Introverts Make Convenient Targets

[brian_campo]

Brian loaded an amp into the van and shoved it across the floorboard. The wheels belonged to Mikey, who bought the vehicle to transport his drums all over town. Now it served as the band’s transportation to and from their practice space and shows. Fully loaded, there wasn’t even room for a copilot, forget about a hapless kid hoping for free candy.

He mopped sweat from his forehead. The gesture made his hair stand at funky angles.

From the back of the Dive, a male voice yelled, “Hey, Brian. I’m gonna get a beer. You comin’ in?”

“Nah, I’m good.” He hopped on the tailgate, electing to sit in the alley by himself. It was rare, but every once in a while, he got sick of the crowd in there. All the body contact with strangers dripping beer and sweat as they squeezed into line at the bar, the odors of pot and crack smoke mingling in the bathroom stalls, and even the noise got to him. It was claustrophobic. He wouldn’t be out there for long – another band was going on in twenty and he wanted to hear their set – so he decided to soak up the privacy while he had a chance.

He tugged his foot onto his knee to inspect a scuff in his boot. An impeccable appearance wasn’t on his must-do list, but the boots were sacred turf. He licked his thumb and rubbed the mark.

[Thread: Open to Tristan]

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[tristan_vamp]

Tristan finished his beer and then leaned back on his stool as Brian practically begged Tristan to back off. Instead, Tristan laughed. He could feel the fear rolling off of the guy. He sounded like a little kid asking the bully not to steal his lunch money. Tristan found it so absurd, he had to laugh. Then he held up his hands, palms out, in a pacifying gesture.

"Hey, don't worry, kid. Your friends are safe." The vampire's eyes narrowed as he saw his prey out of the corner of his eye. The pimp was dragging the girl by her elbow now, towards a side door. "I don't go for vanilla," he quipped.

[brian_campo]

Brian followed the vampire’s eyes to the couple near the door. He recognized them. The guy was a lowlife and the girl was usually too strung out to put together a sentence; naturally they were a couple. Drugged prostitution aside, neither one of them needed to have their throats ripped out in an alley. He didn’t know what was in it for the vampire. Maybe he had a thing for skinny girls with track marks. Maybe he was into vigilante justice. One way or the other, it wasn’t good.

He tried again. “This isn’t your turf,” he said. “Leave it alone.”

[tristan_vamp]

Tristan felt his friendly attitude starting to fade. He waved at the bartender and ordered two beers. He slid one to his new 'friend' and took a sip from his own. He quirked an eyebrow at the younger man. "Actually, this is my turf. Has been for a long time. Longer than it's been yours, I'd wager." He noticed his prey pause by the rear door and lean against the wall. Their heads were together but it was still easy to see the pimp was arguing with the girl. "I'm not going hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it," the vampire sneered. "It's no concern of yours." He put his beer down and stood from his seat. "Besides, how would you stop me? Just leave it be, kid. Turn around and go back with the other roadies, and mind your own business."

[brian_campo]

Alright. That was the last straw. Brian shook his head.

“I’m not a fucking roadie,” he said. He ignored the beer. Did that actually work? What kind of person would take a beer from a vampire and walk off, knowing the consequences for another human being?

“I’ve been playing this club for six years and I’ve never seen you in here. This isn’t your turf and that’s not your job.” He aimed a thumb over his shoulder. “We take care of our own here. In a few minutes, that guy’ll get his ass kicked and she’ll defend him. He’ll get arrested and thrown into jail and she’ll bail him out,” he said. “I’m not trying to pick a fight. I’m trying to keep you from ripping somebody to shreds in the parking lot. You can’t respect that?”

Standing up, the vampire was about two inches taller than him. ‘He's right. What am I going to do?’

“Then maybe I deserve it, too.” Brian shrugged.

On the bar behind them, beer began to oscillate and slosh over the lip of the mug.

[tristan_vamp]

Tristan stared at the kid. He didn't notice the beer on the bar, or the couple as they left out the door, nor did he hear the crowd. He just stared at the kid for a long moment. "Maybe you do," Tristan whispered. Then he shrugged. "You do realize that there are other parking lots, and other worthy prey?" And frankly, Tristan thought, there were many humans not worthy to draw breath. He'd met more honorable demons on many occasions. But arguing with this 'roadie' would be a waste of time.

The vampire didn't want to escalate anything with this kid. He actually admired the guy. He had balls. Plus, Tristan didn't really want that much attention turned on him in this moment.

He respected this guy's courage, and as Tristan had said, there were many more 'meals' to be found. Annoyance aside, Tristan wasn't stupid enough to continue this into a scene.

And damn, he'd liked this bar. Ah well.

[brian_campo]

Brian watched the couple clear out and turned back to the vampire. “Yeah. I can’t do anything about that.” He let out a sigh. Until then, he didn’t even realize he wasn’t breathing. He wondered if it was a weird reaction to standing so close to a man who didn’t do it.

“I’ll get out of your way,” he said.

He left the vampire standing beside the bar. Whatever happened, he couldn’t control, but at least he could sleep at night.

[tristan_vamp]

Tristan watched the kid walk away. He hadn't touched the beer so Tristan grabbed it and pounded it down, setting the now empty bottle down next to his own. He sighed and looked around. "Shit," he muttered. It just wasn't in him anymore. Not here.

Then a small smile crossed his face. Heck, the night was still young!