To say that Colum was deep in thought would be an understatement; he was drowning in it. Physically he was there on a wooden bench a short distance off the beaten path in Cedarwood Park, but mentally he was drifting on the psychic tides created by the Demaitre public. He glimpsed the sights of dreams, felt the warmth of sweet emotions and learned most closely guarded secrets. He was everywhere in the city and he was nowhere. Colum sat in his most favoured spot in the world. He had travelled much in his relatively short vampire life and had seen much of what the world had to offer but neither London, nor Paris, nor Athens, nor Rome, nor could Cairo match what Colum had found here in Demaitre.

He smiled as he touched the fringes of that which tethered him to this city, the very outer limits of his sire’s thoughts, and then he closed his mind and pulled his thoughts back to his surroundings.

When he awakened, as it seemed, from a dream conjured in the thoughts of other minds Colum was instantly aware of his hunger. Brushing his blond hair from his face he glanced to his wrist watch, a new digital model he had recently purchased, and found the night was still young.

“Eight-thirty, where does one catch a quick bite at eight-thirty,” Colum wondered aloud. To narrow down his hunting options he made a short list of his usual haunts and mentally highlighted those that were closest. A near-by restaurant came to the top of the list but dressed as he was in a pair of faded jeans and a slogan t-shirt, appropriately labelled Bite Me in white lettering on a red background, Colum quickly eliminated the place due to its more dignified dress code. A half-dozen other options were cancelled out soon after, each for their own reasons, and soon the young Amman was left with only two options.

“Sit and wait for someone to happen by or,” his eyes narrowed as he looked down the path towards a distant area where local teens tended to gather after sunset. “The only question is ‘am I feeling like veal?’”

Nikolaos O'Rourke was wandering. Though she was a very social little Nephim vampiress- she had kept to herself lately. But today, today she felt like taking a stroll- or rather tonight. Day was long gone. Nikki did remember the graceful kiss of the sun though.
The moon's light was a pleasent reflection but the memory of how beautiful the Irish grass was in the sun. She sighed- remembering home for just a pause before her emerald eyes came upon a red shirt. Under that red shirt? Vampire. Age? One hundred. Nikki had a knack for guessing age- or rather a gift. She could feel age in her bones. Well, that was the best way to describe the supernatural gift.

She was 900 something if she remembered right. Age didn't matter so much to her anymore. Her ivory hand brushed her flowing red hair away from her face as a soft summer breeze flitted past her.

She was dressed for the summer- a pair of jean shorts and pink flip flops. Her shirt was a black tank top. It was not sophisticated, but she was only out for a walk. What she wore did not matter- she no longer felt cold or warm. She had thought it would look strange, however, to wear jeans in the summer. The less conspicuous the better- she always said.
She didn't make a move to talk to the blonde vampire, he seemed a bit tense as his gaze traveled towards the teenage hangout. He looked as if considering the prospect. He considered, Nikolaos watched. She arched an eyebrow and- despite her newly implicated isolation policy- she asked as she approached the other.
"Make up your mind yet?"

Colum eyed the new arrival curiously. He could sense she was older than he was, age was something of a near tangible force when it came to vampires, at least that was how the Amman perceived it, and this one’s aura of sorts was lightly brushing the youth’s senses. He smiled politely, a thin grin that showed off only a hint of his dimples, and then bowed his head as was his custom when meeting older vampires for the first time.

“I’ve decided I’m hungry, after that I’m afraid I’m quite unsure of what I’d like to do about it,” Colum did not stand but remained seated out of respect for his elder. Living as a young non-ancient in an ancients-only exclusive club like the Amman had taught Colum a number of etiquette rules when it came to dealing with vampires. “Might the lady have any suggestions?”

Nikolaos laughed as he did not stand. She sat down beside him. Nikki shook her head. "My suggestion is get a bite to eat. But I can't recommend anything because I don't know what your favorite food is." she told him, eyes laughing at the double meaning of every single word she spoke.

He spoke, however, with too much respect. She wasn't that great. She wasn't even 1000 yet- ya know- the big 1 0 0 0. It was like hitting 21 for a vampire. Well, that's how she percieved it. Being a thousand meant you were bigger and badder. But there were still bigger fish in the sea. What did years matter when you can die in seconds from either an accident or getting swallowed by a bigger fish that you pissed off? Years didn't matter. He shouldn't be so nice to her. She was a bitch. She didn't deserve it.

"I'm Nikki. And you don't have to be all- polite and such. I only believe in etiquette unless who I'm talking to has the potential to kill my ass. Well, I suppose I could kill your ass but I'm in a good mood- so if you're up for trusting me- you can relax and stop the charade and talk to me like I'm--- like I'm not- Oh I don't know I just hate all the facny words and stuff. They remind me of a friend of mine. He used big words. Please dumb it down so I don't have to remember." she told the other, flashing a fanged smile- her eyes glinting with their usual unpredictabilty. She stood.

"Sitting won't fill your hunger. That I know."

“Colum,” the young Amman stood and extended his right hand. “Colum Felsi- err, Felshen, Colum Felshen.” He withdrew his hand and looked at his feet, a bit embarrassed that he had almost given the last name of his sire as his own. No doubt you would find that amusing Marcus, Colum kept his thoughts to himself however.

He raised his head and looked at Nikki again. “Forgive me; I have many things on my mind tonight.” He again extended his hand and smiled. “I am Colum Felshen of the Amman Coven. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Nikki.” Despite her request to drop the formalities Colum felt more comfortable keeping to the strict code of etiquette, at least until he had gotten more accustomed to this elder.

Nikolaos shook his hand properly. She asked out loud. "Are we giving last names then?" she smiled, flashing a little hint of peraly white fang. "O'Rourke is my last name."

Their hands let go of each other and Nikolaos decided that she liked him. Nikki didn't like everyone. But he still regarded her with suspicion- still speaking with the etiquette that made her skin crawl. She wasn't meant for fancy words and proper manners. She was a bastard child from a poor family. She was worthless really. And yet- somehow- she had more self confidence than she needed.

Nikolaos.

Who was she? Who was she now? The introduction of the other had led her to wonder- what did ehr name say about her? Irish. That was it. Everything else: death, her hobbies, her language, her taste--- they were not hinted at in her name.
"But what's in a name?" she asked, smiling with sarcasm flickering throughout her emerald orbs. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

She laughed and added. "There's some fancy words for you" she smiled. "I couldn't help but quote. I do know an Amman though- Ariel Lolita. Have you met her? The pleasure is mine."

Many things on his mind. What? Nikolaos' one great shortcoming was her own curiosity, but it truly defined her. Curious. She was curious as a cat- interested in everyone and everything. Although not always social- she did love chatting with her fellow dead.
"Penny for your thoughts?" The bronze coin stood on the tip of her finger. She had grabbed it from her pocket in the blink of an eye.

This time when she smiled, her fangs did not peek from behind her lips. A few teenagers were currently passing by, boys- smelly and robust- talking too loud for her liking. She turned away from them, facing Colum as they catcalled.

"Still hungry?" she asked him, her voice low- her lips quivering as she repressed a smile. "How about them?"

“My thoughts are with my sire,” Colum made a grab for the penny, not because he truly desired the object but because he wished to quickly divert the conversation away from Marcus. It was not that the young Amman did not enjoy discussing Marcus, it was that he enjoyed it too much and whenever he did discuss the coven leader, Colum felt like some kind of love-sick schoolgirl, and so the topic was avoided whenever possible.

Further wishing to keep the discussion off of Marcus of Felsina, Colum turned his attention to the youths whom had just passed by. They were young Colum noted, perhaps only a few years younger than he had been when he was turned. Too young he decided. He may have been hungry but Colum refused to see life cut short so soon.

“Not my type,” the words were spoken with as much courtesy as Colum could put into them. “Perhaps we may find someone a little older. I am afraid I have no stomach for ones so young.”

Nikolaos smiled as he took the penny and avoided the topic. So- his sire mattered so much. He either hated or loved him- for Nikki would talk neither of hatred nor love. Her smile twisted then as he declined.

She laughed, full-throated, before looking back to him- looking him up and down- considering him.
"Pity" Nikki shrugged. "I suppose you think they have lives to lead? I suppose you believe they will rise out of their current incompetance and become something more? Oh- I know some do- but I don't believe it. I was born into a poor family- and look what I have become, an addict, a murderess, a liar, a traitor, a vulture, a tormentor, an executioner. Yes- I have risen from poverty but I have risen in what is evil and not what is good."

She tapped her cheek with one slender finger, subconsciously. Nikki looked at Colum again. "You care- and that is sweet. I wish I had the morals and cares that I first had when I came to Demataire. It seems- every night, I overstep one more line- cross one more bridge I never wanted to cross." She flashed a slightly wicked smile. "I have changed too much over nine hundred years. Have you changed since you died?" she asked, her smile dying as her eyes wondered.

“Only in that my heart no longer beats,” Colum replied though he wondered if that was the full truth. For his part Colum wanted it to be true, he wanted nothing about himself to be different, but he knew that his desire for his life to have remained unchanged was just that, a desire, and nothing more. He sighed then spoke again.

“I have changed, though I am hard pressed to say it was for the worse. I kill yes, but only out of necessity. I am much the same person I was when I was turned, quiet, calm, respectful but my new life has opened doors to feelings I had never thought to express. I am less myself and yet I am more myself as well...” his voice trailed off and a small touch of colour, an ever so soft pink, rose in his cheeks. Had he been alive he would have been blushing with embarrassment for one thing that had not changed in Colum was that he did not like to share his emotions.

“But as you can no doubt see by my pale complexion I am hungry,” he smiled a child-like grin in an attempt to pass off his slight blushing with a bit of comedy, a new defence mechanism he was trying to develop whenever his feelings began to rush to the surface. “Lead on fair lady for though the night was young I fear it is aging rapidly.”

Nikolaos smiled as he talked. He thought he had not changed too much. Good for him. Nikki knew she had changed. She was no longer quiet, controlled, shy, or any of the things she used to be. But sometimes- the new Nikki was a blessing. Other times, it was a curse.

And she was fine with that. She was who she was. No sense in denying that.

She raised eyebrows as color rushed to his cheeks. She smiled. Embarassed, was he? That was intesresting. He must be a shy one. Nikki never understood how vampires stayed so shy. Maybe after a few years he would go more accustomed to random vampires asking him personal questions. The dead were a curious lot.

"We can stroll this street. I'm sure we can find someone ripened to your taste- perhaps an old man? she suggested. Is that the kind that you drink from? Who are your benefactors Colum?" She started to walk down the darkened street, gesturing for him to follow.

Colum obediently fell in to step beside Nikki.

“I would not use the word benefactors,” Colum’s reply came only after the two vampires had walked some distance, but he spoke it as though it had come only just after Nikki’s initial question. He continued in a softer tone as they approached a jogger. “It implies a willingness on the part of my victims when they are really just that, victims. They have no say in what happens to them. They do not set out into the night hoping to meet me and offer me their throats.” Colum bowed politely to the woman as she passed and paused on the path to watch her disappear into the darkness of the park.

“Most of the people on whom I feast are like her, unaware of the danger that surrounds them, waits for them behind my youthful countenance...” Colum’s voice held a tinge of sadness and for a moment he was lost in thought, then, remembering where he was and what he was doing, he came to himself again.

“But to answer your question Miss O’Rourke, I choose my victims not by the age of their bodies, but by the content of their minds. I glimpse the thoughts of my victims and choose one who is prepared for death, or one who deserves it. Innocence is something I cherish and strive to protect.” He looked at Nikki as if for the first time, smiled and then resumed walking down the path. “It would seem we are strange dining fellows indeed Miss O’Rourke.”

Nikolaos listened and nodded as he spoke.
"You are generous, unselfish, and I think I may be jealous." she gave him a small grin before sighing.

"It is kind that you think so much about others. It is not a common trait of the dead. Most of us are selfish. I know I have been." she nodded. "But I don't try to kill. I usually take what I need and move on, erasing memory afterwards. But sometimes... I need to kill- or I lose it. I had a very unpredictable sire. He passed that unpredictability down to me. I can usually tell when I start to emulate him... I am a vampire. There is no way to escape murder. It comes with the territory." She said it like it was a fact, like it didn't bother her at all. That sometimes worried her, Sometimes. She was turning into him- and she didn't like it. But what could she do? Nothing. Nikki shrugged off her thoughts and resolved to go to the church and pray tomorrow night, assuming she could get some moral guidance there. She had been raised Catholic.

Nikki smirked. "We are strange dining fellows."

Colum smiled and extended the crook of his arm.

“On we go then,” he swept his right arm out, directing Nikki’s gaze down the path. “There is a place, it’s a bit far from here, a small restaurant, Jin Se He, where we may be able to find a quick bite around back. Once that is out of the way, if you would indulge me, we could slip inside for a bit of tea. It is a bit of a walk but I guarantee the tea is worth the trip.”

The young Amman raised an eyebrow as if to say what do you think and waited.


{OOC: if you'd like to continue then feel free to start the next series in the Jin Se He and just drop me a line either here or in a PM about the name and such. We don't have to RP the actual victimizing unless you'd like to :P -Colum}