you and I.” He said then, giving the African woman a considering look. “And yet I’d call you a child.” He sighed.

“You presume too much, know too little. I think I verbally attack you, because you remind me so much of myself once upon a time…young and stupid. Don’t tell me about playing my cards. Cards have always had a special place in my heart, all games of chance really. But being what I and what you are is rather different from playing cards, despite what metaphors you might have heard. You accept the hand you are given. You play it yes, but no asking for do overs. This city, this time, all of it is the big leagues…you don’t play here like you’ve been playing.”

He smiled then.

“I think I’d like a little company tonight…let me teach you a thing or two.”

Nyarai danced and pranced about in circles. She seemed totally unaffected by such harsh and jagged words doubting her age and maturity. Maybe that was her own little way of dealing with it, instead of her beast trapped within bursting out into a startling rage. Nyarai stopped in her paces and smiled sweetly at the little boy who held his posture with such grace and power.

"You want to teach Nyarai a thing or two, be my guest. Yes i would be honoured to spend an evening in the company of some one so cute." Nyarai was chuckling, but this was her normal casual chuckle not the evil sadistic high pitch giggle that the beast within her roared out after a simple pun.

Nyarai looked towards Oliver, and for the first time, she allowed her dazzling green emerald shaded eyes to fall upon the smooth silk like grey tones of Oliver's eyes. For a child he had a certain air of beauty and in Nyarai's own head she appreciated it. But gave no remark towards appreciating them verbally. Nyarai skipped towards the metal gates and jumped them by places her hands on top of the gate and throwing herself over them. It seemed she had far to much energy in her petite body than was able to get out all at once.

A slight chuckle and a sardonic smile soon followed, Oliver adding to it an almost formal bow. To the woman and her words, a growing mischief shimmering in eyes the color of storm clouds. One might have called the look lascivious, one that of course did not know Oliver, did not know his games. As it was, it was simply teasing, teasing in a way that only one such as himself could tease.

Oliver had learned long ago to use his every advantage and advantages were sometimes things that were never considered or rarely considered.

"I am cutie aren't I?" He said, his smile wry.

Then sliding hands into his pockets, his eyes followed the other as she moved, careful eyes taking in her agility and her manner. Smile still in place he then followed at a much more subded pace.

"Let the lesson begin." He laughed.