InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Sarcasm is a honed skill"

Keisuke Uesugi (catchyourshadow) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-08-02 14:54:00

Entry tags:

jade, keisuke

Week Thirteen: Monday
When: Night
Where: Towers
Who: Keisuke and OPEN

Vampires for the most part, hated to travel. It was understandable really. For a species that could not bear sunlight and one that was weakened by its need to stay away from light, traveling meant being at the mercy of whatever unknown environment or people they were near during the daytime. Traveling was a hassle, a risk to be avoided. This was one of the reasons many and most vampires chose to stay root in their native home. Keisuke traveled more than any of the other "siblings" of his clan- he'd always been a bit of an outsider, this was merely one more strange characteristic to set him apart.

He didn't especially like traveling, much for the same reasons any other vampire wouldn't like traveling. Although he had safety spots, rooms, places he knew he could get to if he needed to stay somewhere in emergency, the chances of being trapped by daylight somewhere brought uncomfortable memories and the closest thing to fear that the vampire could feel actively. The faint scars from his last experience with daylight still decorated the back of his hands, though they had long since faded from their original burnt flesh look.

He'd been gone for a good few weeks, delayed by publications then by his own desire to stay put in Los Angeles to regain some security and establish a few more connections before returning to Seattle. He'd finally booked his return flight through the internet, marveling at the ease that modern technology allowed things to be accomplished these days. No longer did he have to worry about having to buy things at night, limited by what was open or relying on a third party to do his purchasing for him. Now he could order whatever he wanted from the internet. Amazon was your friend.

The flight was on time and he'd taken a taxi from the airport back to the Towers. Time was a strangely viewed concept for the undead and the few weeks that he'd been gone felt both like no time at all and like forever. It didn't matter. There could be time for getting to relearn the place. Holding the small travel duffel he'd lived out of during the trip to California, he made his way through the double doors of the Tower into the central lobby, shaking off the bit of rain he'd gotten on himself from the taxi to the building entrance.

(Post a new comment)

jadedheart
2008-08-02 05:58 pm UTC (link)

Jade, too, enjoyed the convenience of the internet to accomplish things that a vampire could not during the day. She'd done a reasonable amount of shopping online since she'd been turned, but there were times when a woman wanted to examine her potential purchases up close, try outfits on, hold jewelry up to her earlobes to see how it would look. Tonight had been one of those times, and she'd run out to venture into a store or two as soon as dusk had fallen.

She'd pushed through the front doors of the Towers just before Keisuke had, juggling her shopping bags in order to untie the gauzy scarf she'd tied around her head. She worked out the knot, then shook out her blonde hair once she'd tugged it off. Unluckily for Jade, she'd worn high-heeled boots for her shopping expedition, and she hit a slick tile and skidded, dropping the bags she carried and scattering their contents across the floor.

The vampire caught herself quickly; she'd noticed that her reflexes were so much better than they used to be. With an unneeded sigh, she stuffed the scarf into her coat pocket and knelt down to begin picking her bags up. She'd been planning to launder everything before wearing it anyway, but how clumsy. At least there didn't seem to be anyone present in the lobby to see her klutz attack, she thought, and it was then that the front doors opened again to admit a dark-haired man carrying a duffel bag.

A dark-haired man who was also a vampire, she realized as she glanced at him from over her shoulder with renewed interest.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

catchyourshadow
2008-08-02 06:10 pm UTC (link)

Kazuki noticed the girl glancing at him right away. It was a sixth sense, a survival ability to be able to and want to catch observers. Also, there was no other person in the open lobby area except for the young blonde woman, bent over collecting a scattered mess of bags, clothes and accessories. And not just any woman.

Even from the distance of the door to her, which was a good ten feet, he could catch the faintest hint of blood and undead. A vampire and young if he was a judge of how she still carried obviously human actions and movements. He paused for the briefest of hesitations before stepping in, his black shoes making no sound against the floor, and set his bag down on the ground. Meeting her eyes, he gave a slow tilt of the head before crossing over and helping pull things back into their bags. His hands were gloved and the leather band around his tattooed wrist peeked out from under his grey jacket.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

jadedheart
2008-08-05 03:08 pm UTC (link)

The incredible acuity of her senses now was something Jade was not sure she'd gotten used to, and it was something that still pleased her. Being able to discern the differences that others missed, being able to tell if someone was not merely human through her senses of smell and hearing was something she couldn't imagine how she'd managed without. She smiled at the other vampire as he nodded to her and then made his way over to help her.

She was mildly amused as she noticed that he seemed hesitant, as if he hadn't been sure whether to stop and lend assistance or go on about his night. Were all vampires this reticent, or was it just him? She had not yet met another of her kind besides Tony, so she had no way to gauge the situation. Jade scooped up silks and lace that had tumbled out of a lingerie bag and set the bag upright, stealing glances at the man next to her as he silently helped her gather things with his gloved hands.

"Maybe I should do less shopping at one time," she offered, her tone mildly self-depreciating at the sheer number of bags she had. She smiled, exposing the tips of her fangs, something she generally didn't do when talking to others. At least, others who had no idea what she was now. Carefully, she grasped the handles of the refilled bags again and stood up. "Thank you," she said, shifting her weight and tossing blonde hair out of her eyes with a shake of her head since her hands were full. "I'm Jade Armstrong." She was wildly curious about this other vampire who had not yet spoken.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

catchyourshadow
2008-08-06 01:43 am UTC (link)

Keisuke didn't mean to be quiet, it was just part of his character. When he was younger and still human, he'd been trained to watch and listen more than speak- there was no place for a lowly page to give opinion in the courts. His lord had always been willing to listen to his inquiries but that was an exception not the rule. Later on. . .well, Akito had a habit of rewording the "worthless" opinions of those under him with mocking and taunts.

"Do you need help?" His English was perfect but with a slight accent touching upon the ends of his words. He helped her get a hold on her bags and turned back to pick up his own duffel bag. Turning back, he could see her still there, looking at him with interest.

"I am Keisuke. Uesugi Keisuke." Names were disposable things for the undead but recycling names through the years had resulted in one close to his heart. He may not have the right, but bearing the name of his old master was strangely appropriate. The girl had striking eyes, beautiful and filled with curiosity and life. A very young vampire, he would guess.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

jadedheart
2008-08-08 02:22 pm UTC (link)

Most people talked all the time, long after you wished they'd shut up. Jade saw it often in her job, which involved constant contact with others. It was almost refreshing to meet someone who didn't see the need to talk just to hear the sound of their own voice, she thought. It seemed to give the words they did speak more weight.

"Yes, thank you," Jade said when the other vampire offered help. She couldn't help but be interested in him, since so far she hadn't met nearly as many of her kind as she'd thought she might. Particularly living here in this building. There were plenty of spirits here; one of her legacies from Tony was the ability to sense them, though she couldn't see them or communicate with them. Spirits and, according to her Sire, vampires and demons, though she had yet to meet any.

"Pleased to meet you," she added when he offered his name in return for hers. She was indeed a young vampire, and in some ways it was peculiar because she didn't feel any different. In others, though, the difference was amazing. "Would you mind getting the elevator?" she asked. Technically, she could probably manage to push the button by herself, even if she had to poke it with her elbow, but wouldn't that be undignified when there was somebody around to do it for her?

(Reply to this) (Parent)