a day to myself [ open ]

[Aleena Leatherby]

Aleena rarely got a day alone anymore

Ever since accepting the job under Rafael, Aleena's whole life seemed to revolve around the Cuban vampire. She had been forced to move into the same apartment as him, for instance, and had then been told her blood was to mix with his in order to bind them. It was all so much more than what she had ever bargained or asked for. But it was her job now; she had no choice but to stay by his side and protect Rafael from whatever hunters or weres decided to go after him.

At the very least, she considered, such a job would give her good reason to stretch her muscles. Already the redhead had ripped two hunters apart and nearly neutered some poor shifter after he snarled a comment just a little too loudly. If there was one thing she was good at, it was fighting. It was killing. And Aleena was so good at killing that she was getting a reputation. "The Brute" they called her; strong enough to turn a man inside out, and dangerous enough to do it.

Once, Aleena might have been offended at being called such a thing. Now, however, she reveled in it. She could do this one thing right. She could protect Rafael and keep him safe and it would work. But even with the amount of joy she got from this profession, there was no doubt that she was getting tired of always being at his side. That was why she was out now, moving amongst New York's streets. The vampires and humans both passed by her, but only the vampires twitched at her passing; they could smell Rafael all over her.

Desiring more silence than noise, Aleena slipped into a nearby cafe. She ordered a coke and few cake pops, then leaned back; she was determined to enjoy her day off.

God save the poor soul who decided to interrupt her.

WORDS ;; 327 ;;
THOUGHTS ;; Aleena wants to par-tay. ;;
TAGGED ;; Open! ;;
MUSIC ;; None ;;
OUTFIT ;; [ Click! ] ;;
OUTFIT ;; joan by heather dale ;;

[Ty Fisher]

More and more, Ty found himself alone. Had for...what was it? Nine years now? Sure, he'd had the occasional...companion every now and then, but it was temporary; never worked out. In the end, it was always just him. Even here, in a place so occupied as New York, he was still alone. In the middle of vampire territory, even. Maybe the woman who'd informed him of the job, Jade, he thought her name was, was right and he was crazy or had a death wish.

Or maybe the thought of this danger just gave him more drive to do it. What was it both her and the guy who eventually hired him said? Right, 'Worse case scenario, you'll be something for the vampires to play with." And he'd laughed at that. And so far, he was alive; granted it'd only been a week, and he usually stayed at home when he wasn't serving alcohol.

But he didn't have to go in until later, and he couldn't sleep, so he made his way to a nearby cafe, ordering the largest cup of coffee they had. The shifter slipped into a booth in the corner, near the window so he could see out, and close enough to the door so he could get away. And yet far enough to where he wouldn't draw attention. He could just feel other presences in the room. Mostly vampires, but an oddity here and there. He was obviously an oddity as well, but he just didn't care anymore.

So, he just sat in the corner, surveying the room, almost paranoid as he studied the beings in the room. Maybe he was stupid...

[Aleena Leatherby]

It wasn't long before someone else decided the cafe was a good place to crash. Aleena knew it would happen; this was a popular cafe, especially after the sun went down. Though, to be honest, most who came in here were humans or Thralls, the occasional vampire would wander in and order something. Those were usually the older vampires, the ones who were past the glam and glitz of being an undead and were now more content with enjoying their long lives.

So it wasn't really surprising when the door jingled and another soul walked it. It wasn't even that surprising when a quick glance revealed the stranger was not a vampire, but a flesh and blood soul. Not quite human, perhaps, if the way the bartender shifted was any indication, but not a vampire, either. That was enough to gain her attention. Aleena picked up one of the cake pops and stuck it into her mouth, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly.

If he wasn't human, and he wasn't vampire, then he had to be one of the other races. One of the other races that weren't supposed to be in New York. Granted, Aleena figured, one individual wasn't so unusual, especially in a town as big as New York. But if he wasn't alone, then his race could be planning something. Or, as per usual, Aleena could be over thinking and thus working herself up for nothing. 

She bit into the cake pop, chewed slowly.

Aleena would keep her eyes on him, for now. If anything happened, she would leave and find Rafael, to tell him. She had connections with the Vampire Council, after all, as she was the Thrall of the Thirteenth. To hide the smile at that thought, she lifted her drink to her lips and sipped.

WORDS ;; 301 ;;
THOUGHTS ;; Suspicious. ;;
TAGGED ;; Ty Fisher ;;
MUSIC ;; Royals, Lorde ;;
OUTFIT ;; [ Click! ] ;;
OUTFIT ;; joan by heather dale ;;

[Ty Fisher]

Ty'd noticed the other woman noticing him. Or he noticed she'd look in his direction every now and again. But for now, he just played it cool, sipping his coffee. His heart started to race, the blood rushing through his body in preparation just in case things hit the fan. And it almost made him smile, which likely made him look even more suspicious. Not that he really cared.

He kept an eye on the other being, occasionally sneaking a glance in her direction. But one time too many, as their eyes met. The shifter tensed a little, then turned his cup up again. It was empty, but she didn't have to know that, did she? After awhile, the young man stood up, making his way past the woman, careful not to make eye contact as he passed, throwing his cup in the nearby trash can.

[Aleena Leatherby]

Aleena noticed how the man continued to look at her every so often, his eyes flicking to the bar, then over to her. It didn't bother her, at least not at first; after all, she was looking at him in the same manner. And that tended to happen when two people were the only ones in the cafe, as humans were often very curious about each other. So Aleena was silent the entire time, choosing to not say a word, instead pretending that the man did not exist at all, except for the during the times she snuck a peak here or there.

At the same time, Aleena tried not to attract attention to herself. The last thing she needed was nothing fight so close to the last one, especially if the only thing this guy wanted was to eat his damned dinner in peace. After all, while Aleena was the strongest human around -- and possibly ever -- she had more important things to do than pick a cafe fight with some stranger. Things that involved keeping her vampire straight and safe from the rest of the mad world, not picking fights with random strangers and thus endangering the only person she might even call a friend.

However, towards the end of her little snack, she finally noticed that he had looked at her one too many times, as though he was purposely watching her. Perhaps it was more than just peaking, she though, and the hair on the back of her neck stood straight up. She watched as he stood, purposely avoiding her eyes this time, and made his way to the trashcan. Her grip on the last cakepop tightened, nearly breaking the poor stick in half. She had to bite the thing to keep from speaking.

What she wouldn't give for one of the Councilmen to come rolling in right about now.

WORDS ;; 313 ;;
THOUGHTS ;; Suspicious-er. ;;
TAGGED ;; Ty Fisher ;;
MUSIC ;; Royals, Lorde ;;
OUTFIT ;; [ Click! ] ;;
OUTFIT ;; joan by heather dale ;;

[Ty Fisher]

He wanted to say something; to do something, but nothing came to mind. You brought this on yourself, Ty. Choosing to work in the freaking center of vampire activity. Maybe he did, but this wasn't a vampire. But what if she had friends? Or worse, what if she was cozy with a vampire or two? That's possible, right?

He turned around to see she'd tensed; he didn't have to tap into his dog's senses to figure that one out. "I don't know why you've been eyeing me," he whispered, albeit firmly, once he was next to her table, his Louisiana accent still as thick as ever. "But I don't want any trouble; just a minority trying to etch out a living."

His piece spoken, he started towards the door, still feeling the blood pumping adrenaline through his veins as his fight or flight reaction kicked in. God, it made the little hairs on his arms stand up. Maybe a small part of him was hoping this would turn out ugly. Imagine the adrenaline-high that would get him...

[Rafael Ramón de Leon]

WORD COUNT [ 456 ] MOOD [ grumpygills ] OUTFIT [ click! ] MUSIC [ LotR soundtrack ] TAG [Aleena Leatherby, Ty Fisher] NOTES [ daytime? nighttime! i hope you don't mind but i wanted to play with the both of you. ali said it'd be cool. ]

Rafael had not been having the most pleasant evening. Aleena had taken the day off. Normally, he would not mind that, not in the slightest. He could take care of himself, after all, it was just a bit harder for him than it was for most able-bodied creatures, and it involved a lot of swinging around on hooks built into the wall for the express purpose of getting him places his chair couldn't reach. What he did mind, however, was that she had taken the day off, and he had subsequently discovered that one of his walls now had a big, purple, sparkly smiley face painted on it. He assumed she had gotten bored. But he didn't care. He was livid. Not only that, but she'd also stayed out considerably past dark. Perhaps she'd lost the time. Aleena had proceeded to refuse to answer his texts on the paint matter, and had also refused to answer her phone. After that, and after getting an angry call from Cromwell screaming about some rogue werewolf or other that Rafael couldn't give less of a damn about, the vampire had decided that he just needed to get out of his spacious apartment and get himself some – literally – bloody coffee, and maybe some – also literally – bloody pastries while he was at it. The Cuban allowed his driver to help him into his chair, giving a sigh as he did. He tightened his fingerless gloves, tucked the grey-blue blanket he'd chosen around his legs, and began to wheel himself towards the cafe. “Wait here,” he instructed his diver. His accent had a slight Hispanic lilt to it, mostly faded over the years but still very much there. “I shouldn't be too long, perhaps an hour at most. Feel free to go to the shops nearby, but stay in the area, please. I want you here when I get back.” As he was giving his instructions, he opened the door without looking. Another man barreled right into him as he began to wheel himself inside. Rafael growled and looked up with a hiss, flashing his fangs. “I would watch where I was going, if I was you. That is, if you want to keep your–” The scent hit him, all at once. The first thing it told him was “not human”. The second thing it told him was “shifter”, which was surprising in its own right. This was New York: vampire territory. The capital of vampire territory, if the council had anything to say about it. And yet here was a shifter, walking amongst them as if nothing was amiss. Rafael's eyes narrowed. “You're a long way from London or Sydney, child.” post template by Tony

[Ty Fisher]

Ty was still focused on the prior conversation, and therefore didn't see when he barreled into the man in the wheelchair. Wait...the vampire in a wheelchair... Ty had a feeling that regardless of current circumstances, the vampire was not one to mess with. Then there was the fact that he was vastly outnumbered. Needless to say, adrenaline or no, a fight wasn't exactly the brightest idea here.

"I'm also a long way from my birth-town," he replied smoothly, that Louisiana accent just dripping from his voice. He'd made a solid point not to call it 'home.' "And a long way from Detroit, from Africa, from space, from winning an Oscar...the list goes on." Ty knew what the guy was getting at; that was obvious. Quite honestly, Ty didn't really care about this so-called war.

"I work and live here. At least right now, anyway." He stepped aside after saying his fill, not quite making his way out the door yet. Something in him wanted to see how this would play out. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but Ty preferred dogs.

[Aleena Leatherby]

She was about to say something to man, something along the lines of how dare he assume anything about her, when movement caught the corner of her eye. It was a car pulling up; a very familiar car, with a very familiar man as its passenger. Almost immediately the woman seemed to light up, and Aleena was on her feet. She tossed her food wrappers and cup into the trash, thanked the man who had worked hard on making her small meal, and then started towards the wheelchair'd vampire.

It was then she noticed the man she had been watching, the man who had addressed her in a fairly rude manner, was also making his way towards Rafael. Immediately, Aleena was on edge, and she quickened her pace. She had to get between the two before something happened -- if somethig even happened. She had to remind herself that conflict wasn't always necessary; that it didn't always happen. Just because she was prepared for something did not mean that the world had to go down that path with her.

But then the two collided, and Aleena pushed herself further and faster. She grabbed the stranger's arm, pulled him away from Raf. She pushed him towards the wall, being sure to allow her strength to give him a little extra shove, and was then immediately between the two men. Aleena, who had first seemed so happy and excited to see her boss, was now currently between the two of them, her hands clenched down by her side. She bared her teeth -- a habit she picked up from Rafael -- though hers were straight and dull.

Plain human teeth.

She took her cue from Rafael, and added, "Keep your tail tucked between your legs, Shifter, and your head down if you want to stay alive in this town. Most wouldn't take to you barreling into important people." Her lips curved upwards, ever so slightly. "You're just lucky I'm in a fairly decent mood right now."

WORDS ;; 331 ;;
THOUGHTS ;; Angry but happy to see Raf. ;;
TAGGED ;; Ty Fisher ; Rafael Ramón de Leon ;;
MUSIC ;; Television ;;
OUTFIT ;; [ Click! ] ;;
OUTFIT ;; joan by heather dale ;;

[Rafael Ramón de Leon]

WORD COUNT [ 373 ] MOOD [ annoyed ] OUTFIT [ click! ] MUSIC [ Catalyst by Linkin Park ] TAG [Aleena Leatherby, Ty Fisher] NOTES [ n/a ]

Of two things, Rafael was completely certain. The first was that this man – this shifter – was probably going to be one of the most insolent little children the vampire had ever had the misfortune of coming across. The second was that Aleena was here. Which was surprising; Rafael had not actually been seeking her out. He watched her passively, leaning back in his chair as she pushed the other man aside as easily as some people might brush eraser dust off of their desks. It pleased him to know how eagerly she did her job; he didn't even have to ask her to remove the other man from his proximity. He just had to wait, and there she would be, her body shoved into the space between them. “Aleena, dear.” Rafael held up a hand, gesturing with two fingers to beckon her too his side. He gave her a small hint of what could almost, somewhat, be called a smile, if you squinted very hard and if you knew him well enough to know his lips almost never curved like that. He wanted to show the little Plus his approval. The Cuban turned his attention back to Ty. The people around them had given them a wide berth and were beginning to act as though the group wasn't even there at all. Every vampire recognized Raf – or at least, due to having no photos or video, they recognized his wheelchair. It wasn't every day you saw a vampire in a wheelchair. “You know who you're dealing with, I hope,” he said, tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair. He glanced down to examine his nails, seeming almost absent-minded. “You should have heard of me, at the very least, if you're living in this town; or you should have done your research, if not.” He glanced back up. “I am Rafael Ramón Hernandez de Leon, thirteenth of the vampire council, and it would be wise of you not to piss me off right now. Or lie to me. “What sort of work is it you're doing here? Because that seems hardly likely, a shifter doing something mundane in the dead center of vampire territory.” post template by Tony

[Ty Fisher]

Ty stiffened as the woman inserted herself into the situation again. So many thoughts were buzzing in his head that it was getting harder for him to focus. But what he did gather, was that the girl was sort of like a pet to the vampire. Adrenaline still pumping, Ty waited for the vampire to finish speaking, stepping back a little to give them their space.

"Well, I was just enjoying a hot cup of coffee before your friend there decided to give me the stink-eye. Like I told her, I'm just a minority trying to etch out a livin' here." The kid was trying his best to keep the situation calm now. After all, they were in the vampire capital, and here was a high-profile, high ranking vampire. That and his adrenaline fix was starting to wear off, and this was now nothing more than an annoyingly tense situation with a 'couple' of sorts. Supernatural status notwithstanding.

When the vampire finished speaking, Ty spoke calmly, brushing his long brown hair from his face and taking a breath. "I'd hardly call working a bar in the heart of vampire activity 'mundane'," he answered. "I'm a bartender. That said, a lot of vampires actually like me, if only for the couple of seconds it takes to give them booze." He kept his dark grey eyes focused on Rafael. "Booze, in the right doses, actually creates a more peaceful environment." And your pet there could use a lot of it... He pulled out his phone, looking at the clock; he still had about an hour.

"Speaking of, I have about an hour before I have to go. If you think you're pissed, you should see Iris if she's left waiting..."

[Aleena Leatherby]

She kept her body between the two men, her shoulders lifted and her chin held high. Her mouth pressed together, lips forming a tight, thin line. She had taken a dominating position, a position that clearly screamed I will win if we fight. It's best not to mess with me. Years of dealing with both humans and vampires had taught her the crucial subtleties that would keep her ahead of the pack, and keep her head of the pack. As a Thrall, she had an obligation to keep not only herself in her position, but her Vampire, and the only way she could do that was by proving they were both deserving of Alpha.

That is, until her boss decided to call her back. With only a moment of hesitation, as she was unsure she wanted to leave him so open to attack from this Shifter, the Thrall submitted to her Vampire. She slipped from her protective position to take her place by his side, one hand resting gently on the handle of his wheelchair. She did not grab or pull him; her fingers did not even wrap around the handle. She merely rested there, her hand a slight assurance to both herself and him that she could move into action, should the moment call for it.

"News flash, friend. Vampires don't like you," she said, her voice calm and level. There was just the barest hint of a small on her face as she continued, "they like what they can get from you, which is definitely not the same thing as liking you. Especially not if you're a minority in Vampire territory with no Vampire's name to claim as yours."

That's what she had, after all. She was Rafael's bodyguard, his aid. She helped him move and get around. She helped him get ready when he needed it. But just as she was his Thrall, so was he her Vampire. It was a two way street, Thralldom. One gained from and gave to the other, and vice versa. Emotions ran high where mixed blood pulsed.

"Speaking of Vampires, Shifter, I do not think Señor de Leon has released you from his company yet. Don't you know it's rude to go running off from a Councilman? No matter where you claim you have to be." Almost absentmindedly, Aleena reached over, picking a stray hair off Raf's shoulder and flicking it away. "Careful. You missed a spot, Raf."

WORDS ;; 407 ;;
THOUGHTS ;; Hangin' out with her Raf being all protective. ;;
TAGGED ;; Ty Fisher ; Rafael Ramón de Leon ;;
MUSIC ;; Television ;;
OUTFIT ;; [ Click! ] ;;
OUTFIT ;; joan by heather dale ;;

[Rafael Ramón de Leon]

WORD COUNT [ 326 ] MOOD [ ugh ] OUTFIT [ click! ] MUSIC [ RHPS soundtrack ] TAG [ Aleena Leatherby, Ty Fisher ] NOTES [ sorry this took so long! ]

Rafael could not help himself. When Aleena spoke, he smirked, his lips pulling up just enough to show a centimeter of fang. He reached up to pat her hand where it rested on the handle of his wheelchair, another small token of his approval. “She's right, you know,” he said, a small purr rumbling in his chest. “I guarantee you that no one here will like you, only what they can get from you; in this case, booze and labor. Believe me, I know exactly how that is.” He watched Ty for a moment, looking him up and down. He didn't feel like the boy was much of a threat – an idiot, perhaps, as well as someone who had no sense of self-preservation, but most certainly not dangerous, especially not for the vampire and his unnaturally strong bodyguard. The Cuban gave a sigh, waved his hand in dismissal. “You may go, I don't need to question your further. Get to your job, if that's where you're really headed. Just get out of my sight.” Rafael turned his chair, rolling his shoulders. “Come, Aleena. I'm came here to get myself some coffee. Would you like something else while we're here?” As soon as the tension drained, the cafe began to bustle again. No one strained to hear the conversation any more; no one sat completely quiet and still in the hopes an angry councilman would target someone else instead of them. Life returned to the little store, bit by bit. Rafael made the note to himself to ask the store's owner for security footage, however. The boy might not have been a threat then and there, but in the long run? That was a different question. He could be a spy, or a time bomb. They'd just have to wait and see. He would get the tapes, and he would have Ty watched. That was all he could do, for right then. post template by Tony

[Ty Fisher]

"Frankly," Ty said calmly, "I don't give a damn who likes me and who doesn't. If you like me, great, if not, eh. Not exactly looking for popularity, considering my location. Like I said, I'm just a minority trying to etch out a living." The shifter didn't flinch, his voice didn't waver, nor did he show any sign of hostility, even if the situation was starting to annoy him. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes; he had no interest in vampire rankings, or what was "right" in their eyes.

Years ago, it may have ended differently. He would have at least bucked the authority a little, especially if his sister had been with him. But the fact of the matter was, she wasn't. Maybe never would be by his side again. Ah well, what's done was done, and he couldn't change that. Shrugging it off, Ty turned to leave, making his way out the door.

This was the rare occasion where Ty questioned his decisions. He knew what he was getting into, and often did it anyway. But why was this time any different? Grah...damn bloodsuckers and their thinking they ruled the freaking world. As he walked down the street, his frustration became increasingly more visible. He had a choice. From now on, either keep his head down and his ass in line, or move on to another city, start all over again.

For some reason, he felt compelled to stay here a bit longer. If nothing else, at least his job at the bar was never boring.

[Aleena Leatherby]

Unable to help herself, Aleena laughed.

It was a deep sound, a rumbling noise that started in her chest and left through her throat. She didn't even seem to mind the Shifter's last words; in fact, they seemed to amuse her. "Just trying to earn a living" was a catch all term. It was a term someone used when they had no idea what they were doing or where they were going -- or, especially, when they wanted a conversation to end. It seemed as though this Shifter was a bit of all three, what with the way he shuffled out.

It was a good thing he had hurried, too. Aleena had been less than three minutes from pounding his ugly face into the sidewalk. Between the fact he had dared to lay a hand on her Vampire and the disrespect he had spoken to the both of them, it was a miracle she had not already smeared his flesh and blood across the concrete. Then again, it was probably a good thing she hadn't. The Council didn't need any bad news attached to their name, and she didn't need to kill anyone else this week.

Those three weres had been enough for her, at least for now.

With the Shifter gone, Aleena turned to her boss and grinned. It was a delighted expression, like a dog who had just performed a trick. And, in a way, she was; she had just defended her Vampire from the anger and annoyance of a too confidant Shifter. She had made him smile. That was a victory all in itself, especially when one considered exactly who it was she worked with. After all, Rafael Ramón Hernandez de Leon was not the kindest or gentlest of men, and so earning a smile was her treat of the day.

"I'd take another iced coffee," the Plus finally said, resting her hands on the handles of his wheelchair. She was going to let him give her the cue when he wanted her to either release or push him; there was no need to pick a fight out here, where people could be watching. "Would you like me to order you something? The mocha flavoring here is divine. As is the caramel.

"They also have cake pops here! And they're really good."

WORDS ;; 384 ;;
THOUGHTS ;; Content and pleased. About to get her more coffee. ;;
TAGGED ;; Rafael Ramón de Leon ;;
MUSIC ;; Television ;;
OUTFIT ;; [ Click! ] ;;
OUTFIT ;; joan by heather dale ;;