Asleep in the Park

Who: Evan and Regan, then Seven
When: After dark
Where: Trowbridge Park

The day didn't seem to have lost any of it's mugginess, even after the sun went down and Evan had felt almost claustrophobic at home. He'd had to get out, if even only for a while and so he'd grabbed a belt knife - force of habit wouldn't let him go out unarmed, but he wasn't expecting trouble and a firearm would look just to damn obvious in this neck of the woods - and headed out. The walk to Trowbridge Park had helped, enough so that when he got there, he sat down on a bench, sprawled out a little and just leaned back, looking up at the stars.

Regan was becoming more and more disenchanted with Marquette. The prey was weak and tasteless, and she'd had her fill of mad as hatter vampire bitches to last her the rest of eternity. She didn't like competition, and she particularly didn't like vampires she deemed tainted and beneath her.

She was still thirsty, and still eager for a bit of fun. Her feet carried her through the quiet streets. She considered those who were stupid enough to be out after dark, but none piqued her interest. Taking off her shoes, she began to walk through the small park to her left, enjoying the grass beneath her feet. There were few people here this late, some in the distance huddled together, the orange tips of their cigarettes illuminating the dark.

Her observant gaze swept along the area until her eyes rested upon a lone figure sitting on an iron bench, long legs stretched out in front of him. Her lips curved into a small smile and she began to approach the man, wondering, hoping, if she's found a decent form of entertainment.

Evan lay there with his eyes closed, enjoying the night. He heard the approaching footsteps, but made no move to look to see who it was. If they were a passerby, they'd keep on walking. If they were a nuisance, better they thought he was asleep. If they were danger? Well then, best they underestimated him. All in all, he had no real reason to move.

Regan approached the man, resisting the urge to lick her lips. She studied him for a moment, noting there was something slightly off, but unable to pinpoint it. He certainly wasn't a vampire, as she could see the tiny pulse in his neck.

Standing in front of him, she quirked an eyebrow when he didn't move.

"A bit dangerous to fall asleep in a public park after dark, isn't it?"

Evan didn't hold himself like most people, which could have been what was giving him away. Even 'relaxing' on a park bench, there was something in his posture which suggested a preparedness for danger that most people lacked. "It would be," he told the voice, without opening his eyes. "If I were asleep. Who are you and what do you want?" he asked her. Because it was clearly a her.

Grumpy, grumpy, Regan mused, with a touch of amusement. It was all right, however, as she preferred a bit of a challenge. Sitting down beside him, she leaned back and crossed her legs, dropping her shoes onto the grass below.

"It doesn't really matter who I am," she told him simply, debating whether a touch would do the trick, or if she should wait for him to open his eyes. "What I want, however, is a different story."

Evan, his eyes still closed, raised his eyebrows. Well, that took her out of the category of 'nuisance' and into the category of 'potential trouble' - nobody said that unless they were trouble. He opened his eyes a crack and looked down at her. "Maybe it matters to me how you are."

Regan smiled slowly, her eyes now shimmering with interest. She shifted until she faced him, her elbow resting on the back on the bench as she studied him pointedly. He had a steady pulse, a strong one. And he was handsome enough.

Quirking her eyebrow, she realized that he could use an upgrade in the wardrobe department, but she wasn't in the position to be choosy tonight.

"I'm Regan," she said finally, trailing her fingers over the edge of the bench. "I suppose you could say I haven't been in town very long." She paused a beat before adding. "Now it's your turn to tell me your name."

"Name's Evan," he told her. "And I haven't been in town overly long myself. What brings you here?" he asked her, figuring that he could talk to her for a while - at least until he figured out what she wanted. Who knew - she could turn out to be interesting.

"Evan," Regan repeated. "Young warrior. It suits you, I think." Of course, the name could also mean God is Good, but Regan preferred not to say that aloud. She could do small talk as well as he could. Regan found it to be a positive that he was new to town as well, as it could very well make him a tad bit more vulnerable.

"A change of scenery, I guess," she answered, leaning in closer to him before continuing softly, "Though I have to admit, there's not much scenery here at all. I think you may be the first interesting thing I've seen since I got here."

Not that many people knew the meaning behind his name - or actually how apt it actually was. He didn't know whether the name had been picked for that reason and had come to the conclusion a long while ago that it didn't matter anyhow. "No scenery?" he asked, ignoring her first comment in favour of her second. "Have you looked around you lately? You know, the big ass lake, the trees, the whole 'nature' thing. Or does that not appeal?" he asked her.

Wrinkling her nose, she tore her gaze away from his to look at the aforementioned 'nature' thing he was talking about. She could remember the wilderness surrounding her home years ago, how lovely everything had been with the sun shining down upon it. If she remembered correctly, autumn had been her favorite time of the year with the changing leaves, the oranges and reds...Now everything was simply dark and foreboding. It had been for over a century. It had changed her as deeply as Roman's bite had.

"It's all right," she conceded, shrugging slightly, "if you're completely oblivious to the things nature tends to harbor."

Evan watched her, intrigued, as she looked around in the darkness. "Okay," he said, leaning forward a little. "What's scenery then?" he asked her. He wondered what her answer would be - if nothing else, it threatened to be different to most.

She felt the smile on her lips again as she glanced at him. It was strange to be speaking to her intended victim when most times she merely had to introduce herself before they were enraptured enough for her to feed.

Regan considered his question, watching a couple walk from the park and begin to disappear down the street. A younger man with incredibly baggy pants walked the path to their left, a cigarette in his hand and his face hidden behind the shadow of his ball cap.

"People," she said finally, tearing her gaze away from the boy and looking at Evan. "Except for the seasons, scenery never changes. Unless you count the demolition of buildings, and trees to make room for a new mall or business complex, but really, who wants to look at that? People change. Constantly. Sometimes within seconds. It's really quite fascinating if you watch them long enough."

"You enjoy people watching?" Evan surmised with a questioning lilt at the end of the sentence. "And are the people around here particularly bland, boring?" he asked her, definitely leaning forward with interest now. "I suppose they aren't as varied as you may find in a city - people around here seem to enjoy the quiet life."

"Who wants a quiet life?" Regan asked, pulling a face. She couldn't fathom the thought, pitying the mortals who preferred to sit at home every night, watching the television, reading a book or knitting another sweater.

"Not everyone here is bland that I've seen." Some were flat out insane. "But I've not been overly impressed. I don't understand the desire to waste away what short time they have." Regan caught his gaze with the tiniest of smiles. "Everyone needs to have something to get their pulse pounding every once in awhile."

Evan stilled slightly and his tongue flickered out to wet his lips as he eyed her, suddenly rather more cautious. She'd used the word 'they' once too often for his liking. "You know," he drawled, playing out each word as he moved his hip slightly, feeling the knife against it. Good. "I think maybe I want to go back to my original question. What do you want?" She'd never actually answered that one.

He was on the defensive now, his eyes darker under the moonlight as he repeated his earlier question. Regan sighed. It was too bad really, she was enjoying their conversation. Wandering on her own for fifty years tended to get lonely sometimes. When was the last time anyone, human or not, had asked her anything significant?

But he was eying her closely now, and so the moment had passed. Feigning indifference, Regan shrugged one shoulder. "What do I want? Nothing in particular. Company, I suppose? It gets rather lonely in a new town, when you don't know anyone." Regan leaned in toward him again, her hand sliding over his shoulder.

He twitched and brushed her hand from his shoulder. "Don't touch me," he said, his previously friendly tone gone. He didn't like to be touched. He moved away from her, wondering if he could distract her long enough to simply melt into the background.

Regan lifted both palms up in a sign of surrender, unfolding her legs on the bench. She reached down to grab her shoes, placing them on her feet as she studied him. Her touch, or eye contact, hadn't invoked any change within him as it should have, which told her he wasn't all together human.

She was curious, but she doubted he would be overly revealing if she were to ask him exactly what he was.

"Like I said," Regan responded, irritated and slightly disappointed. She had forgotten for a moment what her purpose was for approaching him, "people can change before your eyes within seconds."

"Right," he said, unconvinced as he stood up. "Look, honey - little girls shouldn't be out at night playing with things they can't handle. I'll be a nice guy for a bit and let you wander on your way. It's been swell an' all, but - run along now," he told her, giving her an out. He wasn't in the mood for this, but if she wanted to push it, he could slap her down with the best of them.

"I wouldn't call myself a little girl." Regan stood, amusement trickling through her system as she faced him. Granted he had several more inches on her, but given what she had seen over the past one hundred and seven years, she wasn't afraid of him.

"You're one of them, then," she stated, crossing her arms beneath her breasts, smirking. "Should I thank you for the ten minutes you presented to me before turning into a bastard? If I hadn't touched you, would I have maybe gotten fifteen?"

"Darling, most people get less than five - and I don't need your thanks," he told her, not returning her smile. "As for being one ot 'them' - since I don't know who 'they' are, I couldn't tell you."

She studied the lines of his face, wanting to keep it in memory for later. "Let me see if I have it right," Regan began, already finding herself bored. It was a shame...he had potential to be interesting. And he had been nice. For a moment. "It's you against the world, right? No touchy feel-y, no intimacy. Sit all alone in the dark and brood."

Regan licked her lip, no longer wanting a taste, but instead craving a bite. "It's interesting, even attractive, for about a second. But women like a man to treat them badly, don't they? Maybe I'm no different. It was a pleasure to meet you Evan." She reached up and patted his cheek. "Maybe we'll meet again."

There was silent movement coming up behind Regan. Seven had arrived, having tracked down Evan again. She often took off, sometimes for days at a time, but she always came back. Always, always always she hunted him down. Tonight she was back again. She was good at remaining quiet, and she was doing it now. She stopped in the shadows, looking at Evan and the woman. Head canting to the side, she gave Evan a questioning sort of look, bonesaw already in her hand if he twitched in what she considered an affirmative way.

Evan's gaze twitched up from looking at the woman in front of him to behind her, watching as Seven materialised. His eyes narrowed slightly and there was something that was possibly a shake of his head, but ever so slight. He looked back to Regan. "Possibly I don't live my life to try and attract women," he pointed out, letting his cheek be patted. He felt the cool skin against his cheek and smiled - oh yeah, he knew what she was now. A cold smile appeared on his face, a glint in his eye. "Especially not ones like you."

Regan quirked her eyebrow, her smile widening. "Because women like me, we're all the same aren't we?" So he knew what she was. No, he definitely wasn't completely human. "I do what I can for a little bit of nourishment, a little bit of warmth, and I'm damned because of it. Feared, hunted."

Her smile slipped from her face. The heartbeat filling her ears was steady and fierce. And it wasn't his. Her back stiffened and Regan's green eyes locked with his. "You have a narrow minded view of the world I live in, but something tells me you're just as damned as I am, young warrior."

"If by 'all the same' you mean you all kill people and drink their blood then, yes, I'd say you're all the same," Evan said lightly, giving her a smirk.

"I drink their blood, yes, but killing isn't my thing," she told him simply, unflinching from his gaze. "I do what I have to do to survive, just as anyone. But just because I was changed, doesn't mean I follow the same path as the others."

Seven was distinctly unhappy. Mostly because she had a tendency to not like monsters around Evan, especially when he wasn't fighting them. And Seven was certain this one was something different. Monster. She didn't move, but was frowning unhappily. "Ev-an." she said. Which would give away her position, but she didn't think there was a chance in hell the woman would stand up to the both of them. Noooo way.

Regan heard the stilted voice and knew better than to take her eyes off of Evan, currently smirking at her. She had her share of darkness, and she had done things in her past she deemed necessarily.

What she hated, more than anything, were the hypocrites. The demons who pretended to be good, who pretended to be above her. More than anything, she hated the demons who hunted people like her.

Finally, she glanced over her shoulder. The girl standing there looked...horrid. Like she hadn't had a bath in weeks. Smirking, Regan shifted her gaze back to Evan.

"Your keeper, I presume?"

"That depends on your point of view," he told her. After all, Seven still insisted in referring to him as her 'sidekick' - when she could put the words together, that was. Sometimes she forgot, but he could see it in her expression. "She doesn't like to share."

Regan debated if it was worth it to take them both on for a simple meal. She hadn't fed yet that night and her energy was fading quickly. As it was, she had no use for putting her hands on someone as filthy as the girl behind her, and quite frankly, if Regan's instincts were true, then the man standing in front of her now would taste rancid anyway.

She would have to find someone else.

Regan mustered up a dramatic sigh. "I fear it would result in a losing battle should I choose to compete with such a lovely young lady." Regan looked over her shoulder at the disheveled girl. "He's all yours, sweetie." Turning back to Evan, she curved her lips into a smile as she began to walk away to find a much more cooperative victim. "Have a pleasant evening."