Post by ωΘĿƒ on Jun 25, 2009 17:56:06 GMT -6
Life seemed to slow as soon as one entered Colleger Town. Life seemed to dull, to grow weary with itself and drag on rather than fly or march onward. In fact, Colleger was made for specifically that reason: To slow life. To stop it. And to exist in a state where life was merely a suggestion, followed only by those unknowing of the true nature of Colleger.
This was not the case in the Bite Cafe, however.
Life blistered with energy here. Life spat in the face of death and danced through the night and right on until sunrise. But not a life of living - only a life of half-living. A life fueled by the consumption of other life.
Such was the nature of vampires, after all.
Bite Cafe was the most active point in town. Its very foundations thrummed with the deep dance music that encased it, and the sound of excited voices could be heard even from the streets of little old Colleger Town. To find a quiet spot was nearly impossible, and to fine a spot where there wasn't already a jubilant lost soul was even more so. Professor Daniel Crane seemed to manage enough, though. He had found for himself a quiet spot to sit, near the darkened wall and the barkeeper's den behind the counter. The barkeeper was there, now, rubbing down glasses and listening to the sound of the thrumming music.
"So what are you going to do about it?" The barkeep asked, his sharp eyes still on the wayward dancers as he spoke.
"Now that is the question, isn't it?"
Crane raised a glass, draining the liquid inside in a single gulp. The barkeep just laughed, shaking his head at the empty glass and pouring a new one for Crane.
"You can't get drunk on soda water, Daniel. You should try a little something stronger."
"Like what? Blood?" The old chimera laughed right back. "White, I've already got my immortality. I don't need the life of innocents to keep me going."
White's voice was exceedingly polite, but his nose wrinkled slightly in disgust.
"Innocents. Why do you always have to put it that way, Daniel? You have your easy fix to death. You don't need to do anything to sustain it. Some of us lesser beings should only be so lucky."
He set a clean glass on the table silently.
"Besides, I haven't had one of your kids in ages, so why pester me with this innocents ****?"
Crane could only nod appreciatively, drinking down the rest of his water. He didn't drink. White knew that, yet every time he offered something stronger. Maybe blood, maybe some of his contraband liquor. He didn't know.
"No need to get defensive, White. I was only stating a fact."
White went back to his cleaning, but now his attention was more focused on Crane and less on his patrons.
"So? You haven't answered me yet. What are you going to do about your little personal problem? You do know the prosperity of this town reflects how well you manage to provide cover from the real world out there. I wouldn't want anything happening to my business."
"No, no you wouldn't." Crane sighed. "I've a plan. It will take a few more sessions, but I'm working on it. Don't worry. Your little town won't be harmed." He smiled slightly. "I'll keep out the big bad humans."
White chuckled to himself at that.
"Oh, don't do that. I do need to eat, you know. And my children. What will they do without the boogie men of the real world? They aren't keen on Race blood, but they'll eat anything if they get hungry enough. Just keep the all seeing eyes off our town, and keep the dilemmas out of your school, and I'll be a happy monster."
"I'll handle it." Crane said bluntly. He had finished his drink now, and was readying himself to leave.
"Oh, and White..."
"Yes, Daniel?
"The kids are in town."
"I know, Daniel. I will do as you've asked."
Crane pulled a hood down over his face, and tipping his head to the barkeep in farewell, he left.
Just as the night began... White looked out over the crowd in the cafe, his voice calm but easily reaching each and every ear.
"You heard the man. Get going."