Late Night Surprises -Open-

[Jaqulynetta 'Lyn' Alderwood]

Lyn was cleaning up those tables that weren't going to be used anymore that night. Changing the table clothes and bringing dirty dishes to the back was the most sad part of her day. She loved talking to all the people who came in and making the resturant the best it could be. At the end of the day, it was like watching all her friends leave. Smiling at the thought, Lyn finished with the clean up and went to lean against the arch leading to the bar. The hockey game was still going strong, being in over time and her husbad Vance was laughing with his pals.

In a way, she envied him for it. He was so free and charming - he could have any girl he wanted. Of course, she was glad he chose her, but with all the control she needed to have so badly, she wondered how he felt some times. "I love you." she said softly, so that it was clouded by the cheers of the people as a player in orange broke away with the puck.

Turning away again, she meant to go to the kitchen to make sure everything was off, when someone outside caught her eye. Detouring to the locked front doors she opened one and said, "Can I help you?"

[Rayne Apollo Elrond Tyler]

Being naturally nocturnal, it should have come as no surprise to anyone that Rayne Tyler was wandering the streets of the small town just outside of St. Vec's. Rayne didn't have classes yet. He taught music and drama. During the day, the barely sun tolerant vampire taught classes with black blinds drawn over the windows. His classes for the vampiric students didn't start until vampire high tea -two in the morning. It was barely nearing midnight so Rayne figured he could wander around without a worry.

Nothing was open at this time except the shops that catered to vampires -none of which the ex-rock star was interested in. He just needed to get out of the castle. Sure, it was beautiful but Rayne found it to be overly so. He condoned being flambouyant -why, anyone to look at him would see that he was frighteningly flambouyant. Such as now, Rayne wore a pair of frighteningly pink skinny jeans and a tye-dye off-the-shoulder shirt that definitely complimented the pants well. But the thing was that being in the castle so often was such a hassle. He was used to all the extraordinary things Magicians and Psychics could do. Woo, so some kid could turn into a badger, who cared? He'd seen it hundreds of times.

Shaking his head, the ex-rock star realized he was just being a baby. Absently, Rayne reached over to rub his most recent tattoo -the one on his left forearm. It read 'I don't love you like I loved you yesterday.' Oh how that line seemed to describe Rayne's romantic life so very well. He shook his head, chuckling at himself as he walked. To his right, his eye was caught by a light in a shop that didn't cater to vampires. He stopped and turned to stare at it completely, sighing helplessly when a woman came out and asked if she could help him.

"I apologize," he said instead of answering her question. "I was merely..." He paused and gave a gentle smile, taking care to make sure his fangs weren't visible. "I am Professor Tyler, a teacher up at St. Vec's. You wouldn't happen to have fresh blood on hand? I'm parched and could do with a cuppa." He hastened to add, "Not your blood, goddess no! I just meant blood, stocked in the fridge maybe?" If he could have blushed, Rayne was sure he would have.

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[Jaqulynetta 'Lyn' Alderwood]

Professor Tyler? Lyn couldn't help but think he was dressed more like a student. Never the less, the obvious vampire had asked her a question. Not taking her eyes off him she gestured for him to enter the resturant. "I may have some yes."

She didn't want to have her back to him. It wasn't that she didn't like vampires, she just didn't have a high amount of trust for the lot of them. Control over the situation caved to her natural politeness and she led the way to the kitchen.

"My name is Jaqulynetta by the way, although most call me Lyn. It's easier to remember." Lyn said, glancing over her shoulder every so often as she checked first the general fridge and then the meat cooler. "Found some," she called. Before emerging from the cooler however, her mind quickly fabricated a way for her to escape if necessary.

[Rayne Apollo Elrond Tyler]

Rayne cocked his head to the side and walked into the restaurant. He got the feeling that she -Lyn- didn't trust him. Of course not. He was a vampire. No one trusted the vampires any more. Rayne sighed and looked around the building, giving a low whistle.

"Nice place you have here," he told the woman in awe. His quarters at the school were messy. Clothes were strewn about, his various musical instruments (a couple practice pianos, his guitar, some school guitars he took to tuning, his personal grand piano) in precarious places, his lessons and assignments for the kids all over the place... Rayne was a slob. He smiled and shook his head at that, stopping in the door way to the kitchen as he waited. "Oh, lovely!" he clapped his hands together joyously. "It's been almost four years since my last cuppa blood," he told the pretty woman. "I'm not usually fond of fresh blood -especially when it's warm. I prefer cold blood."

He told her this in attempt to calm her down. It usually took hours for a human body to cool down to the temperature Rayne liked and plus, he hadn't killed since his new-born days. He backed out of the kitchen slowly so Lyn wouldn't think he would attack her. Instead, he moved to a seat, looking around the place to take in the colors. The castle was so droll, he decided.

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[Jaqulynetta 'Lyn' Alderwood]

Blood... Lyn shuddered inwardly. If he talked about it anymore she might have to slap him or something. The stuff just made her uncomfortable to discuss, not being very high on her list of desired conversations. Pushing down the feeling, she handed him the blood and said "Feel free to sit. I was just cleaning up."

She looked around the resturant and found everything to be done. Everything. But kicking him out would be rude and calling Vance to get rid of him would be ruder. Leaning against the kitchen door frame she said slowly, "Other than ... blood ... What brings you into town Professor Tyler?"

[Rayne Apollo Elrond Tyler]

Rayne was happy. He got some nice cold blood and dang, it was good. Good, good, good. Now all that was missing was a good band in the background and Z with him. Life would have been the ultimate happiness with those two things. Alas, Rayne knew one could not have everything they wanted. He nodded when he was told he could sit. With grace that took hundreds of years to master, Rayne swung into an open seat nearby.

He ran his hand through his hair as he drank his blood, getting the distinct feeling that he was unwelcome for being a vampire. He sighed and peered at Lyn as she asked what brought him into town. He hummed and thought about that, absently reaching over to rub his arm where his favorite tattoo was.

"I'm... Just waiting," he said slowly. "For classes to start. I teach music and drama and my vampire drama class doesn't start until Vampire High Tea," he explained to Lyn though he wasn't obligated. "That and I was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic in the castle. Immortality does that to one. Soon the world becomes a big box and... Poof, someone goes out into the morning sunlight or gets a college to stab them with a stake..." He trailed off and looked at his blood. "So I had to get out before I went mad."

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[Jaqulynetta 'Lyn' Alderwood]

Lyn smiled, feeling more relaxed now that he was sitting. It must just have been the lateness of the hour and the unexpected appearance and request that had wound up her nerves. "Vampire High Tea? Isn't that around two in the morning? Of course, correct me if I'm wrong." but I know I'm not, Lyn thought afterwards. She knew she was right because she'd heard of it before. Also, she never said anything with out feeling one hundred percent sure. It just wasn't in her nature to do otherwise.

"That is why I am proud to call myself a mortal. No never ending life, constant boredom, and feeling like there is nothing life to do." Lyn went on, shuttering inwardly at the mention of considering suicide. She'd never even consider such an act. Life was amazing, and perfect in her mind. She had a beautiful daughter, a loving husband and even an 'adopted' son.

All this she explained to him. "Vance and I are tempted to ask Pyrite to stay with us permanently, but the boy has his family too. Its just a fear of his that keeps him from living there all the time, but I won't go into details." Stealing a glance at the bar, she caught sight of Vance. He was laughing with his bar friends and whatnot. "I am so fortunate for what I have. I have no intention of removing myself from their lives."