When studying a woman, one must always start at the toes and work one's way up.

A pair of silver high heels stood in the doorway. The heels clung to slender feet that were attatched to slender legs covered in skinny black jeans. The jeans swung outward as her hips stretched the fabric. Her hourglass shape led to a skinny waist and a silver halter top that showed stomach covered in a long black trenchcoat. Her face was no less attractive than her body. Emerald eyes stood out of a pale face. Full lips were licked by a pink tongue as the door closed behind her. The soft force from the shutting door caused her long red hair to move slightly.

"Hello" came her sultry voice as she flashed a dangerous smile at every one else waiting to get their cuts. She seated herself in a chair away from the other customers. Envious eyes followed her as she made herself comfortable- grabbing a magazine to scan. She arched an eyebrow at the stares. And she thought her eyes were green. Hmmm.
She looked perfect now- but she wasn't. She had scars under her coat- on her left arm. She also had internal infalabilities. There was no reason for them to be jealous.

Nikolaos O'Rourke was also a vampire. That wasn't much of a catch. Poor envious brats- they didn't know what they asked for. Honestly, Nikki would trade with the- No she wouldn't. She liked being a vampire.True, Nikki had her off-days- but generally she liked the death she died.

As the door opened one of the only Asian guys in the tattoo parlor looked up to see a beautiful woman with orange hair and green eyes. William himself wore a tight fitting plain black t-shirt showing off his muscles, a pair of blue denim jeans, combat boots and a black jacket. One look and you wouldn't figure him for an otaku. Then again there weren't that many otaku in Canada.

William returned to the manga he was reading, which was the first volume of Blood Alone, which was a romantic vampire series. He glanced at the woman as she sat down next to him, and he let out a sigh turning the page. There was a backpack right in front of his feet that had a few volumes of manga that he was planning on reading. Now why would an otaku be in a tattoo parlor? Simple, he wanted to get a tattoo in the shape of the cross from Full Metal Alchemist.

Another glance and he looked at the magazine she was reading. William figured she wasn't one to be interested in manga or anime. "Hi." He mumbled before turning his attention back to the manga. He was never really good with talking to girls.

Nikolaos smiled at the man thats he sat beside, nodding when he spoke to her.
"How are you?" she inquired before noticing. "Anime?" she paused. "Interesting." She was reading TIME magazine and scannign an article on Hillary Clinton. She didn't really like the woman but she had a bad feeling she was going to win the upcoming American election. She frowned. Pity.

"I'm Nikki" she told the guy sitting next to her, not really sure why she was talking to him. Maybe it was because she was lonely as hell and anxious for company- even if it was that of a human.
She was too lonely, maybe she shoud get a pet.

"So- what kind of tatoo do you think you're getting?" she asked him, her voice unsually soft and friendly.

"I'm good." Bill responded to the woman's question. There was something about her, but he couldn't place a finger on it. It was like she was too pale, maybe she was one of those goths. He didn't pay it much mind. "How about you?" He smiled and looked at the manga. "Yeah it's one of the newer ones that came out...it's called Blood Alone." He said though he could tell she wasn't that interested, though his otaku nature wanted to see if she knew it. She probably wouldn't but he kind of wanted to talk about it a little more. "It's kind of a romantic vampire comic." He said with a slight grin.

"Bill...nice to meet you." He said offering his hand to her. "Oh I'm going to get a cross." He said though he didn't feel comfortable talking too much yet. Her voice was soft and warm like a velvet blanket. "What're you here for?" He asked curious to see what kind of tattoo Nikki would get.

"I am- alright.. I would say. Thank you for asking" she replied, nodding to him and folding up her magazine and grabbing another from the nearby coffee table.
This time she picked up PEOPLE magazine. Ohh- tabloids! That was always fun. Hmmmm- Brittney lost her kids- how sad. Oh well.

Nikolaos turned back to Bill and smiled. "Vampire romance eh? I think I'll look into it- maybe buy a book if I pass by a Borders these days. It sounds like good reading. I am quite fascinated with vampire stories really- they are so...." her voice was barely audible as she finished the sentence "...entrancing."

Nikki could not help but smile at the irony, pointed fangs hidden behind petal-soft lips.

"A cross? Well, that's different" she teased with a small smile. Her eyes sparkled as he asked her. "Oh- I'm thinking about getting a circle of silver stars, The Wheel of Silver Stars actually. It represents karma and time." Nikolaos shrugged. "It's based off of the Celtic godess Arianrhod." She turned to her magazine and sighed.

"I do love Irish history very much- I thought the silver circle would bring me good luck." She shook her head. "I doubt that- I am not one for superstition but something inside of me just wants to do this." She turned to Bill. "Have you any tatoos before? This is my first." She flashed him a small smile, emerald eyes fixated on his.

Bill smiled and nodded. He kind of had a feeling that she wanted attention. Maybe she was living on her own, or something. "You're welcome." She was pretty, but he kind of figured that she was out of his league. If Nikki ever saw his apartment she'd probably freak out. Most people did when they saw the sheer amount of hentai, yuri, anime, manga and games he had.

"I've always found vampire stories to be intriguing." He said absentmindedly responding to what she said about vampire stories. "I don't know why, but they feel kind of...nostalgic." He laughed and scratched his head. "Kind of stupid huh?" Bill knew that vampires didn't exist, but for some reason they just felt familiar. Maybe it was some of the deaths on the news. It just felt like he was in one for some reason.

Chuckling Bill returned Nikki's smile as she teased him about the tattoo. "Have you ever seen Full Metal Alchemist?" He asked not sure how well she knew anime. "I'm getting the cross from that." He figured that she wouldn't know, but then again it was a mainstream anime even in Canada. "Oh? That's definitely interesting." He had heard about the Wheel of Silver Stars, but he never really got into that. "I'm not that big of a history buff, but Irish history definitely seems interesting!" He could talk about the whole history of anime and manga in Japan, but he didn't want to seem like more of a nerd than he already was.

"I've never had a tattoo in my life. Kept on thinking about it, but this is the first time that I really know what I want to get." He said with a smile. "I heard that certain parts hurt, but I can definitely take it." He said flexing a muscle and chuckling.

"It's not stupid" she replied, protesting. She smiled as he mentioned how he felt about the stories. It was most definitely a priceless moment...

a vampiress discussing vampire anime with a human! It was laughable. But she did not laugh.

"Full Metal Alchemist?" she asked before shrugging. "Heard of it- never seen it, sorry." she looked down at her magazine and added thoughtfully. "I don't do much these days...."
True. She had holed herself up in her coffin- mourning over Vincent. He had not died but he was as good as dead- wanting nothing to do with her- wanting to die rather than to be with her. It hurt- it really hurt- and Nikolaos didn't know how to mend her heart. Human band-aides and victim's blood could, in no way, cure her- fix her. It was depressing. Perhaps that was the reason she talked tom him now- because she simply wanted someone to pay her some attention. She wanted someone to know she was here- that she existed. She wanted--- something. And she was betting she'd never find what she was searching for so desperately.

"Yes yes- I'm sure it will hurt. Never before? I was hoping someone would be able to give me some words of wisdom before I went in there? And come to find out you're clean!" she teased, with mock disappointment. Her mein changed and she gave him a small smile before laughing softly. "So- where are you getting yours hmm?"

Bill smiled as Nikki protested. She was pretty and his eyes took in features in her face and upper body even if he was concentrating on her eyes. It was one of his special talents to take in somebody while concentrating on something else.

The shrug was all he needed. So she probably wasn't that into anime. He nodded as he listened to what she said. "It's a pretty interesting anime. I'd suggest watching it when you get the chance." He was curious about how she said she didn't do much. It sounded like she was lonely. Maybe it was him, but he could tell that there was something off. "Is there anything wrong?" He asked curiousity getting the better of him.

Before he could get his answer Nikki spoke about how it would hurt. "Sorry to let you down." He said grinning. "I'm getting it on my back." He said turning and pointing to his left shoulderblade. "Right here. I just don't feel comfortable enough to get it somewhere like the stomach or wrist." Bill said with a shrug.

Nikolaos flashed him a brilliant smile as she replied.
"No. Nothing's wrong..." she said, lying through her smile. What did he care. He was a man- and men just seemed to want only one thing. They were'nt really interested in her. No one was. She had no one, could trust no one. She was alone. Something inside of her told her it was good to be alone- when you're alone you can't get hurt. She agreed. So there was nothing wrong- just recently her isolationist policy had changed things from wrong TO right. This had to be right....

But why did it feel so awful?

Her reverie ended as he told her where he was getting it. She reached out and let her finger slide down the shoulderblade soon to be branded.
"I heard it hurts more when done a top a bone....." she commented before pulling her hand away and touching her neck.
"I'm getting mine on the base of my neck, almost between my shoulders but higher up." she smiled. "I think that will be a painful bitch-"
Nikki sighed and closed her magazine and put it back. "Would you mind-" she couldn't stop the stupid words from leaving her lips. "Going in with me when it's my turn? I have a strange fear of needles...." They reminded her too much of stakes.

Bill felt his heart skip a beat as Nikki smiled at him. It made him feel like she only had eyes for him, though he knew that wasn't it. It was just that he had been single for God knows how long. He smiled back and sighed. "I'm glad that nothing's wrong." His smile was gentle, a smile that held a kind of innocence to it. If he had known that Nikki was alone he'd try to help her out, try to comfort her, but of course he wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.

Bill shivered slightly as he felt Nikki touch where he was going to be tattooed. It felt strange, and he wasn't used to it. With a chuckle Bill scratched his head. "Yeah I heard it hurt more too...I thought I'd might as well get it out of the way." He grinned and chuckled again. "What better way to prepare myself for getting more tattoos?" In his mind he figured he's get the more painful one out of the way so he'd know what it felt like if he decided to get more tattoos.

He nodded looking at where Nikki touched her neck. "That seems like it'll hurt a lot." He was going for the shoulderblade but the neck just sounded like it was going to take a lot to get through.

It took a second for him to realize that she had asked him to go in with her. "Oh, yeah! I'd be honored to. As long as you return the favor." He said with another one of his childish grins. "I never liked needles, but we'll get over it together." He was optimistic about it, and for some reason he felt attracted to Nikki. He didn't know why, but something just kind of pulled him towards her. Well he could strike out similar interests since he was pretty much a full blown otaku and she seemed pretty normal compared to him. Well maybe if he talked to her more he could make sense of this attraction.

The regular pattern of the beating heart beside her skipped, and she felt her smile flicker, confused. His innocent smile confused her as well. It was so- normal. He knew nothing of death and the dreary violent worl in which she lived. He'd run from her if he knew the things she had done in Ireland, and here. It was amazing- how horrifying she was- and yet... he was so interested in her. You could tell- his eyes barely left her.

He had no idea what she was. He had no idea what a monster lay beneathe the unrealistic china doll skin, green eyes, and flaming red hair- a constant irony. Red. The color of the blood she had been shedding for nine hundred years. She sighed briefly.

He shivered as she touched him and she drew back out of respect. How could she be so careless, touch him- when she knew she wasn't warm.
Nikki nodded as he spoke. "That's logical. I'm not so sure I want more. I want the tatoo to be simple and elegant. I don't want to mar my body with too many. It'll look trashy." she shrugged.
"Yeah- It'll hurt a lot, but once upon a time I had both my legs broken- so I think I can handle it." she flashed him a mysterious smile, secrets dancing behind her eyes as she remembered the night that a jealous Nathaniel broke her legs by throwing her into a stone wall. That was fun. And what had her legs broken for? Nothing. Vincent- he was no longer hers.... he no longer loved her. He said forever and now... now it was "nevermore." It would be funny to any one else but she.
Sadness did not break her cool smiling facade. She had learned a long time ago to bury emotions, hide them until she could release them onto a victim. Victims were her outlet- her therapy... and that only made her more of a villian.

"Yeah" she answered. Nikolaos laughed. "Afraid of needles.... I'd never imagine that characteristic of you." she smirked. She felt his attraction to her and it was a bit unnerving what her mind was thinking.
Goody. Food. You'll get a wonderful meal. And possibly a kiss too. Haven't had one of those in awhile.
Nikolaos shook her head and the thoughts disappeared as the door opened.
"Nikki O'Rourke" the tall brunette man said. She surveyed him. Fat. MUstache, receding hairline... and yet- this man was an artist? Well, she'd find out. If anything she could cut out the tatoo herself and heal if it looked that bad.
She turned back to Bill as she stood.
"Coming with me?" she asked as she stepped towards the "artist".
"I'm Nikki"
"Butch. Nice ta mettcha, what were ya thinking about gettin pretty?" he asked her as they walked into the actual tatoo parlor.

Billy didn't know death, but he did know how dreary the world was. He was forced to basically raise himself, and it had been a very hard life. Though now he was living by himself in an apartment, and he had found a group of friends at the University. He managed to persevere through a hard life.

He was interested in Nikki. Anyone could tell by the way he was looking at her. She was beautiful, and for some reason he didn't feel that uncomfortable with her. Maybe it was a sign that he was growing out of his otaku ways...nah.

He listened to her as she spoke about the tattoos and he shrugged. He'd probably get one or two more, but that was about it. His jaw dropped as she told him that she once had both legs broken. "Oh my God..." He said before forcing his jaw back up. He couldn't imagine how much pain she went through. The mysterious smile made him want to ask about it, but it wasn't really the place for stuff like that, or at least that was what he was thinking.

Bill was pretty good at reading people, but he couldn't read Nikki's face. Though he could tell something was going on behind her eyes. It was kind of a talent of his, though he never really used it. Then her talking about his fear of needles made him laugh grateful that there was a change in subject. "I'm not afraid of needles, it's just I was never a big fan of them." There was a difference between fear and just not liking something. Then something in her eyes kind of unnerved him. Just for a split second he saw something like hunger in her eyes. Something was lurking behind those beautiful eyes, but he passed it off as his imagination. Yeah, right. Then the artist called Nikki over. "Huh? Oh yeah." He said smiling his innocent, ignorant smile again. An artist was an artist to Billy. It didn't really matter to him. "Do you mind if I sit with Nikki?" He asked the tattoo artist. "It'll make her feel better." He could bullshit anything out of his ass if he tried.

The overweight artist arched an eyebrow at Bill and scratched his chin before nodding.
"Fine. You can come in. So Miss- What do you want?" he asked the female now.
Nikolaos' fine green eyes smiled as she told him.
"A circle of silver stars, The Wheel of Silver Stars."
He nodded. "I'm familiar with it- got a picture of what you want?"
Nikolaos pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to him.
He scanned it.
"What colors?" Butch asked.
"Black and green. The green of my eyes please." Butch's eyes met Nikki's and he shivered before nodding.
"Got that color- lets get to work..." He ushered the two towards the chair and told Nikki to take her coat off. She did so- revealing a halter top that bared both her arms to reveal the long scar that skidded across the underbelly of her left arm.

She undid the top of the halter and held up the front so as not to show anything inappropriate. The tatoo artist, Butch (what a silly name!) ran alcohol over her skin before picking his needles.
"Those new or clean?" NIkki asked.
"Both" he replied
Never judge a book by it's cover. The dirty man was hygenic. Whoopdie doop. It didn't really matter though- she was already dead. Any AIDS, HIV, or hepatitis she could pick up from a dirty needle wouldn't do anything already done.

Bill nodded his thanks to the artist, and let him talk to Nikki. The color she picked out was very much beautiful, and he held back the urge to look into those eyes.

Bill pulled an empty chair over to the artist's chair and sat down so he was close to Nikki, but not close enough to be in the way. He was glad that she asked about the needles. Bill was going to ask anyway, but Nikki took care of that for him. He looked at the needles and sighed. It was going to suck when it was his turn.

He offered his hand to Nikki as the artist got started. It looked like it hurt. "So...ummm..." Bill looked around the parlor trying to concentrate on something else so he wouldn't stumble over his words. "What're you doing after this Nikki?" He asked meeting her brilliant green eyes. If only he knew what was going on behind them.

Nikolaos froze as she felt the needle press into her perfect neck. She winced and sighed, almost with relief. She could do this- it wasn't so bad as other things. As the seemingly vibrating needle etched it's way through her body, she gripped Bill's hand and laughed.
"What am I doing after this? I don't know- possibly get drunk to dull the pain" she teased with a forced laugh. Wow- getting a tatoo on the neck was awful. She didn't really expect it to hurt this much.
"Wow... didn't expect it to hurt this much" she said with a small smirk in her eyes.

His curiousity pinned her as he met her eyes. Why? Why did he want to know what was happening behind her facade? Why did he want to know what she was thinking? It seemed- odd. They had only just met. He was far too curious- far too human to understand. He'd never understand. No one did. Even Nechelle had turned Nikki away eventually. Vampirism kills relationships- be it friendship, love, or mere aquaintance. She sighed. She didn't regret dying- though it was never her choce, but she enjoyed being a vampire- even if she had sacrificed everything.... everything.

But some day that would change. Some day she'd get over Vincent. Some day she'd be able to cope with her repressed memories of Ireland. Some day.... Yeah.

Bill watched as Nikki got her tattoo. He smiled as he felt her squeeze his hand. Why was he interested in her? It just seemed like something drew him to her like a magnet. "Thanks..." He said as she said how it hurt. "It's very comforting." He said with a grin. He started thinking about why he was so comfortable around her, but he didn't think about it too hard.

Maybe it was the ever elusive 'love-at-first-sight' that drove him to know more about Nikki. Maybe it was the fact that he felt so comfortable around her. Bill just felt like his past troubles with girls were a thing of the past. He kind of got the urge to say sorry, but he didn't know why. Kind of strange. "I was thinking...maybe going to the White Mice for a drink or two after this." He said with a sigh. "Would you be interested?" He gave a sheepish innocent smile as he asked.

His innocent smile as he asked her out made her inwardly cringe. He had no idea. Nikki couldn't ruin another mortal life- could she? Unfortunately for Bill, Nikolaos was a litle selfish at times. Like right now- Right now, she wanted a companion for the night- a meal as well- and Bill seemed willing enough. Pity.
"Yeah- I'm interested" she replied, her eyes sparkling with something magnetic but not overly so.
When the tatoo was finished, her halter redone, and the artwork examined in the mirror- Nikolao paid Butch and moved off the chair.

The rather dirty Butch turned to Bill.
"Your turn- whatcha gettin?" he asked, his voice a little tired.Nikki assumed it was past his bedtime.
Nikolaos and Bill switch seats and roles as he sat to get his tatoo and Nikki focused on helping him get through his newfound pain instead of dwelling on her own ache on the back of her neck.

Billy smiled as she said she was interested. It wasn't exactly the place that he'd hang out, but it was alright. He squeezed her hand gently as the artist finished the tattoo.

He nodded as he and Nikki switched positions. "Oh..." He took out a piece of paper with the cros from Full Metal Alchemist. "This please right on my left shoulder." He said as he stripped off his upper clothes. His body was well toned and without really realizing it he moved his body just enough to show off his body.

He sat down and let out a sigh as the artist started drawing on his body. It hurt but he managed to keep himself from showing it.

Nikki closed her eyes once she saw what was beneathe his shirt. She had to make sure he didn't see her eyes popping out like a god-damn cartoon. When she had composed herself, she opened them again- gave Bill a sweet smile- and took his hand, just as he had taken hers.

Butch eyed the two curiously. How the hell do you get a girl like that? Probably working out like crazy. Muscles had to be the thing. Well- he was screwed. Eh- but he didn't care. He wanted a woman who loved him for him- beer belly and all. Anyways- the man wanted some Full Metal Alchemist. Butch was familiar with it only because most oriental comic geeks that came through jabbered on and on about the stuff. It kinda made him wanna puke.
"Uh- okay..." he said, taking the picture and quickly making a stencil before tracing the image onto his arm with marker, and then, began with ink.
"How many colors do you want?" he asked. "And which kind?" He had only started the outline, Bill could add colors if he pleased.

Nikolaos arched her neck to watch the tatoo being done when she realized something... She'd heal. Shit. Why hadn't she thought of that- Oh... damn- the tatoo would be gone in a few days... Well, she'd have it tonight- so Bill would never know if it went away. She doubted their strange friendship and his attraction would last more than a night. And if it did, she'd say she got it removed because it bruised far too much.... or- something like that.

Bill couldn't help but grin as Nikki closed her eyes. He returned the smile and squeezed her hand.

He didn't pay attention to the tattoo artist as he eyed them. Bill didn't mean to be so well built, it just kind of ended up like that. He started working out, and it became a hobby of his. Bill fought the urge to look over his shoulder at the artist. "Just one color, red please." He said with a sigh. Even though it was only the outline it still hurt.

Bill watched Nikki as she looked at the tattoo being done. "So what do you usually drink?" He asked to break the silence. He was never one for silences.

Nikki smirked. "I'll drink anything you give me Bill." she told him, her voice a little catty. "I can hold my own liquor." she added before questioning, an eyebrow raised in a cute curious gesture. "And you?"

She watched him stare at her and felt his urge to form a connection with her. Mental powers were nice at times like these. She knew when to flirt and when to bag. Bill wasn't the creepy kind of guy that only wanted to get int your pants. He was more- of a romantic. Definitely, but she was quite sure he wasn't a romantic person. He most likely wished romantic things would happen to him, never initiating them himself. Ah well- the last romantic guy Nikki had dated had run away from her.

God. Why did she keep thinking about him. Vincent. Nikki's face was blank as she fell into a memory. Vincent's dark eyes bled out of a pale face as his cold hands held her tightly, his coat enveloping her body. Her body broken and bruised as he held her. His lips were so close and she could feel her voice shake as she reached out to kiss them lightly.
"We have to set my bones or they won't heal right..." she could remember saying, her voice barely a whisper, terror finally leaving her body as she escaped a lonely and painful death. She bled all over him but still he saved her, carried her away from Nathaniel. Nathanial... now dead. And Vincent... now gone.

Nikolaos blinked and awakened from what had to be a day dream. But it wasn't a dream. That really happened. Silence made Bill uncomfortable, but it lasted quite awhile. And Nikki did nothing to change it. She wanted to get out, get drunk, and forget her broken dead heart.
What was the point in loving with a muscle that had died almost a century ago. What the hell was the point?

Butch went over the tatoo in red, smudging, cutting, pricking. The man flinced a couple times and that made Butch smile. Yeah- muscles didn't mean you were tough. This guy was such a softie. That woman was gonna chew him up and spit him out with those beautiful lips.
"Done." came the words Nikki was dying to hear. She let go of his hand.
"See? That wasn't so bad..."

Bill smiled as Nikki said that she'd drink anything he gave her. He felt heat start to run up his neck and he let out a sigh as he felt the needle. "I'm not much of a drinker, but I can hold my liquor pretty well." He grinned.

He saw something going on behind those green eyes. She was thinking about something, and he wanted to understand what it was. He had no idea what it could involve. Of course he didn't believe in vampires, but he thought that it would be very interesting. He only had fiction works to go on, but he had a kind of optimistic view on them. He wondered what it was like to be one, but he felt that it was really good enough to have a limited time to live. It made sure that people lived life to the fullest.

Bill could never imagine what happened to Nikki, and it was truly a sad life. The silence lasted for a while and he was slightly uncomfortable with it, but he didn't say anything.

Bill flinched a little as Butch finished the tattoo. He gave Nikki's hand one last squeeze before letting it go. With a sigh he stood up and walked over to the mirror taking a look at it. "What do you think Nikki?" He asked as he grabbed his shirt and jacket to put back on.

"Very manly..." Nikolaos answered as he asked what she thought of it. She walked over to him and traced long fingers down the tatoo before he could get his shirt completely on.
"And love, you'll be a drinker by the time I'm done with you" she teased with a smirk dancing across her full lips. "So- about that drink..." her voice trailed off as Bill finished getting dressed.

"I'll buy" she said, smiling as Butch handed Bill a bill. "I've got money to spare. Hey Bill, what do you do for a living anyways?" she asked him, before taking his hand in hers- savoring the touch between him. She knew she could touch him, take him, do whatever the hell she wanted with him. Why? Because he was hers. She could feel it in his mind and his body. He just- was hers and there was no resisting. It was nice not to guess if he loved her. It was nice to know he wanted her- and knew it well. It was nice to meet a man who she could read so easily. It was nice to meet someone who wasn't an indecisive bastard.

Wow- She was becoming bitter. Ah well, it comes with age.