Konrad pushed his dark brown curly hair back out of his face as he sighed, his stomach grumbling with hunger. This shithole couldn't even afford to give the good bartender a break. He was going to kill Jerry when he found him. That ass had set him up.
"Oh- Konrad I'll come in at two so you can get off and have some fun. You work too much man- go out and get a nice gal to knock up."
Oh- Konrad could remember. His fists clenched at the wonderful thought of strangling Jerry. It was a great idea. Konrad had told his current flame, Lucy, that he'd call her when he got off tonight. Well now, he wasn't going to have any fun now. He'd probably work until the bloody sun came up! She'd be long gone by the time he was off work. He groaned and poured a rather portly looking man a drink.

"Here ya go," he said with a forced smile as he slid the tall glass across the table.
"Thanks man" the man replied before dropping a tip into the glass jar that Konrad used to get some extra cash.

Whoopie. A whopping fifty cents. Maybe- if he tried real hard to earn another ten cents he could buy himself a pack of gum! Ugh. Maybe Carina was right. Maybe he should look into a different job. Well, her job was nonexistant. So perhaps she wasn't the one to be talking to about occupations. Carina wanted to work for vampires- doing what? He didn't know. All he knew is that his sis was getting a little too power hungry.

Thoughts of Carina faded away as Konrad tended to another paying customer.
"Whiskey sour please" her voice was smooth, but it had an edge to it.
"Coming right up" he called over his shoulder, not gettng to glance at the woman with the beautiful voice- sexy even.

He almost choked when he turned around. There was no mistaking that the woman's sexy voice- belonged to a man- a man dressed as a woman. God help him- he thought that he (or was it she?) had a sexy voice. Konrad was inwardly grateful that he had not hit on the woman while he was making the drink. No- it was a man. He was glad he did not hit on the man.

Ugh. Weird. It was just-- weird. Konrad didn't really understand the whole gender confusion issue with people these days? He didn't judge or anything- he just didn't get it.
Well, that made his night a little bit more interesting than it had been before.
He sat the drink down in front of the he-she and started to clean a couple glasses, nodding to the "person" as he/she thanked him for the drink.
"No problem?" he tried.

Konrad watched a couple more customers come and go, washing glasses all the while. And still no sign of Jerry. It'd be terribly fun to rip his throat out. Well, he could only dream for now.

David walked into the dancing chaos of the White Mice foreroom and made his way slowly through the mostly gorgeous bodies dancing with each other. A couple of the dancers saw him and figured he was a lost business men because they eyed him strangly, his attire not quite matching their skin showing and flashy clothes.

He wore his usual black suit type aparrel. A tux style coat, dress pants the he tucked into his calf-high strapped boots, a white collared shirt that he left open about a quarter so his chest showed alittle and his black hair was matted as usual like he'd just woke up. His David's brown eyes scanned over the many people, a twinge in his stomach as the movements of the many bodies reminded him of being fed from and a grin came over him.

Smirking at the beautiful faces that smiled at him he continued on. When he reached the bar his heart gave a sudden lurch - he could smell a vampire somewhere in the vacinity. They were close and the smell of the sweating bodies was helping to cover their scent but David knew they were there. He sat at the bar on a stool and turned to face the tender, the second he saw him he knew the man was a vampire.

"I'll have a whiskey on the rocks, please."

Konrad felt just a little underdressed as the businessman walked up to the bar. The bartender looked down at his own ensemble of sneakers, faded jeans, and Poison T-shirt and sighed.
Mybe the man just got off work- or maybe he always dressed like that. For a moment Konrad wondered what a fresh drop of red would do to that jacket- but then thought otherwise as the man ordered a whiskey.

Konrad did his duty, made the drink, and set it in front of the dark haired man that stared at him with unnerving eyes. Konrad had a strange feeling in his gut that told him that the man that sat before him... knew something. He didn't know what that something was, but it couldn't be good. It couldn't be good at all.
If he knew the secret- nonsense. He was being paranoid and ridiculous. Mortals didn't know about them- did they? No. That's what the Amman were for. That was what his sire had said.

Throughout his reverie and after- Konrad's face stayed cool as a cucumber. But his curiousity got the best of him.
"Name's Konrad. And what's a proper-looking businessman like you- doing in a club like this?" Konrad imagined that the typical businessman wouldn't subject his perfectly good suit to the sweat and dirty demeanor of the White Mice regulars. He wasn't here for dancing. He couldn;t be. That was unusual but hey- if he was willing to buy a drink- maybe tip- Konrad's night would just get better. He figured when you hit boredom bottom- the only way out is up.

Konrad VERY subtly slid the tip jar a little closer to the dressy fellow, trying not to hint too much but hey- if the man could buy a suit like that- there should be a good hundred dollar tip in the glass jar for the good bartender who provided the alcohol.

David smirked as usually did at such questions, people always assumed he was a serious businessmen, he gave a short chuckle. "Well, alittle sweat and heat never hurt anybody." His brown eyes scanned Konrad's for any sign that David had recognized him for what he was.

Still smirking he caught sight of Konrad's indiscriminate motion with the tip cup and realized that the man was probably not getting the cash for the night that he thought he would. David took a gulp of whiskey as he reached into his pants pocket and separated two, hundred dollar bills from a wad of them and put them directly in front of Konrad. "Best put that right in your pocket. Don't want some wank to come and take it from your cup, there." He said in a friendly manner as he put the rest of his money away.

David extended a hand for Konrad to shake, "David. Nice to meet 'cha Konrad."

He tilted his head slightly and thought about testing the man to see if he would realize what David knew already. "My business is pets. I, myself am a pet." He smirked devilishly into his glass as he took another drink.

"I guess so..." Konrad murmured without interest as the businessman said that a little sweat and heat never hurt anyone.
But as he saw double vision of Benjamin Franklin he almost shit a brick.
Konrad couldn't help but look up at the man with a wary gaze.
"Damn...." was all he really could say. No one tipped that much.
"You're not even drunk yet!" Konrad protested, fighting a smile. Money! Money! Money! Yay- ah- maybe he could ride out this job for awhile. Man.. if Carina met this guy she'd prolly clean him out for all the money in his wallet. Well, Carina was a lot sexier than Konrad. And she was- quite persuasive. Konrad wasn't the type to squeeze money out of people so he just said "Thanks" and put the money in his pocket.

He couldn't wait to rub this tip in Jerry's face, right before that said face was ripped off by a pissy vampire. It was a lovely vision. A skull and no skin... Mmmmm. Delicious. Konrad wasn't even surprised by the gruesome thought- it was much nicer than other things- other demons that lay in a wake. That wake was very dark and deep- concealed in a grave embedded in Konrad's heart. That grave- was never to be disturbed again.

So now- as the ghosts of a long forgotten cemetary tried to force themselves into consciousness- Konrad pushed his sheilds up- a vision of solid rock- and forgot all about Jerry and defacing him.

David. Nice name. He put out his hand and Konrad was a little wary to take it. that man smiled- a lot. He knew- something. What Konrad would give for mental powers right now. Well- there was only one secret Konrad had...

Did he know?

Konrad reluctantly took his hand and gripped it tightly- praying that David would not notice the icy pinch in the vampire's skin. Although his face showed nothing but a calm demeanor. Best not to show him your suspicion- he thought to himself.

"Yeah- nice to meet ya."
The vampire arched an eyebrow at his next statement.
"What? Pets? I don't get it. Pets are things owned by others, fed by others, given vaccines for rabies by others, and taken for walks by others.... You in an escort service or something?"

That was the idea that Konrad had. He couldn't fathom anything else. He had only been in the vampire world for ninety years and he knew less than his sister. He tried to stay away from vampire politics- but still did not associate with any mortals- save the few women he dated every now and then. Vampiresses were too complicated and bitchy for his liking.
He was a pet. Konrad didn't get it. He was a bit slow when it came to the new era.

David smiked at Konrad's reaction to the two, hundred dollar bills. "Don't have to be drunk when you're feeling generous." He said in a friendly voice. When Konrad shook his hand it was the last bit of evidence he needed to back up what his senses were already telling him - this man was a vampire.

He chuckled for a moment then stopped after a few moments. "Escort service?" David pondered the statement for a moment and realized that this vampire was either playing stupid or had no idea about the concept of a blood pet. He thought it well to inform the poor man so he at least had a clue, but thought it better to do that in time.

"I work under the employ of people..." he paused with a grin on his pale features, "like yourself. I stay with them and they 'have their way with me'. Or so to speak." He winked and took another swig of his drink. "And they don't take me for my rabies shots, either." A short laugh escaped his thin lips.

"Most do. A lot of people don't like parting with the green stuff." Konrad replied with a shrug. "Wasted customers are usually the best kind for tips. Besides- you got no reason to be generous. What'd I do for you? Serve a drink- Hey I'm not saying I don't want it- I'm just saying that I'm shocked," he shrugged.

"Like myself?" Konrad asked, a little nervous now. He had to know it- but what if he didn't. He could think he was gay or something. Maybe the businessman David was a male prostitute- looking for a bite. Or maybe he was just fooling himself. Maybe he knew.
But shouldn't the Amman have killed him. He should be dead. Why was he still alive. Konrad wondered briefly whether he should report this when David spoke the words 'have their way with me.'

WHAT?!?!?!

Konrad kept his composure on the outside, but on the inside he was having a few mixed emotions.
Number one, he was pissed off at the winking and the smiles that David gave him. He wasn't gay! He was straight as an arrow. And somehow- he felt as if David were trying to seduce him- trying to get him to do something for him. It gave him the creepy crawlies.
Number two, he was not liking the arrogance in David's face.
Number three, there was no way in hell David was going to get Konrad to have his way with him- whatever the hell that was.
Number four, Konrad was thinking along the lines of killing the businessman now. It'd save a lot of trouble- just in case he did know.

"What do you know- exactly?" Konrad whispered, eyes iron cast and cold- just as cold as his hands and heart. There was no possible way that this answer was one that Konrad wanted to hear. Something deep down told him he didn't want to know. But he did.

"I'm generous because, when I see one like yourself in a situation working for people like this, I fell pity. And before you get huffy about such pity, think about this - I make more money in one service night than you make in a month's sallary. So just take the money and smile."

David watched the man with a constant smirk on his face. Somehow he knew that whatever the vampire was thinking now was either completely right or completely wrong. He, himself was not gay. He was bisexual - but in a different sense of the word.

He liked certain types of men. Vampires, of course, but certain types. The cold but warm, and the rough but soft. It made sense to him and he knew when he found the ones he liked. Konrad was not one of these men. He seemed alittle too masculin. But never-the-less, he needed to get his head back to the present instead of in the past with old owners. He was somewhat of a drifter now and he'd been asked a question he fully intended to answer.

Leaning forward to an almost alarming closeness he grinned evilly and whispered back. "I know that you're a vampire."

David sat back on his stool before Konrad could reach out and grab him or anything of the sort. "But I won't tell. Because I'm a pet. I find my business with your kind. And trying to convince the human police that you exist.... Well, lets just say it's bad for business."

He didn't stop smirking in that ever so smug way of his the entire time he spoke. David finished off his drink and gave a simple nod as he raised his glass in effort to ask for a refill. "There's more money for every drink you serve me."

Konrad showed no shock now. He just concealed it- hid every emotion he had.
His low voice was a bit scratchy when he said, voice barely above a whisper.
"There are those vampires who hunt and kill those that know of our kind. I'm surprised you're not dead. I know one of those vampires actually comes to this bar a lot- and she gets quite moody. How do you know I am not one of those who dispose of the humans who have discovered us? You need to watch your steps. I may not like you- but I like your money- that's why I'm warning you now. You should be a little more careful."

Idiot. Did he really think that Vampirekind would let him get away with this. Oh no- one day he would be caught by an Amman and killed. Pity. He had a lot of money- too bad it didn't make up for his nauseating personality. He had no idea who the Amman were. Konrad didn't like the Amman one bit- they were kinda scary. First of all, they were all as old as shit. Second of all, they were all pretty up tight. Third, they could skin you alive in seconds, rip your throat to shreads, torture you in unimaginable ways..... He just didn't like Amman.

Konrad refilled David's drink while thinking.....

Ariel had been in here yesterday. Carina had told him about her- Greek and about one thousand plus years old. And she wasn't even the oldest Amman. If Ariel had been in here today- she would have heard David and killed him. He was pretty lucky- she should try the stockmarket.

"I've no fear of those who hunt in the dusk because they need people like me. Some of them don't even realize how much they need a pet, we are there eternaly for them and their needs."

David nodded in thanks and smiled sliding another hundred across the counter to Konrad before taking a swig of his drink. "Think about it my good man, if you had someone to handle all your day-time affairs for you - when business was thriving with the humans... And all you'd have to do to get what you want was to have your pet, who would give their very lives for you, get whatever it was you wanted done."

Tilting his glass as if to toast Konrad, David smirked. "Now tell me, would you want someone like me? To feed from when prey was scarce or hadn't enough time to feed? A pet would be right there for the taking, and most - like myself, are skilled in some sort of human category as to better serve their owners." He leaned forward on his elbows and looked up at the man before him, still keeping his voice all the while at a level he knew Konrad could hear but the surrounding mortals wouldn't.

"I happen to be skilled in realistate, stocktrade, and other aspects of business that would benefit my owner. Whom I happen to be drinking to, for he passed away." Again he made a toast like gesture, "To those who take care and are taken care of."

Konrad flashed him a smile, fangs hidden behind pale lips. "Most enjoy the hunt- if the prey comes to you, it takes all the fun out of it." That's what Carina would say. David continued talking and drinking.

"Would I want you? No. You say 'if you don't have time to feed' like we're stupid. If you're young enough and dumb enough to forget to feed then you're better off dead. We make time to feed and actually many of us hate luxury and thrive on doing things ourselves. Most of us are solitary creatures- and personally- I don't trust humans." His face was void of any emotion as he spoke.
Blood pet. Stupid idea. A vampire would have to be crazy to take a human. He would never admit it to his kin, but he liked chases- he liked killing more than one.... but that was wrong- and he should stick to one a night. And he pressed those rules on his sister as well. He knew she didn't like that.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Konrad replied as David toasted his last owner. Konrad wondered what happened. It took quite a bit to do in a vamp.