lustforblood (lustforblood) wrote in zionmystiqueic, @ 2020-02-20 08:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | !conversation, kerr |
Who: Edward and Kerr
What: Shopping and Secrets
When: February 10th, evening
Where: Downtown New Orleans
Rating: Mid
Status: Complete
She’d gone into town with some others, curious- who wasn’t? At first she wasn’t sure what she was most interested in, Kerr walked down the blocks, peeking into the windows of the shops. The Reverend had helped gather modern money that was given out in a limited amount until the first show. She was almost certain a more than bit of it had been stolen while the rest was magicked. Of course the bigger shock was how expensive things were (some were already changing prices of acts because of it). The day had passed and the moon rose as she wandered into a store. It was smaller and not as intimidating as some of the others.
Of course, Kerr was in one of her few outfits, definitely out of date. A group of girls who were shopping spied her and gushed over her ‘classic’ taste, referring her to in a masculine sense. Kerr tucked a bit of hair behind her ear and thanked them in a mutter before moving to the men’s section. She looked through the racks, many of the shirts were tight and would make her figure a lot more obvious.
“We sell binders.” A young woman told her. Kerr turned, a bit confused. The woman looked… different. She had a more angular jaw and larger hands- things that were opposite her features.
“Sorry?” She asked, confused.
“Binders sweetie. Not sure what you’re rocking under that-“ she wiggles her finger in a circle at Kerr. “But that shirts way too baggy and I’m guessing you’re using Ace or something, which is just so bad for you.” She waved a hand. “You wait here, I’ll find one for you.”
Kerr was caught off guard and before she could object the representative was off. As Kerr turned to leave before the woman came back and she got in any deeper she found her cheeks heat up with embarrassment as she saw a familiar face standing there- how much he’d seen… she didn’t know.
—
Edward wasn’t really sure about this whole future thing, everyone was rushing around most of the time glued to those weird looking tiny telephones or driving such advanced automobiles that he still couldn’t believe what he was seeing half of the time. Still, when the opportunity came for an after dark shopping trip he decided to go in, maybe these modern shops had some good clothing to update his wardrobe.
Of course a man walking around in a suit and cravat drew some attention but surprisingly not as much as he had expected. A few people had even stopped him to compliment his ‘classic dress’, which just earned a raised brow and a murmured ‘humans’ when they had left.
He had stepped into a store and was looking through the racks of clothing, so many of them had this fake material - polyester - in them and he just didn’t like it, it felt so weird against his skin that was used to cottons, wools and silks. There were a few items that he didn’t mind but they were expensive, even by these modern standards.
That was when he saw the young rouseabout Kerr. Although looking like a man Edward knew that ‘he’ wasn’t one, no matter how well it was hidden there was still that smell of blood once every month, Edward wasn’t about to give away the secret though, they all had things others didn’t know.
He had seen the exchange between Kerr and the woman and it had made him smirk a bit, walking over Edward whispered softly “I know Kerr, your secret’s safe with me.”
--
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Mr. Byron.” She said, looking at the ground as she shifted back slightly at the approach. Her accent still carried, hinting at her London birth. Kerr didn’t socialize as much as she should, always afraid of giving herself away. The threat of jail had been hanging over her ‘back home’, now that they were in a different time… did she need to keep hiding who she was? Of course, she was pretty sure she knew what the vampire was talking about and she scratched at her neck. “I was just going.” She added, glancing back to where the woman had gone. Kerr wouldn’t have been able to afford anything the woman brought back anyhow… so why stick around? Even if part of her was a bit curious.
--
There was a smirk, fangs flashing for a moment that only Kerr would be able to see. “Oh Kerr, my good fellow. Stay.” A hand reached out, resting lightly on the youth’s shoulder. “See what that lovely lady has gone to find you.”
There was something about Kerr’s insecurities and shyness that kind of attracted Edward in a way, in a way that he was sure that Eva felt towards her pets, of course he would never expose the youth’s secret, not now in the future or if they ever got back to the past, but he also had seen just how lonely things were for Kerr, maybe having someone to talk to wouldn’t be a bad thing for either of them. “This is the future, they might have something that will surprise you.”
--
The woman returned and held up a chest binder. It wasn’t completely unlike her own, but had straps that went over the shoulders and looked a lot more comfortable. “Here darling.” She held it up to Kerr. “You wanna try it on? I bet you would look fabulous with…” She poked around the rack for a moment before coming away with a simple black shirt, a jacket and some jeans. “You’ve got a really interesting look here… I’m loving the vintage chique, but… this is a simple classic look that I think you can really rock.” She said, ushering Kerr into a dressing room before she could object.
Kerr looked at herself a long moment in the mirror before removing her suspenders and shirt. Her binding corset was tight around her chest and down her sides, straightening out her form. Removing it she was able to let out a deep breath- though she’d gotten used to the restriction of it. She pulled off her boots and pants and then slowly started to dress in the new clothes. She was right, the binder was a lot more comfortable, softer and she felt like she could move better than the one with metal rods. As she pulled on the shirt she ran her fingers through her hair and looked at the way her body looked. It had been a long time since she’d really seen herself- honestly she wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen whole body like that before. It made her feel funny.
Meanwhile, the store rep was looking Edward over. “Vintage as well I see.” She clapped her hands together as a clear epiphany hit. “Oh my god, wait… are you with the carnival everyone’s been talking about? My girlfriends and I can’t wait to go this weekend!”
Shyly Kerr came out of the dressing room as she slid the jacket on and smoothed the fabric of the shirt a bit.
--
Edward stood there, seeing the look on Kerr’s face as she was handed a heap of clothing and then ushered into a dressing cubicle, chuckling softly and shaking his head a bit. He could’ve left the store, left Kerr to this shopping experience but he didn’t, she was human but she was also a part of Zion and he’d keep an eye on her.
He gave the store representative a closed mouth smile. “What can I say dear, I love the classic look. Despite the comings and goings of fashions these days, it never really goes out of style. A gentleman always looks good in a tailored suit.” Edward couldn’t really say he was flirting, it was more just the charm that he had.
“We are. I am sure your friends and you will enjoy Zion, a taste of the classical era of sideshows and carnivals.” Or that was at least that was what they were saying to this modern era of people. It was that moment that Kerr came out of the dressing cubicle. “Much better!”
--
Kerr blushed at Edwards exclamation. “I- oh-” She almost turned and fled right back into the dressing room, but the clerk was quick and insistent in taking a look at her.
“It’s missing something…” She hummed before snapping her fingers and hurrying over to a hat rack and grabbed a black trilby hat off the rack and added it to the look. “Perfect.” She turned Kerr around to look at herself in the mirror. “All ready for a night out.”
It wore well, felt comfortable, but Kerr could only imagine how much it cost. Her eyes looked down to the paper attached to the sleeve of the jacket, while she couldn’t read the words she did know numbers and that was a large one. “Maybe another time.” She said softly as the clerk looked into the dressing room at what Kerr had been wearing.
“Oh no.. no way am I going to let you leave in that old and dirty.” She said, picking up the corset. “I have to give you props for commiting to the bit, but this thing is going to get you tetanus if not just plain uncomfortable.”
“But I don’t…” Kerr sighed. “I only have a little…”
The clerk waved her hand. “Don’t worry hun, Viv’s got you. Tell you what, I’m gonna give you a special discount for being one of the fabulous.” She held her finger up to her lips in a ‘shhh’ motion. “And you let me take this off your hands- because I know a few gals who collect old fashions like this- and honestly it’s in great condition and looks legit.” Kerr nodded as if to confirm it was. “And you give me twenty… and we’ll call it even.”
Kerr was a bit shocked and shook her head. “I couldn’t…”
Viv shook her head and laughed. “Hun, I’m gonna make twice what that outfit costs when I sell this. Trust me… I’m only coming out ahead.”
It was clear she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Kerr looked too Edward with a shrug as Viv went about and bagged up Kerr’s old clothes, clipped the tags from her new ones and secretly snuck another binder into her bag. Kerr paid her twenty dollars that she’d gotten from the Reverend (who’d helped everyone out by giving them some money until the carnival’s first night, he’d also bought everyone cell phones). “Thanks…”
“Honey, in this world, we who live our truth have to stick together. Go out there, be fabulous! And maybe I’ll see you this weekend.” Viv waved the two of them out. “And you, tall dark and dangerous… don’t be a stranger.” She winked at him with a light laugh as she moved to help some other customers.
--
Edward just stood back, watching the whole exchange with an air of amusement. It was almost like his little cousin who enjoyed playing with dolls during their youth, dressing them up in different outfits that his aunt had made for the doll. While the outfit wasn’t exactly modern compared to what he had seen people dressed in elsewhere in the city- practically next to nothing - it wouldn’t look out of place in Zion, especially if they managed to get back to their own time again.
He watched the exchange as the sales clerk talked with Kerr, offering all of the clothing for a fraction of the cost, although it was true that the contraption that Kerr had used previously to bind her chest would probably fetch a decent amount in this present time, everyone seemed to go crazy for the most common things from their own era. He made a mental note to keep certain things and buy others if they got back, he would have more than enough money to live off if he got back to 2020 - the long way around.
Another closed mouth smirk at the clerk at the ‘tall, dark and dangerous comment. “See you at the carnival.” He replied, before she walked off to another customer. Looking down at Kerr he offered a smile. “Would you like to accompany me around the streets of New Orleans? One has to show off their new wardrobe somewhere.” There was definite pet potential with this one.
--
Kerr furrowed her brow, caught in the ‘need to stick together’ comment as Edward offered his invite. “Oh, really?” She looked around as if he could have been talking to someone else. “You want me to… okay.” She’d be lying if she said he wasn’t attractive, though the animals said he was dangerous. Kerr knew he was a vampire, him and his friends. It wasn’t a well kept secret- probably more as a warning for others. But he actually seemed nice.
The car wasn’t too far away and they were able to drop off her old clothes so her hands were free. She had a while until the group was heading back, but had a feeling she’d be able to grab a ride with Edward if she missed it- as he had to have come his own way since the rest had come up during the day. “I heard others saying how they were going to check out Bourbon Street. Apparently it’s a great blend of the old and the new?” Kerr said, not sure what Edward had had in mind.
--
Virtually everyone in Zion was dangerous in one way or another. It was just that he, Eva and Lily could feed off others, although under their agreement with Kristoph they weren’t to go killing anyone, especially in the carnival. But Eva had her pets and often told Edward that he needed his own to stop him from getting bored and there was something about Kerr that wasn’t as boring as many of the other humans.
Edward wasn’t really fussed on where they went, exploring this new and exciting city and time was sometimes better done with company of someone from their own era. Two people looking at talking to each other didn’t look as crazy as one person talking to themselves and gawking at the modern things around them. “Then we shall look at Bourbon Street, see if what they say about the old and new is true.” So far on one night that he had ventured out on his own one of the ‘old’ places he visited was a poor comparison, nothing was real and all just some glorified attempt at the past. He offered an arm in the gentlemanly manner he always did but he knew that if Kerr was still under the guise of a male then maybe she didn’t want that kind of contact, although that too didn’t seem to bother this modern era.
--
Kerr shrugged slightly at the offer and stuck her hands in her pockets. It wasn’t that it was him, or that she looked like a boy and he was a man, it was that she wasn’t used to physical contact with anyone. Not for lack of wanting, but more lack of confidence. “Bourbon Street it is then.”
They’d blocked off the street for the evening, allowing people to walk down it. There was a bit of a crowd, even for a Monday night. People walking along, drinking, celebrating one thing or another. For a moment she thought she’d made a mistake going somewhere with so many people, and was grateful when they dipped into a bar with dueling pianos to take a breather. It had a crowd, but at least they were able to sit at a table for a moment and get a drink. It was in the back- which most might dislike because it was farther from the show, but Kerr didn’t mind.
Unsure of what to order, Kerr picked at random off the menu- selecting a local microbrew. The server seemed to approve.
--
His arms went to his sides when the offer of his arm was refused, didn’t bother him, he’d just have to keep more of an eye on the youth to make sure they didn’t get separated in the crowd of people and sure enough once they started along the blocked off street the crowd had indeed grown.
Edward could also sense the unease that Kerr was feeling surrounded by so many which was why he suggested ducking into one of the many bars that lined the street, the pianos playing a music he was unfamiliar with but in some ways still felt somewhat homely.
When the server came to take their order he informed them that he wasn’t drinking, after all the only thing he needed to survive was blood, anything else in his stomach sat like a stone. As much as he hated small talk he still tried to engage Kerr in some kind of conversation. “It is a strange new world this. I always thought that America was strange but this… this is beyond that!”
--
Kerr couldn’t help but laugh slightly. She probably would have been fine sitting there in silence, but also knew that could be uncomfortable after a while. “I came to New Haven when I was young, so I can’t quite account for that difference- though the carnival itself was another world. This… is way beyond that, you’re right. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up. I’ll tell you the zoos a bit put out by it all. They can tell something’s wrong but not what’s wrong exactly.” Sheeba was extremely perturbed by the whole thing.
Once her drink came she nodded a thank you and took a sip. It was thicker than she was used to- a more intense taste. Probably less diluted than what she’d had before, but she didn’t consider that. “And there’s more people. Or it feels that way.” She said, pulling into the base of her shirt and binder, it was definitely more comfortable but was still new. We who live out truth. The comment still stuck in her mind as important, but she just couldn’t figure it out. “Though I guess for someone like you… change is inevitable?” After all vampires lived forever, right?
--
Edward nodded a bit as he listened to Kerr talking about how her feelings so far of the future and that the animals were perplexed by what had happened, that he could understand. His favourite horse back on the family’s estate seemed to know the area they were riding or hunting better than he did and would often take a shortcut that got them closer to their destination or the animal they were hunting. Most humans it seemed were actually less aware of their surroundings than the animals around them, still Edward would hunt anything on foot - human or otherwise - if he felt like it.
“Definitely more people. No large wars to… thin them out.” Although that did mean more for him to feed off seeing some of these modern humans he wasn’t even sure he wanted to go near them, what flowed through their veins other than blood he didn’t want to know, and those ones tended to taste funnier and his hunger returned quicker. “I am still… quite young. Most of my family are… or at least were still alive. It’s when they’re gone and the children you knew are now old and frail that you realise how much time has passed.” He took a breath. “I’m sure I have living relatives back in England even now, but who knows what stories they were told about my… demise.”
--
“Who knows what anyone said about anyone with family.” Kerr didn’t count herself in on that. The only one looking for her were the police. But some in Zion had family they sent money and letters to- not all were orphans. She wondered what their sudden disappearance was reported as. Or maybe they’d find their way back? She rubbed her temple slightly, maybe it was beat not to think about time travel.
Glancing around it was strange to see people so… open. Revealing clothing, a couple was kissing pretty intimately in the corner, a pair of guys had their hands in each other’s back pockets and they stood and listened to the music. Guys were wearing makeup and had piercings and so many people had tattoos- definitely not like in 1920. She took a long drink from her beer. She felt very alien, which was oddly not an abnormal feeling for her.
“Some of the roustabouts were talking while we were setting up for the Sunday School show, and they all seem to be pretty split on this new time. Some are loving it, others just want to go home.” Kerr just felt a bit lost. What did you do when you really didn’t fit in anywhere?
--
Edward didn’t really care about his family, he hadn’t since he had become a vampire his care for humanity in general had disappeared. There was part of him that did wonder what had happened to his siblings, if there were any little Cunningham’s still out there, but the vampire in him won out, it just didn’t care about life ‘before’. “Zion seems to be the only family most people need.” And Zion didn’t seem as judgemental as families.
He also was taking in the people around him, how different they dressed, how open others were about who they were or who they were attracted to. Homosexuality of course was nothing new, a few of the fellows who ran in the same circles ‘before’ were known to only be attracted to other men and there were a few within Zion, not that Edward cared about what these measily mortals did with their time, or their bodies. He did wonder though if it would be easier to find snacks in this day in age, especially when he saw someone on the other side of the room who was dressed all in black with pale makeup covering the face. Maybe he’d come into town another night and put that to the test.
“There are good and bad things about every time, I personally want to wait a bit longer before I make judgement. I do miss the quietness though, everything is so… busy now.”
--
She nodded in agreement, taking another drink. The alcohol content was higher than she was used to, and the buzz was coming on. Not drunk, but happy, looser.
Then, awkward happened. Two girls approached their table, all giggles and low cut tops. Kerr barely registered their words as she averted her eyes. They were explaining how they were visiting New Orleans and saw the two of them sitting there and how one thought Kerr was cute and the other Edward. Kerr tried to give a polite acknowledgment and it was clear she had a wall up, but the girls didn’t seem to care and invited themselves to their table.
Finishing her drink, Kerr got up from the table and excused herself with an apology. From their reaction the girls clearly thought he was getting another drink or using the bathroom, but she instead moved past a crowd and into the street. Once she caught the fresh air in her lungs she pressed up against the wall of the bar, and out of the pedestrian traffic. Running her hand through her hair she cursed under her breath, replacing her hat.
--
Edward wanted to roll his eyes when the two younger women not only approached their table but sat down and started talking to them. Modern humans obviously seemed to lack manners, back in ‘their’ time you at least said ‘excuse me’ before interrupting a conversation and asked permission before sitting down at an occupied table. Plus just how young they appeared to be registered with him, he didn’t feed from children and these two barely looked to be older than teenagers. He had heard that the legal drinking age was now 21 but these two definitely didn’t look that old.
He could hear Kerr’s increased heart rate, so it didn’t really surprise him when she got up from the table and disappeared into the crowd. Edward definitely wasn’t as polite, getting up to find the person who had served the beers, after finding out the cost he gave the waitress some money to cover it and left the bar as well. He turned his head and saw Kerr standing against the wall. “Do they not teach manners nowadays?”
--
Not immediately registering that he was talking about the girls she winced a little and glanced to Edward. “I’m sorry.” She said. “Just…” not comfortable in those situations? When Jean has hit on her it was hard to turn her down without outing herself- once she figured it out (after King’s attack) she understood.
After a beat, Kerr realized he’d been talking about the girls. “Oh, yea. People seem a lot more forward, right?” She rubbed her neck. “Oh damn, I forgot to pay.” She winced again, turning to go back inside.
--
“Very rude on their part. Not even a ‘do you two mind if we join you?’.” Edward was now shaking his head, glancing back to look in the window where he could see that the two young women were still sitting at the table waiting for them to come back. He actually did roll his eyes then.
When Kerr turned to go back Edward put out an arm to stop her. “I already did. How about we head back to familiarity, hmm?”
--
Turning she arched a brow at Edward, a sideways smile on her lips. He paid? That was actually kind of him. Not that she knew enough about him to think he wasn’t kind. “Thanks.” She glanced at his arm before him again, having stopped before they touched, but he’d heart was beating. “I think that might be a good idea.” Kerr nodded. “If anything I’ve realized I don’t really… ‘do people’ modern day or not. Though a few acquaintances have informed I should do better- I don’t think this world is the correct place to do so.”
--
It was a kind gesture on his part, something he would rarely do but he also knew that leaving without paying could get them into trouble and he didn’t want to attract unwanted attention. His arm lowered and what might be the hint of a smile appeared on his lips, especially at that ‘do people’ comment. “Me either.”
He started back down the street to where they had started and was figuring out which road it was where he had parked the more modern automobile that he had borrowed to get into town, the old ones weren’t exactly roadworthy by twenty first century standards. “Start small, with people you actually know and trust.” He said after a while, not that many people would trust him anyway.
--
“Suppose it’s a bit hard when…” She brushed her hand down her abdomen. “You’re not yourself.” Kerr wasn’t sure why she admitted that, probably the loose lips from the soft buzz. “I mean…” she shrugged and looked over at Edward. “It’s easier to hide when no one knows anything about you.”
Following him down the street, she stuck her hands in her jacket and pursed her lips, muttering to herself. “Though I guess if we stay here I don’t have anything to hide from.”
--
Edward wasn’t really open about how the vampires got to Zion or why, people rarely talked to them so why would they care about how or why they were there? And he wasn’t about to tell Kerr his life story either. “Then stay as you are, make up some elaborate story and stick to it.” He offered, no doubt others knew of Kerr’s secret and she confided in. “If they don’t want to believe you then they’re not people you want to be around.”
It didn’t take too much longer to get to the car. “You could stay here, but do you really want situations like that happening all the time?” He asked, getting the keys out of his jacket pocket. “I think you’ll have some time to make a decision though, with Kristoph gone I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere soon.”
--
Kerr shook her head. “No, this place is… too much. But you may be right. I suppose before we can even go home, someone would have to know how we got here in the first place, yea?” Which didn’t seem to be common knowledge. Oh, someone knew… that was for sure. But no one was sharing.
She moved to the passenger side door and once Edward had done what he needed to let her open the door, she got in. “Look at this thing.” She breathed out, shaking her head. “Never could have imagined.” It was so… shiny.
--
He had no idea what had happened that night, or how they had gotten here, he was in the wagon with Eva and only heard the commotion outside but didn’t realize that they had landed in the future. But Kerr was right, someone had to know but they just weren’t saying anything.
“Me neither, but I also remember the time before their invention. Horse and carriage was how we travelled.” Well to and from the train stations at least. “They are useful, I will admit that.” Edward added once they were inside and their seatbelts fastened. With the key in the ignition he started the car, the roads were so much more crowded too, he had to be more alert than previously. “Back to Zion.”
--
They journey’s mostly in silence as Kerr thought about what that woman had said some more, and how she’d almost forgotten she was wearing the binder- compared to the corset, it was easy to forget. She looked at herself in the mirror, a reflection she’d come to see as familiar, but in this new world, was it her? Was it strange that she liked the familiarity? That she couldn’t picture herself with long hair or a dress again? Not that she’d really worn them to begin with- but that had been more because of cost and living where she could… right?
As they pulled up to the backlot and got out of the car Kerr smiled softly at Edward. “Thank you… for the ride home and… just I suppose the company.” She didn’t really realize how much she actually needed it. Even if it was as simple as their night had been. “And sorry if… you had other plans tonight?” She wasn’t sure how vampires did their vampire thing.
--
It wasn’t exactly how he had planned the evening to go but it had turned into an interesting one nevertheless. It might take some more time but he could definitely see Kerr becoming a pet and a human that he didn’t actually mind the company of. “I rarely venture out with… human company, but it was a fascinating evening.” A glimpse into raw humanity that he hadn’t seen in a while, spending time with someone who he wasn’t going to just kill at the end of the night. He did chuckle at the apology. “There is always tomorrow night to venture back into the city for a… snack.”
--
She blushed slightly, unsure why. When it came down to it, two of her best friends were carnivores and were not shy about eating- granted they were also not human either, but it did help with the whole ‘snack’ concept. “Well, I better go find a place for the night.” She said, giving him a little wave as she took a few steps in the direction of the animals.