Damn Good Coffee

[tiny_dancer81]

Theresa had taken to hanging out at Cool Beans even when Maddy wasn't behind the counter. They served good espresso, and their pastries didn't get stale from sitting in the glassed-in case for ages. A small portion of her paycheck was going into the register at Page Turners, providing her with paperbacks. She had a major crush on Jackie Collins' Lucky Santangelo.

The vampire was currently taking up space on one of the couches near the back of the establishment. There was a book in her lap and two empty cups on the table to her left. The plate that accompanied the cups was sprinkled with crumbs from a blueberry scone. Even though she couldn't really taste food anymore, she liked the play-acting that eating involved.

The bell above the shop's door jingled, and Theresa glanced up from Lucky's adventures in the mob to see if she knew who had just stepped inside.

Comments

[tiny_dancer81]

"We feel stuff. It's kind of like a funhouse reflection of the way humans feel things, but we do have emotions. They're just...directed at what others would consider wrong."

Now Theresa was thinking of Maddy, who she'd gotten temporarily fixated on, and Valerie, who for those few minutes her mouth had been attached to the blonde's wrist had been the hottest thing she'd seen in ages. The first thing seemed to have faded, probably from lack of exposure to the other brunette, and she'd backed off from actively hitting on the Slayer because she wasn't sure it hadn't been the ingestion of megawatt blood talking. And she definitely wasn't going to explain any of that to Melody.

"Not all of us kill for fun," she said, lowering her voice. "Yeah, we're kinda few and far between, but it does happen."

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[melodymagic]

Melody wasn't sure the whole emotions thing was making sense to her, and she finished her coffee as she listened to Theresa. It was making her a little nervous, the thought of meeting another vampire who was basically saying Melody didn't need to worry about being attacked outside the door. Or at least that's what Melody was thinking the meanings were. She wasn't sure.

"Not so far between, it would appear," she murmured, staring into the bottom of her now empty mug before looking at Theresa. The vampire knew where Melody worked, and had her coffee, and Melody decided it might be time to head home. It was the end of another double shift and she had promised her parents she would be home straight after the shift. They still worried about her being out, and as she still lived at home it was only fair she abide by their rules.

"So, what do you live on if you don't... you know, drink 'cherry Cola'?" she asked, wondering if the euphemism Daniel had used was a universal, or at least even a locally well known one, or if Theresa was just going to look at her like she was stupid.

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[tiny_dancer81]

"Donations, actually. You have to know where to look, but there are people who don't mind letting you...well, you know. When I got the job at the Dive, I had to promise the manager I wouldn't snack on the premises."

Now that Melody knew, would she tell? Theresa had a pretty good thing going, and that could get screwed up if the other girl decided to start telling people. The diminutive vampire looked down into her cup, then drank some more of the strong brew.

"I could swear on something that I'm mostly harmless, but I'm not sure you'd believe me. Killing is wasteful and stupid and it attracts too much attention. I like to read the news, not be the source of it."

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[melodymagic]

"It is!" Melody agreed, probably a little too quickly, and just as quickly bit her lip. This conversation could have gone so differently if she'd tried the potion that was nestled in her satchel, but she hadn't, and didn't want to until she had her friend with her to make sure things went OK. "As in it is wasteful," she added, to explain.

"And really? I'm glad you think that way, though I have to say I've heard of there being people who, sort of, did that? Donated? But I wasn't sure it really happened." Her nose twitched a little and she rubbed it as she tried not to think about what it would be like to have some stranger's teeth sinking into your skin and actually volunteering to do it.

"How... often... do you need to... get donations?"

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[tiny_dancer81]

"I can go without eating every day, but after that I start to get fuzzy-headed and punchy. It's usually better for me to have a nibble every twelve hours or so. That way I don't take too much from one person."

Theresa's coffee cup was almost empty, and she drained it before saying, "I should probably let you cruise on home. Look, don't...don't tell anybody, okay? I know you don't owe me anything, but it would be a big favor if you'd just pretend you don't know."

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[melodymagic]

Melody's eyebrows rose at the 'nibble', and she swallowed a little, her eyes darting to Theresa's mouth as she imagined the fangs.

"Oh, I won't, don't worry, except..." She paused and looked at Theresa, and asked, "Maddy knows, doesn't she?" She had to talk to someone, and while she didn't want to talk to anyone else, she also didn't want to 'out' Theresa with their mutual friend once she promised not to. "I mean, I can talk to her, right?"

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[tiny_dancer81]

"No, she doesn't. I think Brian might, though. He's never said anything, but he acts weird around me sometimes."

Should she give Melody the green light to tell Maddy? She'd like to avoid the conversation about 'Oh, by the way, I thought about eating you' now that the urge had passed. It would put a kink in things at work, if nothing else.

"I know you guys are tight. You and Maddy, I mean. You think she's the type to freak?"

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[melodymagic]

Shaking her head quickly Melody assured Theresa that Maddy was far from the type to freak. And it was clear to her that Theresa had no idea about Maddy.

"I think she's a lot more aware of that sort of thing than she lets on," she said nonchalantly, looking down into her empty cup again before glancing at the vampire.

"She won't freak, but I won't tell her if you don't want me to." It would be almost impossible to keep that promise, so Melody really hoped that Theresa wouldn't insist on it.

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[tiny_dancer81]

It didn't have to be a disaster. Melody hadn't panicked, and she knew Maddy better than Theresa did. The vampire squared her small shoulders and took an unnecessary breath.

"Okay, you can tell her," she said, trying to overcome her reluctance. "Just...not in front of Brian. He's already acting weird. If he knows for sure, he'll probably start hauling out a cross every time I get near him."

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[melodymagic]

Melody giggled a little at the image that conjured up, and then blushed slightly, both at the giggle and the fact she'd imagined Brian in any way.

"I won't. I don't really see him that much anyway," she added, "as I said, I don't really go to their gigs, because ... well, I just don't." She had to sigh silently, wondering if the potion she had in her bag would make much of a difference to her once she had taken it. She hoped so, but she had no idea just how the change might work.

Re: Damn Good Coffee

[tiny_dancer81]

"Thanks, Melody. Look, I gotta scoot. It was nice to see you again. If you ever do get back to the Dive, come over and say hey."

Theresa started cleaning up her stuff, stacking both empty cups on the plate. There was a plastic tub near the counter, and dishes rattled as she added her contribution. She returned to the couch long enough to retrieve her book, then offered Melody a smile and a wave as she made her way to the door. The bell jingled as she let herself out.