Shut Up And Deal (Open!)

[Teris]

'Honestly? What would it take to get some customers in here?'[/i] Anna-Leigh thought in an incredibly bored tone. She had her elbows on the counter and was leaning forward, supporting her weight with the solid surface. She looked down at her hands which were partly covered in leather gloves. The finger parts had been ripped off, and where they'd left the glove, it was frayed. She gave an annoyed sigh and turned, leaning against the counter and looking up at the ceiling. There was a water stain, she noted, on the far left tile. It kind of looked like a grandma in a rocking chair, if you asked her. Reaching into her pocket, Anna-Leigh withdrew a hubba-bubba package missing two squares of the sweet candy. She popped a piece in her mouth and began chewing. Once the gum was at the proper consistency, she blew a bubble. A noise of protest came from the back of her throat when said bubble popped and became stuck on her piercing. Using her tongue to dislodge the annoying piece from her beloved piercing, Anna-Leigh brought her gum back into her mouth and refused to pop another bubble. If that's the kind of attitude her gum was going to be pulling, she wasn't going to be popping it again. And that was that.

She glared at the wall, annoyed out of her mind. Reaching up, she ran her hand through her hair, which currently was gelled in spikes as if she'd just come out of the shower and her hair had frozen outside. Her tongue played with her lip for a moment before sucking it into her mouth to play with the piece of metal. She wished someone would just come in already. Turning around, Anna-Leigh sighed. Still no one. The artificial light created reflections on the large window to outside, creating illusions. To be honest, she somewhat disliked working the night shift. The only bonus was she got a little extra money then some of the other hair dressers here because no one else wanted this job. The employees were all human, except one werewolf, whom she suspected to be gay. That werewolf came from a rather high-ranking family. Therefore, if he didn't want to work night shift, he wasn't going to. Even if it was safer for him then the other employees. Plush (his nickname) was slightly different from the other werewolves, though. A) he wasn't as stuck-up as Anna-Leigh found most of them to be, and B) he honestly wouldn't mind working night shift. The only problem was, Plush was rather incompatible with vampires -the main customers of the night- and that meant losing customers. And so, Anna-Leigh, the only one willing to take the job, was given her night shifts as well as a few morning to afternoon shifts. Those extra were only because she requested them. The late-teen was eager to get out of this dangerous area, and to a more respectful hair salon in the future.

Anna-Leigh sighed for the umpteenth time in the past hour or so. Why couldn't people's hair just grow uncontrollably like grass? Maybe then she wouldn't be so bored. 'I know!'[/i] Bending over, Leigh pulled her backpack from the floor and reached into the front pocket. Around here somewhere there had to be, ah-ha! There they were. Her favourite pack of cards. They were easter-egg shaped, and with the numbers were little chicks ((OoC: don't think it's so far fetched, okay? >.< I have easter-egg cards!)) doing a variety of things depending on what type of card it was. For example, the king had a little chick with a king's crown on it, etc. She'd thought they were absolutely adorable, and believed them to be one of her greatest dollar-store finds (with the exception of her different coloured pens and her scarf, and her mittens... okay, so they weren't the greatest, but they were certainly up there). Pulling them out, Leigh shuffled them quickly before glancing around. She needed something to play cards with. There! For a moment she left her place behind the counter and ran to one of the stations, grabbing a head mannequin that displays wigs and running back to her spot. Placing the mannequin down on the other side of the counter, Anna-Leigh began dividing the deck into two.

”Kay, now we need to lay down rules,” she said to the mannequin who was showing off a number of wigs which had been basically dumped onto it. Her hands were automatically sorting the desk in half while she spoke. ”We're playing war, whoever has the highest number wins. Ace is one, not eleven or any other number in this game. Got it?” She glanced up at the mannequin. ”You're not allowed to peak at your cards, otherwise you forfeit.” There was a pause, and her head tilted to the side as if she were listening to it. ”What!? This is not a stripping game. ... Oh really? Well maybe I should just go and get one of the other mannequins to play instead, what do you think about that? ... Scared of losing!? I am not scared of losing to a stupid foam head, thank you very much. ... No it does not seem like it, what it seems like is that I don't want to be naked when a customer comes in. ... No, I don't think I'd lose to a- urg! Fine! ... Yeah, just shut up and flip your card.” She grumbled, placing an elbow on the counter and her chin in her hand as she flipped her card. ”Well, what are you waiting for? ... Right, 'cause the fact that you have no hands is totally a great excuse.” She rolled her eyes and flipped the mannequin's card. ”Ha! You lose.” She ignored it's comment as she pulled a wig off of it, pulling her won cards toward herself.

Ten minutes into the game, and the mannequin had lost three more of it's wigs, and she'd lost her boots, socks, and one of her gloves. ”I'm not losing that badly, I'm only down by two, so shut up.” She growled, flipping their cards again. Damn, another lose. Pulling off her other glove with an eye roll, she placed it with the other discarded items. Win, woot! Lose, damn. ”Oh shut up, you just want to see me naked. ... That's right, I've seen you looking at Janey when she's cutting people's hair. Homo.” She muttered, flipping the cards again after removing her fishnets. Lose. ”You're cheating, aren't you!?” She shouted at it, glaring. "... I am not clinically insane.” Her words were low and a growl, pulling off her mini skirt, she slammed it on top of the fishnets, socks, and gloves. She flipped her card. ”Well, go on, flip your card. That's right, you can't!” She laughed at it mockingly before flipping it's card for it. Lose. Again. How could she be losing a card game to a mannequin!? She glared, reaching down and pulling her shirt over her head. She flipped her card, and then the mannequin's. Win, yes, finally. She grinned at it, practically ripping a wig from it. It only had one more wig, and then she would win. Flipping the cards, her grin instantly fell to a pout. Lose. Damn it. She looked up, glaring, ”I am not taking off my bra nor underwear.” She told it firmly. ”You win. ... Oh shut up.” She slopped the wigs back onto the mannequin's head and began pulling on her socks and gloves.

[Tahmores Stian]

How long had it been since he had last gone to a hairdresser? He certainly couldn't remember, probably not since he had come to London and that was quite some time ago. But now his dreadlocks are becoming too matted, too long and they are in need of some maintenance. Of course before finding someone to take care of his hair Tahmores had to remove all the little knives and spikes he has hidden in the 'locks, the last he needed was the hairdresser freaking out because she's found one of the small blades he has tucked away and thinking that he's hiding them to rob the store or something. And then she's somehow find out that he's a werewolf, and if the hairdresser was a female she'd probably start screaming that he was trying to bite her or even go as far as to say he was trying to rape her. The things humans would say these days, it was sickening.

Tonight Tah' has tried to dress himself up a little, make himself look at least a bit more respectable then he usually does in dusty jeans, shirts that are torn in places and his hair all a mess. Since he's going to be out in Broadgate he mays well do himself up a bit, nothing too fancy just some clean black jeans, a white button up shirt (the sleeves rolled up to show his tattooed and leather wristband adored forearms) and a dark blue zip up jacket with his hair tied back into a sort of ponytail or at least the best he can get his dreadlocks into. All in all Tahmores thought he looked pretty good when he scrubbed up instead. Though working at a bar most of the nights it's hard for him to find the energy to keep his appearance kept on the up and up which is why he has taken this night off from work to get his dreads taken care off before it ends up looking like a giant clump of dirt and hair.

***

Walking through Broadgate Tahmores watches the world around him his eyes on every shadow, you never know who could be waiting to jump out at you as you pass by. Been as this is a business district it wouldn't be surprising that there are muggings, even murders here. They prey would usually be high end business types, which Tahmores certainly does not look like thankfully, if anything he looks poor. Well not poor but not as if he has enough money for anyone to be bothering putting in the time and effort to rob him.

”I am not taking off my bra nor underwear"

Tahmores stops for a moment at the sound of the voice and the words it speaks. He turns his head and looks into the store, the scene before him making him smile. In the store there is a girl playing cards against an inanimate object, a mannequin no less. Slowly he steps into the doorway. "It's probably a good thing you don't too, I mean there are all these people walking by and your store is pretty easy to see into... plus it's kinda cold so you know, don't wanna catch a cold or anything now do you?". He looks around the store quickly, seeing that it's a hairdresser he grins, "You got an open spot for a client?".

(not as good as yours bler)

[Teris]

It was in the process of pulling on her fishnets -still yet to assemble the rest of her clothing- when the jingle of the bell for the door rung, startling her slightly. "It's probably a good thing you don't too, I mean there are all these people walking by and your store is pretty easy to see into... plus it's kinda cold so you know, don't wanna catch a cold or anything now do you?" The initial reaction for everyone in such a situation would be to blush profusely and try and get on their clothes as fast as possible -unless they were a whore or something. Anna-Leigh was not a whore, or anything relatively like that -at least she didn't think she was, and if she was, she thought it would be nice if someone would decide to tell her this-, and she could feel the burning rising up in her cheeks, but at the last moment, she paused, realizing that blushing is too normal. Too normal for her to do. She fixed her lips in a tight smile of frustration as she tried to pull on the stupid fishnets. ”Words of wisdom if I do say so myself.” She replied, a smirk crossing her lips as she pulled on her top, followed by her skirt.

"You got an open spot for a client?" Anna-Leigh's eyes absolutely lit up. Finally! A customer! Something -someone- to take her mind off of the seemingly endless boring night that stretched ahead of her. At least she wouldn't be losing any more games to, say, a pair of scissors or something. The formations of a smile twitched in the corner of her lip before it broke out to an all-out grin. ”We certainly do!” She told the male cheerfully. Inside she was just pinging around with joy, but on the outside all that showed it was the smile on her mouth. She picked up the mannequin head and tossed it behind her, ignoring the 'thump' it made as it bounced off the wall and onto the floor. Momentarily, the dreadful image of that actually being a real head, gushing blood, filled her head and she shivered. And this is what happens when you watch too many horror movies and stay up too late. Awesome.

As Anna-Leigh gestured to the chair for the male to sit, she wondered idly what, exactly, he was. From what she noticed, he wasn't her usual type of night-time client- vampire. Which really left only two other possibilities; human or werewolf. If he was something else, she'd definitely have to remember to question him. As far as she knew there weren't any alien breeds, or zombies. Oh what a mess the world would be if there were zombies in it. She was fairly certain she wouldn't last long in a zombie epidemic; she's faint and die right on the spot. Besides, they don't generally need hair cuts, so she doubted she'd ever have much use for one in any case. ”Simply dreadful creatures they are.” She muttered under her breath. Her eyes flicked up, worry flashing through them in case her client took it the wrong way. ”Zombies, I mean.” She said quickly as she pulled him over to a char and gently pushed him down. ”I mean they'd probably stink, plus there's that whole cannibalism problem. Kind of like vampires. ... Uhm... not saying vampires are cannibals though, just that- oh hell.” She stopped, flustered.

Tilting his head back into the neck rest, she turned on the tap of water and gently began washing his hair and scalp, being sure to massage the scalp soothingly. She, personally, always loved a good scalp rub whenever she went to go get her hair done. And, as the saying goes, do to others as you wish to have done to you. Ask her right now if she wants a nice scalp massage, and who could possibly turn that down!? ”So, what are you, exactly? If you don't mind my asking. I mean, I'm totally obviously a vampire. I just filed down my teeth.” She joked, applying the shampoo, being careful not to get any in his eyes. ”Oh, and what are you planning to do with your hair? I definitely love the whole dread thing, but were you planning on a new style, cut...?” She asked, moving her fingers through his hair slowly.


((OoC: terribly sorry it took so long to get here. >.<))

[Tahmores Stian]

”Words of wisdom if I do say so myself"

"Yeah, don't get undressed when there are large windows at the front of your shop, you'll start getting people coming in who aren't looking for a hair cut". While she had been dressing Tahmores had looked away, so not to make her feel that he had just come in for the chance to see her in a state of undress. Last thing he wants is to come across as some perv. Anna-Leigh may be only smiling but Tah' can tell that inside she is excited to have a customer. "Been a slow night huh? Either that or you're just shit at cards and wanted an easy win against a mannaquin".

”Simply dreadful creatures they are.” ”Zombies, I mean" ”I mean they'd probably stink, plus there's that whole cannibalism problem. Kind of like vampires. ... Uhm... not saying vampires are cannibals though, just that- oh hell"

Tahmores followed her gesture and takes a seat in the chair and listens to her speak, smiling a little at her nervously trying not to upset him. He laughs a little. "Don't worry you're not going to offend me if you bad mouth vampires since I'm not one of them. But I do agree with you that vampires do have a certain smell about them that's not all that appealing and they're terribly cold to the touch, why I prefer to hang around with humans and wolves. Vampires can be cannibals sometimes as some vampires like feeding off the blood of other vampires". "As far as I know there aren't any zombies hanging around London so you're safe there... for now until some crazy scientist tries to re-animate a dead body". He made it sound so serious, like it really could happen.

The feeling of her hands running over his scap and through his hair makes Tahmores smile a little.”So, what are you, exactly? If you don't mind my asking. I mean, I'm totally obviously a vampire. I just filed down my teeth". Tahmores laughs to himself. "You wouldn't pass as a vampire no matter how hard you tried, a vampire can smell a human easily, plus there would also be the sound of your heart beating that would give you away. Takes more than sharp teeth to pose as a vampire. As for me I'm a werewolf. Don't worry I'm not about to snap and turn on you, besides it takes like twenty minutes for a wolf to turn so you'd have plenty of time to run". At her question at about what exactly he is planning to do with his hair Tah' hums, thinking. "I came here just wanting them to get washed out properly since it's been a good while since they were last washed, probably full of dirt and sand. You do what you think can be done"

(sorry it took so long I feel so bad)

[Teris]

“-it takes like twenty minutes for a wolf to turn, so you'd have plenty of time to run.” ”Yeah, until you follow me.” She smiled, working on a large knot, trying to get the dirt out of it and have it untangled. Which was proving difficult, by the way. “You do what you think can be done.” He told her. She gave another small smile, gently wiping back the rest of his hair and wetting up just after his forehead. ”Awe, no cuts?” She teased, reaching over him for a comb.

He smelled weird. Not exactly bad weird, though. It reminded her a bit of her childhood. Wet dirt, a hint of dog or something like it, the smells of hair oils, and water. For the briefest of moments she paused to revel in the smell, then her hands closed over the comb and she came back as if nothing had happened and worked on the knot. She tightened her jaws, annoyed at herself. She needed to get a boyfriend, then she wouldn't feel even the slightest need to feel attracted to any other person or thing. Grabbing the conditioner, she continued working on the knot, kneading it with her fingers until it was loose. When it was, she began disentangling it from itself with the comb. One knot down, probably five or six to go. Arming herself with the conditioner and the comb, she was soon down to only two knots.

”So, how've things been in the werewolf world?” She began, striking up conversation. One knot left. Done. Placing the conditioner aside, she grabbed the shampoo and began washing it out completely and then rinsing. She learned one thing, knots and dreads are very difficult, though it does cut back on the numbers. When she moved on to the conditioner, she was sure to rub it in. Conditioner always worked better if it was really in there -she found. It made the hair silkier and smoother. She enjoyed the course feeling of his hair in her hands, and found herself working the conditioner in longer then required. Eyes snapping, she finished rubbing it in and rinsed her hands off.

”What do you look like as a wolf, anyways? I've never actually seen a werewolf in their wolf form -at least I don't think I have. I mean, I suppose on occasion it's possible that what I thought to be the odd stray huskey or malamute was really a werewolf, but I doubt it.” She rambled on, grabbing the tap. She began rinsing the conditioner out, which she'd always found to be the longest part of the washing. When it was finally all rinsed out, she brought over a nice, folded towel, and began drying it. ”Should I put it back into the dreads, or go for a different style?”

[Tahmores Stian]

"Follow you. I wouldn't follow you unless you gave me a reason to. I'm not the kind of person who'll just randomly follow another person to their home for fun, usually I'd only do that if I'm trying to find something out about said person, besides I'm not all that stealthy to begin with. More upfront and personal.  If you're afraid of been followed by a werewolf than drive or be driven, from my experience it's hard to keep track of someones scent if they're driving since their smell isn't been carried in the air but mixed up with car fumes and all other things. Also cars move faster than we can". He moves his head just a little, enough to look at her with a smile. "You cut my dreads out then I will have a reason to come after you". He want been remotel serious, though he did like his dreads he'd had them since he was a teenager which concidering he is eighty years old is a long time.

He'd almost forgotten the feeling of his hair been washed by someone else. It is just so much better than doing it yourself could ever be. As she works in the knot Tahmores sighs a little, pleased that he had decided to go out tonight and get his hair taken care of. The question brings him back to the here and now. "Same old same old really. Vampires treating us like mangy dogs, humans treating us like we're wild animals. Nothing has changed much over the years, there's still those stereotypes about each species but I think we don't do much to help how people view us. Most fights are started by wolves. We're rather hot headed creatures so when someone says something and makes a comment towards us we're guilty of often acting withot really thinking".

What does he look like as a wolf? He is half tempted to say that he could show her there and then but Tah' doesn't want to scare off the poor girl. Watching a werewolf turn is not an easy thing to watch or hear. "I have fur ranging from black around my head, dark brown around my neck and chest and the rest of me is a kind of dark cream brown colour. The eye stays white though. So if you ever see a wolf with a white eye you know it's me. Also where my tatttos are, when in my wolf form there's a bald patch. It looks terrible but I knew it would happen when I got the tats done". "Could you put the dreads back in but make them a little thinner this time? I like to tie them up sometimes but with thicker ones it can be hard. I don't need anything fancy"

[Teris]

“Follow you. I wouldn't follow you unless you gave me a reason to. I'm not the kind of person who'll just randomly follow another person to their home for fun, usually I'd only do that if I'm trying to find something out about something about said person, besides I'm not all that stealthy to begin with. More upfront and personal...” She listened quietly to his words, the smallest of smiles on her face and she gently ran a comb through his hair, mostly straightening it out. When he was finished she chucked, ”Awe, you wouldn't randomly follow home a chick just to see where she lived? I've done that before.” She paused, her lips going into a tight smile, ”Not a girl, I mean, a guy. Turns out he was a murderer, so I left that shit as fast as possible.” She stated, her voice rather monotone on the last part, as if she were thinking about it.

“-We're rather hot-headed creatures so when someone makes a comment towards us we're guilty of often acting without thinking.” Her mind, wandering, seemed to manage to take apart his little speech and change it into an array of sex comments, making her smile twitch along her lips as she tried to not laugh. Man, she really ought to take tomorrow's night shift off, either she was too tired or she really did need a new boyfriend. 'Get your mind out of the gutter,'[/i] she chastised herself. She couldn't, though, and the small smile remained on her face as she combed his hair. She pulled away and gently put the comb on the table, pretending to fiddle with the shampoo for a moment.

”-butI knew that would happen when I got the tats done. ... Could you put the dreads back in but make them a little thinner this time?...” Anna-Leigh nodded, going back to working on his hair, braiding it carefully. ”So for the wolf thing? Maybe some other time?” She asked hopefully. Starting on another braid, she gently wiped his hair to the side, moving it out of her way. She enjoyed working with hair. It made her feel like an artist or something; people coming out of here looking better -hopefully- then they did before, and all because of her. She thought she was slowly getting the hang of it. Obviously her boss did, since he usually left her here alone for her shifts. Now that could also be because no one else wanted to work these shifts, but oh well.

When she was finished, she turned his chair to give a quick look, smiled, biting her lip ring, then turned him towards the mirror. In those few moments she'd looked at him, she caught eye of his beard/moustache thing goin on. It looked good on him. She wondered what it'd be like to kiss a guy with a moustache. So far she'd only really kissed three guys in her life. Those were spread out in her high school and one year of college before she came here. She tilted her head to the side slightly. Oh well, she'd find out some day no doubt. Guys seemed to think it was all “macho” or whatever, so if whoever she did finally get didn't have one, it probably wouldn't be too hard to convince him of otherwise. ”So, what do you think?” She asked about his hair.

[Tahmores Stian]

”Awe, you wouldn't randomly follow home a chick just to see where she lived?"

"Perhaps. If it's important enough for me to know where she lives then sure I'd find out. When I first came here I followed a few people but most turned out to be vampires or humans already taken. There's also the fact that if someone saw me following behind some chick they'd think I'm going to attack her or mug her, I'm nit exactly 'clean' looking, more the type of person you'd expect to find in a bar brawl. Which isn't fair because I work at a bar so it's quite usual to see me getting myself involved with breaking up fights... They usually end up with me cracking someone in the face and throwing them out the door. Luckily the vampires who cone to the bar know that I'm not someone to be messed with and that if they cause trouble I will personally remove them from the bar"

”So for the wolf thing? Maybe some other time?”

Her question made his quirk an eyebrow. "You asking to actually see a werewolf change? It's not pretty; breaking bones, the sound of skin deforming and organs rearranging themselves. If you really reasly want to see it then I can give you a show but I'd rather not do it in such a public place, I've never liked changing when I'm not either at home or somewhere secluded like the beach or the woods". He smiles. "Also when we shift our clothes don't make it through the ordeal intact so when we shift back to human s werewolf is nude. A pain but can't have it all, gotta be a downside to everything".

Leaning forwards to get a better look at the new style dreads Tah' nods his head in approval. "Very good, you're not so bad. I was kinda afraid you'd start bitching at me for the shitty condition my hair was in, the dirt 'n' such, but you didn't even mention it". He stands up and runs a hand over his hair, it even felt cleaner. "So his much do I owe you for your time and patience?". He takes out his wallet ready to give Anna-Leigh the money for the restyle and wash.

[Teris]

”You asking to actually see a werewolf change? It's not pretty; breaking bones, the sound of skin deforming and organs rearranging themselves. If you really want to see it, I can give you a show but I'd rather not do it in such a public place. ... When we shift our clothes don't make it through the ordeal intact so when we shift back to human a werewolf is nude.” Anna-Leigh grinned. 'Mind out of the gutter... But it is out of the gutter...'[/i] Was the warning then the innocent response in the recesses of her mind. The werewolf leaned forward, inspecting his hair, and his comment stated that he rather liked it, which made her happy. She was glad to know she really had caught onto this job, her apartment and food kind of depended on it.

She smiled, ”Only $8.” She smiled, turning and going up behind the till. ”And the breaking bones, disgusting changing thing, seems like my style!” She joked. ”I wasn't suggesting you change here, silly. I meant maybe... in the park or something? I mean it's generally not that crowded to begin with, even less-so at night, right?” She rang up the bill-thing for the receipt and pulled it from the mechine, reaching beneath the counter for the little baggy-thing that they gave out to costomers. It was mostly things for girls, but Plushi used it himself and said it was heavenly. Apparently some kinds of organic shampoo, conditioner, and body soap and a body scrub thing. Either way, she was supposed to offer it, so she handed it over to him.

”I wouldn't mind seeing, say, now...” She said, looking down, then peering up with her eyes. ”I mean the salon closes in, like, five minutes, and I don't think anyone else is going to come in, so I could just close up now...” She added hopefully, interested to see this whole change thing.

[Tahmores Stian]

"Is that all? Seems kinda cheap for what you did but if you're sure". He hands her the exact amount.Breaking bones, disgusting changing thing, seems like my style!” ”I wasn't suggesting you change here, silly. I meant maybe... in the park or something? I mean it's generally not that crowded to begin with, even less-so at night, right?”

"Your kind of thing huh. You're either messed in the head or just desensaticed". A smile telling her that he had been joking. "If you end up puking or passing out don't come crying to me about it, I told you it's not going to be a pretty sight so any illness you feel it's your own fault". "The park usually is empty at night, usually only a few vampires or the stupid human can be found in it. If you're willing to brave the cold then we can go out there and you can see the change. How about you give me some time to go the my place and get a change of clothes? That way I can change back to human after. And don't worry, you're work on my dreads wont come undone because of the change" Tahmores takes the little bag she hands out to him. "You know I could probably use these. Stop me smelling of dirt all the time".

”I wouldn't mind seeing, say, now...”

"Now is fine, just let me head back home and then I'll meet you in the park. Trust me I'm not going to stand you up or anything, I will turn up. What kind of guy who I be to just leave you standing there in the cold and snow waiting? Not a very good one that's for sure. You close up here and I'll meet you there"

***

After giving a wave to Anna-Leigh Tahmores left the salon to get a change of clothes for when he changed back to human, just another pair of jeans, his shirt he can take off before the change. Putting it into a bag around his shoulders Tah' haeds out to Hyde Park to meet up with Anna-Leigh. He was a little nervous about changing to his wolf form in front of her, he'd never changed in front of someone he didn't know, his workmates and Kris been the only people he felt comfortable changing around. Walking up to the park and looks around for Anna-Leigh. Spotting her he smiles and walks up to her. "Hey. Sorry if I kept you waiting".

[Teris]

”-I'll meet you there.” Anna-Leigh nodded, watching as he left through the door. She waited a moment, then opened the cash register, taking all of the money out and putting it into a bag folded in the front. Opening a safe, she placed the money inside and carefully locked it up. There had been an incident years before she'd began working here that made the manager get a three inch safe with a complicated combination for storing the money while employees weren't there. Being robbed was something their manager did not enjoy, and was thought of as rather penny-pinching, so Leigh could only imagine. Locking it up safely, Anna-Leigh opened a drawer behind the counter that held her coat and the keys.

Grabbing her coat and slipping it on, snatching the keys as she did so, Anna-Leigh made her way out of the store, turning behind herself to shut off lights, turn the sign to “closed”, and lock up. The tucked the keys into one of her jean pockets while simultaneously reached for her Mp3 in her coat pocket. Unwrapping the tangled earphones from it, she placed the small devices into her ears and powered on the machine. It took her a moment to find a song she wanted to listen to, and when she did, she landed on the song “Perfect”, by Marianas Trench. The lyrics hummed in her ears, and she bounced slightly with the tune as she walked, half dancing. ”I'll say yes, I'll undress, I've done more for less,” she quietly sung along with the lyrics, making her way to the park.

”Will you now?” Asked a voice beside her. She paused, pulling her ear plugs out and glancing the vampire up and down. Her eyes flickered over to the park, which she was just outside of now. She took a step back, through the entrance flanked by stone walls, and into the park, her eyes not once leaving him. She raised an eyebrow, ”Hardly. Can I help you with something?” Her blood began pumping slightly faster as her eyes became harder. She was no fight for a vampire, so it would be nice if Tahmores showed up right about now. Her jaw tightened as he stepped forward with her, eyes fixed on the skin exposed in a 'v' by her jacket, showing the smallest bit of cleavage. She shifted her jacket, and glanced away as if casually looking for her friend. ”I think you could. I'm kind of thirsty.”[/i]

”So go find a damsel in distress, I'm busy.” She commented, slowly drifting her eyes back to the vampire. His exposed fangs glinted in the dim lighting from a street lamp, shining with their deadliness. She crossed her arms, glaring him down -or trying to-, her fingers digging deep into her elbows. ”Hey. Sorry if I kept you waiting.” The familiar voice caused her to drop her arms in slight relief, and she saw the vampire shift slightly, eyes glancing over at the werewolf. ”That's right, I'm taken, now get goin, your time outside's nearing an end.” She tilted her head slightly, a smile on her face as she looked up at the vampire. She raised an eyebrow and watched as he sulkily moved on. ”No problem.” She smiled, ”perhaps we should go somewhere a bit more remote, creep's probably still a little near-by.” She looped her arm through his casually and began pulling him deeper into the park, before pausing. ”Unless you'd feel safer back at my apartment. It's probably warmer, too.” She said finally with a thought.

[Tahmores Stian]

Tahmores looks at the vampire and moves his jacket to one side to reveal a chrome .45 Colt pistol in it's holster attached to his belt. He smiles at the vampire. "Now I know your kind can move pretty damn fast, but do you think you can move faster than a bullet? Would you like to find out?". As the vampire slinks away Tah' turns to Anna-Leigh with a smile. "Good thing I came by when I did, who knows what that damn leech would have done if I hadn't, well you know besides try to feed from you". Tahmores shakes his head a little at the thought, prefering not to think about it at all. "Monsters they are. People call us animals but they're the ones who feed off humans and attack them for no reason".

”Perhaps we should go somewhere a bit more remote, creep's probably still a little near-by" ”Unless you'd feel safer back at my apartment. It's probably warmer, too"

It had been a while since anyone had shown him the kind of physical contact that Anna-Leigh is, even if it's just her arm around his as a sign of friendship it's enough to make him smile happily."You know what? I think been inside would be nice. It is a bit cold out here. Though the only problem is that during the change there is the issue of the noise that will be made, screams mostly. Not a lot but it could cause your neighbours to come knocking at your door to see if everything's alright or even call the police. You're place wouldn't happen to have a basement would it?". He stops for a moment and laughs. "You know we never even told eachother our names. Here we are total strangers. Name's Tahmores, but just call me Tah'". He gives a low mock bow. "So to your place then and on with the show"

[Teris]

-”Your place wouldn't happen to have a basement, would it?”

She shrugged, to be honest, she hadn't really explored her apartment for such things, though there probably was one. It wasn't like they needed it though, her room would be fine, the neighbours didn't usually care about a lot of screaming. To say that Anna-Leigh lived in a nice, rich, safe apartment would be a lie. In fact, it was probably one of the cheapest apartments in the whole city. To speak nicely of it would be to call it a dump. It didn't bother her though. She didn't have crack addicts, vampires, and robbers come barging in. At least not often. There was one small incident where a robber came in while she was there. She'd merely raised an eyebrow, picked up the phone -which, ironically enough was beside her- and waved it around as if to say “you have about ten seconds to get out before I call the police.” Needless to say, the guy didn't really want to be caught, and he didn't appear to have any weapons on him, so the whole situation wasn't anything worth mentioning. As it turned out, her lock had been broken, and it was the first easiest door he could get into apparently. That afternoon she got two new locks and never had another problem. Well, not in her room. There was a murder next door, but it was just a prostitute who didn't think before inviting a vampire into her room. She got drained, and not in the sexual manner either.

”Actually, I think it'd probably be safer if we just stayed in my room. God knows what's in the basement.” Broken glass, used needles, cigarettes, garbage. She could only imagine. At least her apartment was clean. She took care of it well, and rarely invited other people in. The only other living thing in there (not to say that there's not-living things in there) being her cat, Mane, and he was a very clean cat. Well, except for in his litter box, but that was to be expected.

”You know we never even told each other our names. Here we are total strangers. Name's Tahmores, but just call me Tah.” He said suddenly, as they were walking down the side-walk to her apartment. He gave a mock bow, and she curtseyed, a smile on her lips. ”Now just because we didn't know each others names doesn't mean we're total strangers.” She pointed out, grinning. ”Anna-Leigh.” She introduced herself, taking his warm hand in hers and gently shaking it as they walked. Letting it drop, she tucked her hand into her jacket pocket, her other hand gently clasping his arm with her arm still looped through his. ”So to your place then the show.” She gave a nod, her lips twitching in the corners.

Her lips moved to the side slightly, her one eye closing in thought. ”One more thing... how are you with cats?” She asked as they neared her apartment. It might have been pretty once, but now it looked fairly run-down. Rusty iron gates surrounded it, disappearing behind the building. There was no longer any grass around it, though there was a “garden” that surrounded the sides of the garden. It was tended by one of the older lady in the apartment, Anna-Leigh enjoyed being around her, she was very nice. It was strange that she was a vampire, though. One of those rare cases that survived in her elderly age. Oh well, she was old, and Anna-Leigh felt fairly safe around her, she hadn't tried to eat her yet at least. Ivy, dead and clinging on to life with a spot of green, climbed up a side of the building, trying to reach the top as if it could break through the smog and lift its leaves to the sunlight.

She barely acknowledged any of the building though, merely pushed open the gate, closing it behind her, and leading Tahmores into the building. She didn't apologize for the state of the wretched place; it wasn't her fault it was like it was. Leading him past the old, broken elevator and to the stairs, she let go of his arm to grab a hold of the wobbly handle-thing. It screeched, as if threatening to fall off. It'd been like that for the past 10 years or so -according to the old lady- and she doubted it'd fall off anytime soon. Eventually they made their way to the fifth floor, and Anna-Leigh kicked a needle laying on the ground, a small drop of clear liquid still in the clear glass of it. She didn't even bother thinking about what might be in it. There was a strange smell that always permeated the dirty carpeted floor, kind of like bad Chinese food, yet smelling oddly good and spicy. Coming to her door, she reached for the keys and unlocked it, pushing it open for Tahmores to enter.

The contrast of the actual building and her apartment was huge. The floors were vacuumed, just yesterday in fact, everything was neatly put away. While the walls were painted white and chipping, it kind of suited the place, showing the brown brick underneath it. It went with the chocolatey brown couches and chairs. Coming into the kitchen, which was just off the living room, there was a small island with a bamboo tree in a clear vase filled with rocks and water. Beside it was a few magazines. The kitchen was a light cream colour, and there was a small stack of dirty dishes in the left sink that she was going to take care of eventually. It was her bedroom that was slightly messy, and it was down a small hall way across from the bathroom. There were clothes littering the floor, but if she were to sweep them into the closet, it would be fine. ”You wouldn't believe the state this room was in when I moved in.” She chuckled, taking off her jacket and going behind him and slipping his from his shoulders. She placed them in the closet on hangers, then closing the closet door. ”Well, I suppose seeing the state of the rest of the building you can.” She laughed.

”Muurrp!” Came a noise, and Mane came bounding around the corner of the hallway. He'd probably been asleep in her room. The cat paused upon seeing Tahmores, slinking up to the couches instead and flicking his tail back and forth as if annoyed. ”He doesn't really like new people.” She whispered to him. Going over to the gray cat, she picked him up. ”This is Mane.” She said. He was fairly heavy, especially since he rarely got the exercise a cat required -she didn't feel safe letting him out of her apartment. Bringing him to her bedroom, she nudged him in and closed to door despite his complaint. He'd curl up on the bed and forgive her later when she fed him. Coming into the living room again, she gestured to one of the couches for Tahmores. ”So... do you want some water or something...?” She asked, suddenly feeling awkward.

[Tahmores Stian]

"You're right, who knows what could be down in a basement.. or who even. For all you know there could be one or more vampires down there hiding out or keeping 'food' down in that a place like that". By food he of course means humans. Some vampires were known to do that; keep a number of humans locke dup somewhere to have a constant and ready supply of blood to feed off of. Personally it made him feel ill thinking about it, treating humans like that, no better than keeping animals caged up with the intention to kill and eat them later on. Tahmores mentally frowns at the thoughts, just another reason why he has never liked vampires. when she curtsied he laughs sfotly, taking her hand to shake it. "Pleasure to meet you Anna-Leigh".

”One more thing... how are you with cats?”

"Cats, cats I'm fine with. Animals are fine around werewolves, they wont hiss or freak out like you see in the movies. Dogs we do get along with well for obvious reasons. So you've go nothing to worry about if you're thinking that your pet cat is going to attack me or run away". He'd always been an animal lover, mainly because in the desert there are so few animals besides the odd camel and frankly they're not exactly the best kind of pet, cranky beasts when they want to be, bite hard too. when he had been in Egypt he'd had a parrot. He loved that parrot and it broke his heart to have to leave it behind when he went over to England.

The apartment building is the best looking that he's seen, but tehn again these days it's only the wolve and well of vampires that can afford to live in proper houses that they've had restored or even built for them. His own house isn't that grand either but it's an actual house that he share with a co-worker and it's good enough for them, a little run down but really who has the time or money to do up a house when you're working all the time? Following her he glances at the barely alive garden, the sight of it making him feel a little depressed and reminding him that he would have to tend to his own little garden at some point to make sure the snow isn't freezing the plants.

The difference between the outside of the building and the apartment Anna-Leigh lives in is quite amazing; on the other side of a ratty looking door is an area that is clean and well kept, he feels almost bad for agreeing to go through the change here knowing that he would probably breaka few things in the process and it's not like he can make a conscious effort not to since during most of the change he's not even properly conscious in the first place. His mind will simply black out whe the pain gets too much and not switch back on again until he's full in his wolf form.”You wouldn't believe the state this room was in when I moved in". "I've seen some pretty bad places, you've done good with this, made it look like a place you'd actually want to live in". When she moves behind him and takes off his jacket Tah' shrugs his shoulders a little to aid her.

”So... do you want some water or something...?"
"Sure, water will do thanks". He moves over to the couch and takes a seat. "So you're sure you want to see this? I mean I know you said you wouldn't mind it but I feel that i should give you a fair warning that it's not nice".

[Teris]

”Sure, water will do thanks.” He said, and she made her way to the kitchen while he gave her another warning. She smiled, glancing over at him as she poured water from a filter in the fridge into a glass. There was no way in hell her mother taught her to trust the tap water of the city. ”Tahmores, if you don't want to change, I'm not going to make you.” She said, coming down and sitting beside him on the couch, handing him his glass of water. Turning so her back was against the arm rest, she folded her legs and watched him as he sipped his water.

”So, tell me a bit about the changing. I'd imagine it takes a lot out of you.” She frowned. ”I don't want you to think you have to change for me, I'm just curious is all...” She paused, tilting her head slightly, ”Are you going to want to eat anything as a wolf? I can't really understand canine... so it'd be best if I had this stuff out, like, now and ready.” She laughed. ”And if you're too tired to go home tomorrow, you can always crash in my room and I'll sleep on the couch.” She shrugged, kind of feeling iffy about letting a guy sleep in her bed. Not like she was in it at the same time, though, so it shouldn't really matter. ”I've never really... watched this before, so I'm not too sure what you'll need or want.” She said finally.

She reached over, plucking a loose strand of hair from his shoulder that had been bothering her and let it fall slowly to the ground, twisting in the air until it hit the carpet. Getting up and grabbing a glass of her own, Anna-Leigh poured some water into her cup and sipped it, pushing down the shirt that came up to her belly button unwelcome. After having made her way back to the couch, she crawled on on her knees, positioning herself so she wouldn't spill her water, and sat back in the spot she'd had before. As she sipped her water casually, she eyed the werewolf curiously, wondering how that body could turn into a wolf.


((Sorry it was delayed... and short >.< I just didn't really know what to do until he changes, rofl. ))