The Asper~Gaia's Tavern on a Pirate Ship ~

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[Tsuin Sozokujin]

The pair had settled their differences on the situation, realizing that food was quite more important to their lives than possible injuries sustained while getting involved in things that didn't involve them directly. With that moment at the back of their minds, they had made the move to head into the kitchen once Vincent had exited the figurative stage. They weren't too keen on preparing meals for themselves, so they'd decided instead find whatever was either already made or didn't require cooking.

Of course, mid stride towards the kitchen across the room, the woman from earlier came from their targeted area. This caused them to stop mid step, looking at each other before backing away silently. They had both known what that man meant when he said that Jenica was to be his meal, and if she was in fact turned, they didn't quite feel like dealing with a species like that, not on an empty stomach at least. Once they were seated again, she asked them what they wanted, again their eyes turning to each other before falling back onto her. An exchange of whispers, pondering the possibility of whether she too had fangs or not. Had they come to a place where someone was going to try to suck them dry? Silence answered Jenica at first, the two coming to the conclusion that if she was in fact like that, then they should at least get something out of it before the inevitable.

"Well... miss... If you'd be so kind as to gather us... something beef and something chicken, with a side of mixed vegetables?"

"And some whiskey, if you don't mind."

Their order was far from planned, and was purely based on their needs. Iron and protein were incredibly important to their bodies, plus whatever minerals and vitamins were available to be gained from vegetables. The whiskey, well that was something that just happened to be an acquired taste of theirs. They still remained hesitant though, not sure exactly how to approach whatever situation approached them next.

[onyx2047]

<< Port Thume ~ Asper ~ Bar >>

They were acting strange ...we're they planning on killing her? Should she be afraid? Why were they looking at her like that? Okay maybe they thought she was weak and disgusting? Pathetic? Maybe. She had to work really hard to put forth a smile to their request but she did it. Showing teeth and all.

"S-sure no problem." first she would pour up the whiskey, she grabbed the closest bottle to her, JD.

"Okay, one beef and one chicken something with vegetables coming right up!" she giggled but even that sounded off.

Jenica would move off into the kitchens disappearing out of sight. Once there she would get to cutting up the vegetables, turning burners on and boiling up noodles. She got to frying up some of the chicken and beef as well. It would take a little bit so, she'd be in there for a few.

20 minutes later

Jenica would come out with two plates, one containing beef and the other with chicken. Each had a side of wonderfully sauteed vegetables that they could mix in or eat separately if they so chose it. She'd set it down before them, completely with utensils and napkins.

"There you have it. Enjoy." she chirped. Once set she would make herself a stiff shot of tequila and down it.

[Tsuin Sozokujin]

There was a moment of complete silence between the two siblings, eyes locked upon the features of the female that had previously been in a position quite akin to something quite horrible. The forced smile, the lack of canines developed for one use, it beckoned forth a sigh of relief in unison from the two. Too bad she had already gone to make the food, as she wouldn't have any idea they came to that conclusion.

"She didn't look comfortable with us being here. Maybe we said something we shouldn't have? Is she upset about before... was that not what we thought? Were they... making love?"

"You know Al, for someone as smart as you are, you're quite the idiot some times. Of course they were about to have sex."

Each of them had enough time to smoke a cigarette and enjoy some of the whiskey. After the first fifteen minutes they even began to wonder whether she was actually making food. Al got up, moving as silent as possible across the floor as he went to peek into the kitchen. At least there was food being made, a smell wafting out that gave him the idea that it was at least remotely edible and not that of a person. Relieved he'd move back to where he had sat, just in time for Jenica to bring out their food.

Al took it upon himself to make sure both plates got exactly what was needed, part of everything that was provided. As they ate the food, it wasn't hard to figure out that she wasn't quite normal, even if they didn't know what her normal was. It didn't quite seem like their place to interrupt her drinking habits, maybe that was her normal. But then Al set down his silverware and wiped his face before taking down some more whiskey. Then the silence became broken.

"Miss, we are sorry that we interrupted your evening. We had merely thought the worst, we didn't know that perhaps you were... engaging in pleasurable activities with that man. Please accept our apology."

Zoe merely raised her glass to the woman, cheeks stuffed with food. Between drinking, pouring drink, and eating food, it was a wonder she didn't choke to death. She tried to give a smile, but the food started to fall from her mouth, which was promptly pushed back in with fingers. Alceus only shot her a glare, as if she were being rude. Zoe's silent retort of shrugging her shoulders and holding her hands up as if to say 'what?' came afterwards.

[onyx2047]

<< Port Thume ~ Asper ~ Bar >>

"Miss, we are sorry that we interrupted your evening. We had merely thought the worst, we didn't know that perhaps you were... engaging in pleasurable activities with that man. Please accept our apology."

Jenica looked to the female...she stared blankly a moment before her face broke out into that of her usual warm self. The fingers came up to hide her scoffing chuckle to the way the girl was stuffing her face and trying to smile. Blue eye's went back to the male. Jenica had to wonder now. Vincent had said that he wasn't going to stop the two from having a meal and that he had his own in his very clutches. Jenica had begged the two to just leave and not tempt the beast because he'd do it and she didnt want to get bit. She didn't want to die. Where in that did the notion of 'pleasurable activities' come from?

"Pleasurable...activities...tell me, when you have sex do you normally like to slam them against tables, hold them by their throats and make threats of biting them to drain them dry? Do your lovers end up looking mauled and cut up? Because if they do, then the apology is mine." it may have been a little smart a** but given the ridiculous insinuation, it couldn't be helped. She then considered that maybe he had never had sex.

She sighed and help up her hand to prevent him getting a word in. Yet.
"I am sorry. Rough night. I thank you for coming to my aid and had it been anyone else that had me by the throat, I would have taken your help in a heart beat.Vampires, particularly that one, isn't one to be messing with. He didn't keep his threat thank God. He's gone now."

[Tsuin Sozokujin]

Alceus' face began to grow a light pink as he attempted to shy away from the conversation that he had started. This was only met with the brick wall that was his sister, her foot kicking his shin underneath the table. Biting his lip he tried his hardest not to shout in pain as he turned his eyes back to the woman who was still speaking. Zoe, during this entire thing, began to eat her brother's plate of food.

"Well, you see miss... we aren't from around here. After what we saw, there was the thought about maybe... you had different meanings for some of the words. And... in my research... I have seen things like what you describe..."

Zoe rolled her eyes as she swallowed what was in her mouth. Lighting a cigarette, she'd let the words her brother spoke really settle with that woman. It was obvious that Al had mistaken porn for research material. Again, for such a smart man, he didn't really think things through all the time. After a moment, and another drink, Zoe let her near blind looking eyes fall back to Jenica.

"In Al's defense, I myself enjoy a bit of pain with my pleasure. I'm sure you can understand our side of the mix up. And yeah, no reason to thank us, I just wanted to eat something other than boiled leather."

Zoe kept the rest of the conversation as it was, merely nodding her head in understanding. Surely she had a different opinion on that subject of vampires, but it wasn't quite the topic she wanted to talk about with someone she didn't even know. Reclining in the chair, she'd use her foot against the frame of the table to push her chair back onto two legs. Al looked at his sister, back to his plate, and just let out a defeated sigh before looking over to Jenica.

"So... there's a bloodsucker on this ship? And you all are okay with that?"

[onyx2047]

<< Port Thume ~ Asper ~ Bar >>

"Well, you see miss... we aren't from around here. After what we saw, there was the thought about maybe... you had different meanings for some of the words. And... in my research... I have seen things like what you describe..."

"In Al's defense, I myself enjoy a bit of pain with my pleasure. I'm sure you can understand our side of the mix up/"

Jenica looked between the male and then the female a few times. Were they serious right now? She concluded that they were. She sighed and shook her head.
"Nope. No kinky vampire sex here. That one isn't my game..." she finalized in saying.

She had been about to move this conversation off of her because it was really uncomfortable when the male blurted out a question. He really didn't think before he spoke.

"So... there's a bloodsucker on this ship? And you all are okay with that?"

"Bloodsucker...are you a racist? Are you human? Oh let me guess you must be perfectly normal? Right. Look, that vampire is a b*****d but my old boss that nearly let me get manhandle in front of a bunch of other drunkards, was a b*****d too and HE was human. No one is ever okay with that. This isn't my ship. It belongs to Onyx. Perhaps when you see her next you should ask her that very question and see what she has to say about it. As far as I am concerned there are bad people, ******** up people, people who are into all sorts of shady things, in this world. What right do I have to pass judgement upon them. And just as a quick reminder, you are on an ex-pirate ship run by a woman who doesn't get much more seedy." she folded her arms, her expression remained hard.

[Tsuin Sozokujin]

As she scolded him, his blue eyes watched how she moved and how she took what he had said. Zoe, on the other hand, held back laughter with her fist. If only this was being recorded. Her left hand reached over and ruffled the males hair, laughing full on at that point. She didn't try to be rude, just seeing her brother get scolded by someone other than her was quite a comedy act to her. But there was a second, midst it all, that her eyes would narrow on Jenica. Almost as if to say that only Zoe was able to speak to her brother that way. Yet Alceus dismissed his sisters hand, pushing it away from him.

"I do apologize for your feelings towards what I said. But. I assume that it would be bad for business if you upset one of the guests of this fine ship, would it not? You see, being upset over something so trivial as a phrase, could in fact set off a set of events that were never meant to happen. As someone from elsewhere, I must highly suggest that you remember that sometimes there are people that are far worse than what you have described."

As he spoke, he began to rise from his chair with his hands flat upon the table. Fingers began to turn in on themselves, fists appearing so tight that his knuckles became near pure white. Those blue eyes of his closed, his head leaning back as he came to sit back into the chair. Zoe, surprisingly didn't look too phased by how Alceus had reacted. Her hand reached over, giving him a light rub on his shoulder before a hearty pat echoed through the room.

"Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way... My brother had a wife who was taken by a vampire. I'm sorry that he spoke to you like that, it won't happen again and we do not mean to disrespect your place of business nor it's owner. We have been traveling for a long time now, and this place reminds of a much better time in our life."

Gripping her brother by the scruff of his neck, he'd be lifted and forced to bow in apology towards Jenica. At the same time, even Zoe bowed. Once they rose up, Alceus and Zoe returned to their seats. Such moments were not meant to occur, the displeasure of having to apologize was written all over Zoe's face.

[-The Golden Flower-]

arrow The Asper- Bar

Ailsa Graystone // Wearing //

Ailsa was listening to Jenica when she felt the room tempature drop. If she had been paying more maybe she could have sensed it faster. Turning towards Metal she noticed something was different about him. He sounded so cold, so different then the metal that she had spoken to (not that she knew him very well). When he threatened them she went cold, her eyes narrowing and her mind going to escape plans.

Ailsa listened to his words, trying to figure out what exactly she could do to keep him from endangering Jenica. Maybe she could try one of her fire ball spells... Even if it went wrong and exploided in her face it would still hit him and that would be enough. If she could just knock him off guard. When Metal touched Jenica her expression turned to fury. She had to attack Metal but she couldn't with him so close to Jenica. She tried to figure out how she could when he attacked her, blasting her back and slamming her against the wall.

Ailsa thought she had to have blacked out because the next thing she knew the ice was gone and Metal was walking by saying that Jenica was okay. She glared at him. [******** you."

When Metal left, Ailsa carefully stood up, the wall wavering around her for a moment before it steadied. She made sure she wasn't bleeding and left the bar quickly to see where Jenica was. By the time she returned to the bar Jenica was talking to two people that Ailsa hadn't seen before. She watched the two eat, and then Jenica carefully to see if she okay. She seemed okay, but Ailsa wasn't sure. After watching the two (humans maybe) bow and go back to eating she walked over.

"I know this is going to sound stupid, but are you alright?"

[onyx2047]

-The Golden Flower-

Tsuin Sozokujin

<< Port Thume ~ Asper ~ Bar/Couches >>

Jenica's face flattened to Alceus's words. Was he seriously threatening her right now?

"I do apologize for your feelings towards what I said. But. I assume that it would be bad for business if you upset one of the guests of this fine ship, would it not? You see, being upset over something so trivial as a phrase, could in fact set off a set of events that were never meant to happen. As someone from elsewhere, I must highly suggest that you remember that sometimes there are people that are far worse than what you have described."

Hoooo buddy! She had opened her mouth to retort when his sister, Zoe spoke up.

"My brother had a wife who was taken by a vampire. I'm sorry that he spoke to you like that, it won't happen again and we do not mean to disrespect your place of business nor it's owner. We have been travelling for a long time now, and this place reminds of a much better time in our life."


Onyx grunted. "Yeah, it's fine. You guys take your time okay? Have a look around, relax from your travels."

That was when Ailsa came up to her. "Ailsa!" she exclaimed. Together they both asked at the same time "Are you alright?". Jenica sort of took her off to the couches near the fire pit to have a sit down. Once they were seated, wounds and bruises to boot, Jenica wrapped her arms around her.

"I am so sorry. I am sorry for being a stupid b***h. I am sorry for turning my back on you so quickly. I was so scared and scared for you. I am going to be seriously bruised and i need bandaging on my tummy but I'm fine other wise. He...he didn't bite me or anything, if that's what you are worried about." she said sort of all at once as she still had her in her clutches.

[Tsuin Sozokujin]

With the lack of remaining food, they shared between themselves another thin glass of whiskey. Zoe raised her glass towards Jenica as she passed, downing it shortly thereafter in unison with Alceus. As they finished their cigarettes, they sat in silence to enjoy what time they had in quiet. Seeing that Jenica had taken to someone else, Zoe began carefully picking up the plates that sat before her, stacking them up.

"Al, grab these and bring them into the kitchen for the girl. She has bigger things to worry about."

Alceus didn't protest, sliding his chair back and lifting the plates, he'd begin his way across the floor. Zoe cleared the rest, stacking the two ashtrays and the cups. Both were held in one hand as the bottle of whiskey was covered and held in the other. As she made her way behind her brother, the bottle's neck spun between her fingers before getting set down on the bar. Ashtrays got separated from the glasses, each one tapped into the trash before being brought with the glasses into the kitchen.

"You don't have to apologize for me, Zoe. I'm just sick of being treated like scum, acting like I'm a god damned idiot because it suits the situations better."

"I know, I know. But I can't have you flying off the handle like that. Look, we could probably lay low here for a while. Help out, you know, do our part to earn a place. We can finally move on Al. I can't keep living how we have been. The streets aren't so kind to me as they are you."

As the two of them discussed things, Alceus had begun washing the dishes in the sink. That also included the two glasses. The ashtrays weren't mixed in with the rest, but set off to the side. Zoe took it upon herself to clean up any scraps in between drying the serving dishes and plates.

"So you're going to just stop here and take this place as your home? You're just going to become static? For ******** sake Zoe, just because this place reminds you a little bit of where we were born doesn't mean it's going to be the same or any different."

"You're right, but Al... we can't think that everything is going to be like that. If it happens, it happens, right? What are we going to do, keep living day to day waiting for something magical to happen? That's just not okay. Not anymore."

Silence fell over the kitchen shortly afterwards, only disturbed by the plates and the things used for their food as they were put away.

[-The Golden Flower-]

arrow The Asper- Bar

Ailsa Graystone // Wearing //

Ailsa was really happy to see that Jenica was mostly okay. Yeah, they both were a little beat up but at least they were still alive and moving around. Ailsa followed Jenica to the couches and had just sat down when Jenica hugged her. She went a little stiff at first, shocked, but quickly returned the hug.

"I am so sorry. I am sorry for being a stupid b***h. I am sorry for turning my back on you so quickly."

Ailsa didn't feel that bad. The way that Metal was acting she had a feeling that if Jenica had done anything different she probably would have gotten hurt even worse. When she said she wasn't bitten, Ailsa visibly relaxed.

"Thank the Goddess," Ailsa murmured, hugging Jenica again. "I thought for sure he was going to bite you. I don't want someone I care about getting hurt and turned..." She didn't mention that she couldn't stand to see someone she cared about turn into something she couldn't recognize. Like Celeste. "That.... I can't believe I didn't notice something was going on. I guess I buried myself in guilt I just didn't notice. You wanted me to protect you and look what I did! I failed again."

[onyx2047]

-The Golden Flower-

<< Port Thume ~ Asper ~ Infirmary >>

Jenica shook her head a little as Ailsa started to speak. "Hey, you weren't ready. It's okay. Don't be so hard on yourself. As for Metal, I don't necessarily know if he would have gone through with it. I don't mean that as some sort of cocky dig, just that ... he'd have a mess to deal with." Her hand came up to touch her stomach as it twanged with pain.

" I am going to go see Heiden down in the infirmary. Do me a favour, just mind the bar for a few? Thanks Ailsa." Jenica got to her feet and waddled her way downstairs to the third level, infirmary.

She went to the back of the room where the lab was and knocked on the glass. Walking in she asked Heiden for help. She had showed him her stomach. Heiden's eyebrows nearly got lost in his hairline. Naturally he inquired as to how she sustained these wounds as he went to work cleaning and patching her stomach. Jenica had told him that she had been careless while cleaning. Heiden eyeballed her a moment.

"Hm, maybe I should take a break." Heiden said thinking better of it now. He ruffled his hand through the top of jenica's hair. "Go relax.".

"Hey, I think I am going to go chill in the lounge. Can you tell Ailsa for me?"

Heiden nodded to Jenica's request. He then cleaned and locked up the lab in the infirmary.

[onyx2047]

Location: Captains Quarters

Heiden would make his way up from the infirmary down on the third floor. Coming into the bar he looked to his left to see Ailsa setting on the couch near the fireplace. When their eye's connected he smiled and nodded his head slightly back over her shoulder.

"Hey Ailsa. Jenica wanted me to tell you that she's down in the lounge ... "

He was currently unaware that there were new people in the kitchen washing dishes. Heiden had needed to get something from his mothers room, it was a book. An alchemist thing that had been twinging at his brain and needed curbing. Exiting the bar he went out on deck and moved across the ship to it's a** end. It was there that he would enter his mothers quarters. It was pitch black in there. He tried to move across the room but banged his shin to the side of the couch.

"Ow s**t!" he hissed hobbling. Once he made it to Onyx's oak desk he turned on the lamp. Opening and closing drawers, cabinets, and rummaging through shelves, he could not find the book he was looking for. He moved deeper into his mothers room looking through a few boxes. Moving behind the shoji screens things got dark again. She stumbled around trying to find the entrance to the bathroom so that he could turn on the bathroom light.

[Metal Trsu]

The vampire stirred himself from the bed, body rolling across the mattress while his eyes came to open resting along the side of the pillow that had been dragged from his face when Vincent decided to roam around. Having assumed that the pillow had just fallen from his movements Metal just turned and reached out his arms running over the sheets and then off the side of the bed to hang in the air. Legs out stretched even further as his feet did the same thing his body arched up a bit while he stretched and a low groaning sound could be heard coming from behind the Shogi screens of Onyx's bedroom "Hmmmmmggrr." A loud sigh came from his lips all the while he just relaxed his body letting it fall as if he had no bones whatsoever. It was soon though that his attention was grabbed by the thud that echoed throughout the room which was followed quickly by the sound of someone yelling 'Ow' Metal rolled over onto his stomach now his hands coming up along the bottom of his chin while looking as Heiden of all people appeared within the dark room. Looking at him Metal didn't move he just watched him now. Stumbling around the room his brow raised as he began to stumble around more so his hands and arms looking for the light switch. "What are you doing?" He asked him, his body now turning to it's side his right arm now bending at the elbow as his cheek rested along his face while he lay there staring at Heiden now.