gloom central.

[Jutendouji]

OoC: *Forces self to wait for Jules this time* >___<

“Pond scum? Ha! Says she who quivers in my presence…” Byakko let loose a low grumbling purr, like an echo of demonic laughter, pulled out of the monster deep within the pretty and misleading wrapping. Pronounced knuckles were put in front of Byakko’s chin, as she seemed to observe the girl for a long moment, watching the cogs turn as wells as marvelling with suppressed glee toward the fear that cascaded from her.

”Leaving so soon? I guess I’ll have to play with this one then” She turned an eye to the brooding male, smirking lightly before she returned the inequitable flares back on Mina, “He’s not really my type…but I’m not that picky…” She tilted her head as if to examine him carefully, fingers still idling near her lips.
”Cruel of you to leave him here though…” She prowled round, nails gliding along the banisters, digging out deep gouges with her nails, stopping only once she’d reached the exit. Byakko stood next to it, so it wasn’t obvious as to whether she planned to block the mortals outlet or not. “But it’s dog eat dog right? Better him then you…”
She swept up behind the female as she turned to address said male, slipping a slender tan arm round her neck, tilting her head to the side as she leaned over her shoulder, looking at her face. The grip was frightening soft, it wasn’t firm or harsh…but it felt dangerous; foreboding.
”Maybe you’re more like my kind then you thought?” Byakko grinned, fangs glittering again. She was playing with her…taunting with her; after all, who’d ever heard of a wild cat that didn’t play with its food. Just because she wasn’t hungry… didn’t mean she wouldn’t make the most of the little mice she ran into.

”Such a hatred is definitely unhealthy.” She drew her horrible claws down the girls cheek again, drawing a little blood this time though.” You can’t claim to know every Vampire; after all.” She pushed the girl forward toward Dorian; away from the exit. Leaning against it as she examined the vibrant ruby colouring on one of her nails. “You should reserve such hatred for one or two…” She smiled, licking the thick crimson from her nail, before turning her eyes back toward them.

”Hate them all and there’s little chance you’ll be saved.”
She found it funny…the woman said something like that, and yet there she was, hoping to learn the name of another ‘thing lower then pond scum’. The only difference being he was a little less obvious about it. Byakko smirked, running her tongue along the sharp curve of her fangs; maybe she should spill the beans… The reaction might be quite good. She’d already ruined there afternoon…why not a possible friendship too?

[Dorian Denixost]

There honestly was no sort of fear in Dorian; nothing scared him anymore. Why should it? This woman was unnerving, yes, but only because she was so.. /different./ He loved seeing the differences in people, but vampires? He simply chose not to care about them at all. And yet, here was one, a prime example of the liquid tone and stealthy ways they possessed, the eerie charm and the playful actions like a cat toying with a mouse. He eyed Byakko carefully, not knowing when she might pounce upon this girl. He highly doubted she would just yet; maybe she wasn't even planning on doing so at all. The fact that he could hardly 'read' what actions she might carry out next was unnerving; though humans' actions were often times unsystematic, they were usually predictable for the most part.

But, then, the human took him by blatant surprise and he found himself questioning what he prided himself on having discovered after these years of watching humanity. The girl's replies were borderline harsh, as if she knew just what she wanted to say; she didn't seem scared at all. Perhaps she was masking her fear, but she was doing a damned good job of it. Dorian knew the horror in humans' eyes when faced with one of his kind; he had seen it in the beginning when he'd been nothing less of a monster himself. Now that he had 'matured' [] that fear was something he didn't care to see. Most of the time. It held no sick pleasure for him; he liked making humans happy, if that made any sense at all. Sexual pleasure was definitely something he could provide, and it pleased him to see his affects on innocent people. It was fun messing with them.

His eyes were betraying his surprise; he stared, struck silent by the mix of Byakko and the other, interested gaze flitting between one and the other. He took in the vampire's words and believed them. Don't worry. She's not scared. I don't think I'm the first she's seen. That much had to have been true; the fangs and this woman's dark voice alone should have been enough to give any 'innocent' the creeps, yet Mina was keeping her own - her sweet eyes now a bit vicious. That caught him off-guard. He'd never seen a human fight back. He knew nothing about her 'slayer' status; in fact, he didn't even know there were slayers. He'd never been faced with one before and so was quite naive. There was still so much Dorian had to learn.. still so much.

Shouldn't you know already? You're here to pass the time, course.

Dorian's head turned slowly to the side to meet the other's grin, her long slender fangs exposed to the fullest degree. He eyed her with a blank expression, yet inwardly his mind was ablaze. Her words.. they matched him almost perfectly. Perhaps his eyes betrayed this, and it seemed like she caught this, for she was smirking. Knowing that he was so easily readable sent a pang of slight anger through the male, yet he handled it surprisingly well, not acting out on his emotions like he tended to do.

He mused silently over this, the thought of being 'readable,' and did not like it. Dorian was not meant to be easily explained. He liked the mystery he wore so well, the shock he could bring to anyone he wanted's face. That was what set him apart from the others, wasn't it? They were all so predictable, killing without a second thought, their bloodthirsty ways. But he, he was different. He played it out, so to speak. Enjoyed himself rather than filled some vicious need. Oh it was true enough that he had been a hideous thing in the past; four years ago his bloodlust had been such that he could not control it and not hope to. But he had learned what it would take to satisfy that need, and had found enjoyable ways to do so.

The male was pulled from his own thoughts as heels dully thudding on the wooden floor broke the "silence," the rain always there as a background noise that could not be ignored. He glanced up, from where he had been staring at the rain, thinking, and there was the youthful-looking girl, seated beside him. He gazed at her oddly, wondering what had brought this on. His lips parted lightly; he felt no sort of rise of hunger stir in him at her being so close, only confusion. Maybe she was frightened after all? Her large dark eyes, so sweet earlier and now so fierce, stirred something in himself that he had seemed to have forgotten about - yet these thoughts were lost as she spoke to Byakko. The two of them now facing the dark-looking woman.

And then. She was there. Hovering over the girl, her dark hair cascading around her. Alarm shot through Dorian as he sat there observing; he stiffened somewhat, drawing away from the two of them, hands clenching the wood beneath him as he made to rise, yet waited. Now that the other vampire was so near to him he could more clearly smell her.. Blood, death. Violence. She was an animal. A beautiful, twisted animal. He could sense and detect the amusement she so blatantly held; he doubted she was really about to harm the other girl. She seemed much more intent on unnerving her. Breaking her. Like the whole stalking cat thing again.

The girl was released, as Dorian had suspected she would be. The vampire's words stirred nothing in him; he believed her but there was no remorse for her most recent victim. He was empty inside. Or.. was he? For he felt an almost sort of.. relief that she hadn't harmed Mina. Relief that was simply because he had not wanted his newest 'subject' destroyed. He had so been looking forward to speaking with her. Talking to humans was hard to pull off, since he was so limited as far as when he could come out. The night crowd typically consisted of whores, ax-murderers, those types of people. She had been like nothing he had ever seen before.

Mina's words drew forth his attention then, and Dorian sat there calmly, taking it all in like a sponge.

So you're a vampire. Filthy beast. I've seen things like you before. You're lower than pond scum!

Dorian blinked. So. She must not know of his own vampirism, then. He turned his head to look at her, a bit surprised. Didn't he look like one of them? Did his aura not exuberate evil? He had never really thought about it before. Perhaps she was so trusting. Or willing to make new friends. Or maybe she did know; he wasn't acting like this other hungered woman, so perhaps Mina simply thought he was a different 'sort'. It hardly mattered; he was mesmerized by the way she kept changing. So fierce one instant, so kind the next. Like him.

Could I trouble you for your name, sir? Perhaps we could speak again sometime.

Her smile was so kind and genuine. He stared at her, not understanding any of this, so like a child who hasn't learned everything about the world, but before he could respond, the other woman's sharp and malevolent laugh broke through his response. Her words caused him to turn his head again to stare at her; up until this point he had simply been watching as all of these things occurred around him. Now she was inquiring that she would harm him. Dorian stood, on his feet quite smoothly and silently, taller than she yet knowing that hardly mattered. She hosted a feral, animalistic countenance that could perhaps overcome his own strength. He had no intentions of finding out; he was not in the mood for battling or petty arguing among each other. His annoyance was peaked; she had interrupted their nice little chat and now it was all ruined.

Before he could so much as speak, the woman's fluid movements had once again carried her towards the mortal, and this time she stepped behind her, peering at the girl around her shoulder. Again, he wasn't certain she was planning on actually feeding from the girl - Unless she was planning on either killing him off or changing suddenly and inviting him in to help. Somehow the man severely doubted that; she struck him rather like a little girl who didn't want to share her food. But had she truly been hungry, surely she would have taken the girl by now. Again, he watched silently, staring as blood was drawn from the girl's pretty face.

Such a hatred is definitely unhealthy.
You can't claim to know every Vampire; after all.

The girl was pushed towards him and an arm shot out to grip her, hands closing firmly around her forearm, the action having taken place without him really realizing he had done it. Her blood was there, but he ignored it, eyes flitting up from the red streak across that smooth, pallid face, and to the other. He stood there, watching, and understood the vampire female's words. She was.. strange. Malevolent. Dark. Sinister. But.. something in her intriqued him too. However, his 'concern' was for the mortal now; she seemed verbally able to take care of herself, but he knew that, if he were not here now, she would probably be in trouble. Or.. should he have gone against her, she would surely be in dire trouble as well. Or if both of them turned on her.. He shuddered at the thought. He wasn't interested in making mince meat out of humans. This thought surprised him as he realized he had just been brooding over it.

"My name is Dorian," he finally answered softly, stepping towards the girl and slowly releasing his grip on her arm. He didn't ask her her own, for a reason he couldn't quite place. Instead his eyes were fixed on the other, the vampiress, and he fixed her with an intense stare, his eyes searching yet likely simply appearing blank, as black as her own. He stepped around the human girl, shoulder lightly touching her body, and dipped his head, hair sifting again into eyes, covering up half of his face. He didn't want to be 'read' again by the other vampire.

"Who are you?" he asked of her softly, the question said in a silken tone, not because he wanted it to be so; he knew it would have no affect on her, as she had very kindly reminded him earlier. It was simply how he spoke now. He made sure to keep his submissive stance, yet laced within that was a sort of strength he hoped would convey the message that he was not going to back down, should she actually choose to harm the girl, or even himself, though he was hardly concerned with that. His stance also suggesting that he did not want to fight, was merely curious and a bit weary as well.

[/size][/font]

[Jutendouji]

Byakko lifted her head as the brooding male stepped forward, inclining his head toward the mortal, he seemed to understand then, the little mortal would have been long gone from existence were he not standing over her. The Vampiress still would have played… but they games would have been so much more eventful and definitely bloody. Black tresses swept over his face, her umber and azure hue fought the movement and glittered, as if to penetrate it. A small smirk slid across her face, replacing the indifference she’d worn before.
Byakko inspected him with feral pupils, tarring him to pieces then putting him back together…making definitely sure all was well with his…intentions.

Ahhh. He learnt fast, for now she ignored his question, letting him squirm in the silence, his posture strong yet yielding; body language was the way to speak. Words could only do so much after all. And a creature like herself couldn’t be counted on to comprehend the meaning of petty words. Her coding went much deeper then a word, she couldn’t be broken or understood with such a useless item. Byakko lifted a couple of fingers to her lips, tapping them there, looking thoroughly amused at his understanding; cautious man. She could only wonder what made him that way.

”Why? Do you think It will help? Knowing this ‘beasts’ name?” She asked, tiling her head to the side, sending her wet tresses to the side too, letting droplets splatter across the wood, in the place of the blood that would have stained it otherwise. Slanted feline eyes narrowed slightly as she took a couple of steps forward. Silence took over as she did so, she might as well have been floating for all the movement you could hear… She stood in front of him, looking up at his face, lifting a slender, cold, bare arm and then pressed two claws into his forehead. Slipping them between the black tresses before she smirked.

Water dripped from her arm, she was taking advantage of his submission, she left nothing obvious…she could attack him right now, all it would take was a thought that sent an excited chill down her spine. Such a simple order could land everything in bloody chaos, a simple order for a simple mind…of a creature very complicated. It was funny how this sort of stuff worked. Remnants of the rain dripped from her cold fingers, having run from the fabric of her dress at the shoulder. More droplets cascaded down her face as she removed the claws…if he’d flinched the claws would have drawn blood, and he wouldn’t of gotten an answer.

A primeval test. Just to check…

”Byakko”

[cherry]

Shivers as Mina had never experienced danced up the mortal's spine at the vampiress' gentle yet foreboding touch. She couldn't complain that it hurt this time, but there was something about it that seemed to drain the very life force from her body. A soft, protesting whine escaped her throat, but a moment later, her prickly hostility returned, and she kept her sharp eyes trained on the feral woman, detecting each and every movement, ready to fight if needed. The sting of Byakko's claws, anticipated as it was, made her gasp, and she squeezed her eyes shut against the pain, just for a brief moment, before she opened them again, appearing just a bit more broken than she had been previously. The fight wasn't completely gone, but some of the fire seemed to have been doused with the few drops of crimson blood. A few moments later, she found herself being forced towards Dorian-- and more importantly, away from the exit of the gazebo, away from the freedom that she craved. She nearly stumbled as she was shoved, but the male grabbed her arm, saving her from a nasty fall. Turning back to glare at Byakko, she reached into her pocket, pulling out a black handkercheif and pressing it firmly against her new wound.

"Fine. I'll reserve my hatred for a select few... and you're one of them." Mina hissed, a very slight waver in her voice, one that only sharp ears could detect. "You're vicious. You're an animal." The female vampire seemed unable to control her bloodlust, reminding her frighteningly of the man who had turned her brother; his mouth doused with crimson, his eyes wild as he had glanced up at her, away from Adair's pallid form, which had fainted in his arms...

She shook the thoughts away. Now is not the time. Now is the time to fight... maybe for my life.

My name is Dorian.

The male's response, at last. Dorian. Mina was good at remembering names, and this wasn't one she recognized. Even without knowing his last name, she could tell that he was a man she had never met before. "My name is Mina," She breathed, out of common courtesy, without having to be asked. But her gaze went almost immediately afterwards to Byakko, watching the animalistic beauty tensely as she lifted one slender, clawed hand and pressed her fingers to Dorian's forehead. "Don't touch him!" She warned, swallowing a rather unkind curse word. It was as she had always been taught; ladies didn't swear, no matter the situation. She could slay vampires with a skill that few women could claim to posess, and yet she would not allow herself to give up the dignity she had left. Not even this vampire, this one who had identified herself as Byakko, could drag her so low.

[Dorian Denixost]

Dorian, as keen as he was to the slightest change in behavior, took careful note of the way in which the woman's demeanor seemed to change - uncaring shifting into that smirk she wore so well. Could she see through him? Was she attempting to? Perhaps he was giving himself too much credit, being too vain in assuming that was her intentions - to analyze him. However, it was hard to fight off this possibility with those black, shining eyes fixed upon him, reflected in his own, yet different in so many ways. Hers, so wild and strange, his simply dark and blank. She gazed at him and he did her, not sizing her up as she seemed to be doing to him, only staring at her, waiting for any sort of response.

Not that he expected one - He had concluded she was the oddest character he had met, and had it not been for Mina's presence, he might have even wanted to study this female, perhaps attempting conversation - supposing she would allow a second body in her area. He wasn't sure if she preferred aloneness and isolation, as he seemed to, or a group. The male could picture her hunting with a pack of them, such as wolves or large cats might do. The image might have been humorous had it not been so horrible. A group of beings, all like her.. was a shudderous thought.

Regardless, she was certainly an interesting person. Or what was left of a person. Dorian would not claim to be able to decipher her innermost thoughts, for they seemed to change so swiftly, much as his own did, but her danger levels were up there, it seemed. He would not be so much of a fool as to try and taunt her, as she was doing them. Rather, he waited a bit cautiously, standing only slightly in front of the mortal but not so much as to completely mask her petite stature, his shoulder against her as he stood tall yet not threatening.

She liked to play games. As was suggested by her body language, how she took her time in answering. Her questions. He ignored them, watching carefully as she contemplated. Dorian was as still as the night that was so steadily approaching - indeed, it was growing darker by the minute, and the rain was doing everything it could to help speed this along. His pupils, which seemed to have taken over his whole eyes since having been 'turned,' were now fully aware of their surroundings, his eyes being the main door to the way he perceived things. They were his tools, his weapons; they took in everything and so allowed the rest of him to act.

And then, the female was stepping towards him. Dorian, cool as he was, simply stood there. There was no flare of surprise or prick of fear; those were human emotions and so were lost. It was true that he was capable of feeling these things, but it was.. different. Emotions were second now; it was odd. Fear wasn't one he could admit to experiencing a lot, but surprise had been there ever since the first young female had entered 'his' gazebo in the pouring, dull rain.

He did not understand her actions (did that really surprise him, though?) and so simply stared, lips pressed firmly together as he looked down at her. What was she doing? Two of those nails went to his forehead; he could feel the tips nearly sink into his skin, yet he didn't move. She sifted his hair and his eyes became more exposed. He let them bore into her silently as rain dripped from her black, sodden form. She was rather like some sort of spider.

Don't touch him!

This shook him from his still statue-like composure, and Dorian turned to glance over his shoulder at the girl who was somewhat to the side and somewhat behind him, her voice piercing the silence. She, who was now identified as 'Mina,' defending him? He hardly dared to question as to why. His only guess was that she was a natural defender - enforcer of justice. Her fierce words earlier suggested that. Her innocent appearance should not be taken lightly. Humans were such odd things; he couldn't remember the time he had been considered one of them, but he was certain he was not so volatile. He was sure he had led a simple, boring, dull life.

If she was such a hero, why defend him? He was as much the 'bad guy' as this woman was. Perhaps even moreso. She, at least, was obviously wicked. He was not, on the outside. It wouldn't do for people to go around /trusting/ him. Dorian shifted a bit, and cast a gaze back to the other woman.

Byakko.

A blink was his response. 'Stare' should become his new nickname, for that was all that he did. Byakko. Was that her name? He had no idea what it meant, nor if it truly was her dubbing - but something in the way she had uttered it made him believe it was. Dorian didn't claim to be any kind of "mind-reader;" apparently he couldn't read people nearly as well as he had previously thought, or perhaps in the past he had only dealt with shallow ones.

Attention drifted back to Mina. Would Byakko let her go? What if the girl's scent was strong in the vampire's veins? What if she hunted her later? Darkness was soon approaching.. Dorian did not know why, but something in him longed to keep this vampire away from the other. He would tell himself it was because he had already deemed her 'his' property - that he hadn't been done with her before Byakko had ambled into the picture. He hadn't been done talking to her. This of course, was not the truth - Dorian didn't know why he cared to 'protect' her, if that was what he was really doing.

"It's almost dark," he uttered, and glanced into the rain briefly before his attention turned back to Byakko. "Don't you have anywhere else to be?" A small snarl lifted into his voice - the first sign of any emotion other than blankness - that had been seen all afternoon.

[/size][/font]

[Jutendouji]

‘You’re an animal’

Byakko tilted her head, to look passed the Male toward the Mortal. She smirked, lifting fingers to play at her lips again, stifling a giggle that again she only let show physically. Her fangs glinted as she passed another feral grin, black tresses trickling in front of her face in long perfectly straight, still rather wet, streaks.
”You flatter me with your hatred” she said behind two claws, leaning forward in a beautifully fluent mock bow. Of which send the silken fabric into a lively flare of movement, twitching and flickering as if to make its own escape.
Byakko drew the slender fingers back as her eyes practically ate up the little girl. Such strong eyes… fierce, snappish…but it was the body they were attached to that made them loose some of their lustre; a weak human body, the body that could only bear a single lifetime. Byakko locked eyes wit the girl before chuckling slightly and closing her own bicoloured optics. So the girl’s words earlier had been quite false?

‘So you're a vampire. Filthy beast. I've seen things like you before. You're lower than pond scum!’

Or perhaps she didn’t understand the level of what she’d said? Being appalled at Byakko for acting as it was, evidentially, expected of her… Naïve girl, either that or she had high expectations for Pond Scum…

She blinked at the girl’s defence, unsure as to why it came, returning her vision to the Male in front of her. Strange. Byakko had never defended anything, so the concept was lost on her… especially since the female was protecting something she had earlier spoken of with such a spiteful tongue. Irritation suddenly captured her suddenly and a scowl filtered across her face. She flexed a slender hand, claws glittering as they managed to catch the linger light that bounced of the Verdana railing.

Byakko’s eyes turned toward the Vampire again, not bothering to step back, she folded her arms loosely, leaving room for a quick movement if she so wished it. Her pupils retracted into smaller shapes at his tone, a scowl following before she had hold of his collar, yanking him down with a surprising amount of strength. A low and nasty growl split through the air, echoing from her throat as she bared her fangs slightly. He should be careful about what tone he used…

”F’raid not” She purred after a dangerously long moment, her rage subsiding quickly…but the air still shivered around her. It was hardly rage…if you imagined the kind of things a feral monster like her would do when scorned… it made it all the worse that she was female; There wasn’t quite a thing more dangerous then a woman’s wrath after all. Byakko’s rage was frighteningly easy to imagine…

Byakko lived whereever was warm, dry and dark during the day. There was no specific place; there never had been. She was simply a wild animal, roaming the streets until she’d found a nice spot. And here these two strange people were; kicking her out of it.

She released him, passing her umber flare over the mortal before she turned and moved toward the exit. Leaning out the archway, casting her eyes round before she leant back in. “You’ll have to wait” She said simply, casting him a flare. Clearly not that happy…but there was little she could be bothered to do about it anymore. Staying in this human smelling thing…really wasn’t worth it. Besides; the male didn’t seem to want to give up the girl.
She smirked into the rain, amused by the obscurity of it. She didn’t understand.

”I’d walk her home once you’re done though” She closed her azure optic and winked at him, the umber hue glittered on its own, like the coloured of dried blood, hungry to be rejuvenated…
Night was nearly there. Byakko could forgive and forget this turn of events, but it would be dangerous for anyone to think they’d won…or that she’d suddenly had a lapse of obedience.

[cherry]

Mina was tense, visibly afraid though she managed to maintain her composure. Her instinct was to fight, to jump on Byakko and tear her to pieces, but the most effective (and as far as she knew, one of the only) way to kill a vampire was with a stake, and she had nothing at hand that she could use to pierce the woman's heart. Still, there was hatred boiling in her veins for this arrogant and cruel woman, and it would have been wonderful to see her dead.

Unfortunately, if Mina would be the one to strike her down, she would have to wait for a suitable opportunity and a suitable weapon. Neither was available at the moment.

It's almost dark. Don't you have anywhere else to be?

Ah, at last, some emotion. Up to this point, Dorian had reminded her of one of the mannequins she used as she sewed; with a blank face, no emotion present at all. Now, he had shown a bit of feeling - aggression - in his voice. The snarl was strangely comforting to Mina. At last, the seemingly blank man had shown what he was feeling inside, and that made him seem slightly more human to her. If only she knew how far off she was-- that Dorian had been human once, but was now of the same species that she forced herself to kill. Had she found out, her attitude towards the man would have been drastically different; for now, though, she was content to continue defending him.

When Byakko grabbed Dorian, pulling him forward with an angry growl, Mina started, a flinch racking her thin form. If the vampiress killed the man, she would never forgive her, even though she wasn't sure why. The man, admittedly, didn't seem like anything special. Sure, he had a mysterious feel about him, but Mina didn't feel any sort of emotional attachment to him, really, and so it was strange to feel as protective as she did. She supposed it was because he interested her somewhat. As a shopkeeper, it was a somewhat rare occurance for her to meet someone who lived in London that she did not know.

She relaxed, though, when it seemed as though Byakko was about to leave. Finally, they would be safe again, and she would be able to converse with Dorian alone. She was surprised that he hadn't shown any fear at all towards this strange woman-- perhaps he didn't realize what she was?

[Dorian Denixost]

Dorian took in the way Byakko's oddly-colored eyes gazed over the girl, as if looking into her. Was she imagining how she tasted? Did she want to find out? The hunger in her eyes seemed to be deeper than just a physical need. It was like she was searching the girl, studying her. Dorian found his mind reeling with so many thoughts.. was he like that, as well? He had never really thought upon it. Never cared to. Back in New York he'd done whatever he wanted, not thinking of the humans as 'people,' only as.. food. Objects of lust. Two kinds of lust. The physical and the blood kind. But he hadn't felt.. anything; there was no remorse in harming them. Why had he changed? It wasn't something he was aware of. He'd just /stopped/ killing. Because he didn't need to kill now. Back then, he couldn't control himself. Now, there was no need to destroy lives for his own sake. Perhaps a part of Dorian's true nature had lived on in his vampiric self - for as 'cruel' as he could be sometimes, there were other times when he was perfectly humane. Like now.

Why was he protecting this human. The question was more like a statement in his mind. She served no purpose to him; to say that he wanted her around because she interested him was bull. Pure. Bull. He wasn't hungry, so why should he harm her? That much was pretty explanatory. But, to protect her from another of his own kind? Shouldn't they all be loyal to each other? He should simply walk away and let the other vampire have her fun.

That wasn't an option. He didn't know why. But it wasn't.

Byakko's patience seemed to be wearing thin; up until this point, despite her apparent malevolence, she seemed to only have been teasing the both of them. Now, she turned back to face him, and her eyes had changed - the multicolored hues fixed on him with a look of anger. He seemed to have agitated her. This wasn't something Dorian had been aiming to do - his temper had flared on its own at her presence lingering about, and something within him regretted ticking her off further. Though, at least, if her anger was directed towards him, she might forget about the mortal..

Somehow he doubted that. If anything, this woman was probably a friend of Spite, liking to hurt people where she could the most. She might harm Mina simply because of some bizarre want to sting him. Not that it would. Why should it? And yet Dorian found himself cringing inwardly at the thought.

He thought she might actually strike him; his body tensed, shoulders squaring lightly, pulling himself up taller to reach his full height. Yet her response was more dangerous - she simply stood there, arms crossed, staring at him. But before he could react, she had lashed out, pulling him down towards her by the top of his shirt, Dorian forced to succumb as he was caught off-guard, surprised but not at the strength she had displayed.

F’raid not.

He was released; it was simply a warning. Hands glided to the front of his shirt and he moved deft fingers over the collar, smoothing it out, mouth twitching softly.

You’ll have to wait.

Eyes followed her movements, black gaze a bit more glaring than he had intended. His anger towards this woman was rising.. for reasons he could not explain. It would have been much simpler if he could just forget about her. Now he could not - her words to him were a threat, in Dorian's eyes. He was certain that after they parted, he would see her again.

I’d walk her home once you’re done though.

"I will," he 'assured' her, lids coming down somewhat over his eyes, casting her another glower. Her wink simply bothered him; he stared at her and then shook his head lightly, hair sifting away from one eye, clearing his gaze momentarily. He did not want the woman to think he had given into her.. but really, he had.

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[Jutendouji]

Byakko smirked and laughed behind the usual slender dangerous hand, silent again, only the hiss of the rain still disturbing the somewhat tense scene.
“Good boy” She mocked openly, it was his own fault for yielding…weakness was something to jump upon, to tare to pieces and stuff down it’s masters throat. Yielding shouldn’t of been an option either… but the male was evidently worried, otherwise he simply would have reacted less defensively by now… less cautious; he certainly shouldn’t have been worried for himself so he was literally waving a weakness right in front of her… and by god Byakko couldn’t leave such a tempting nerve alone. She may not of been hungry…but that didn’t mean she’d turn away at the thought of shedding some delicious crimson. Such a sinful thing should never have been created. It was too bad he seemed strangely adamant to protect her though…but there were other people to play with. Other creatures to provoke and dominate…

Good god the world was fun. So many sinfully delectable things. Things like that glower he was wearing over his shadowed eyes and black bangs. She grinned at it, he could wear it all he wanted, she’d seen through it and would happily gloat about the win. He should have spoken more…or at least gotten more obviously angry.

Byakko paused and turned her head suddenly, still leaning on the railing that curved round to for the exit. A low howl burst into the air, indicating the rising off the moon as it peered over a couple of the lower rooftops. Predatory eyes took in the new light and reflected the light like too beacons. She wasn’t tense but seemed to be listening carefully, lifting a claw to her forehead to part the straight lengthily black curtains that fluttered across her face. The howl came again, the low searching tune of a stray dog, their singing usually started at this hour, they greeted the moon and the darkness and gathered together to look for food.
”That’s my queue” she mused, wondering if it would be cruel of her to send the dogs after them…to ravage and maim the girl…and do whatever they could to the Male… She hadn’t been able to decide on his strength as of yet.

The only strength he’d shown was in his face…

The devilish creature cast them both a lustfully dangerous look through the corner of her umber hued optic, a smirk fluttering across her lips before she strode out into the rain. She’d call on them to come play again.
Within a flurry of fabrics she’d pretty much vanished into the further darkening shadows. Wet shrubbery shifting as she cut through it to meet the pack. Byakko didn’t live with them… she just liked to run with them when she heard they were around. She could quite happily give up the mortal and the Vampire for their entertainment and wildness.

A chilling song burst through the drenched greenery, a single note, not quite a howl but it had the same sort of effect. It was long and drawn out, so that the dogs would travel to it, a sweet dark melody, haunting and stirring, dangerous and wild, reaching out to every rousing beast, celebrating the glorious new night: Undoubtedly the song belonged to her…

OoC: Aaaaand Ima out. Have fun!! *Might pop in again later if she sees a good opening*

[cherry]

Mina didn't flinch at the sound of the dog's howl; however, at the eerie note that followed, undoubtedly the song of the vicious female vampire, she felt a chill travel up her spine, even stronger than the ones brought about by the wind and rain. Byakko was not done with them, and Mina absolutely knew that their paths would cross again. Would she have Dorian beside her to protect her next time? Most likely not.

But it was of little consequence. Because next time, she'd be ready. In fact, maybe she'd even seek out Byakko before the woman could surprise her. And she'd make her pay for the scratches in her previously smooth and unflawed skin. She'd make her pay for the way that she had forced fear and desparation upon her.

For now, though, Mina sat again, continuing to hold the handkerchief to her face to stop the bleeding. She had felt fear before; many times before, in fact. But this was different. The situation seemed more real with the stinging on her face to remind her. "I can't believe it," She said slowly, another soft tremble in her voice. "Confronted by a vampire, and I couldn't stop her. I was too scared to fight her. That's a first." Her dark eyes burned into Dorian with a curiously sharp intensity, analyzing him. She could see the darkness in him, too. There was definitely something supernatural about the man. But she couldn't decide if it was evil yet. Byakko's spirit had certainly been animalistic, impure; she was so far gone that it was hard to imagine she had once been human. But unlike her, Dorian was hard to read. He just seemed... blank. Colourless eyes, a face that held frighteningly little expression. And until she found out for sure or not, just what kind of darkness resided in this male, she decided not to speak of it.

"I like to think of myself as a vampire slayer," She said at last. "I've taken care of several of them, but I don't think I've seen anything quite like her. She's... something else. She's scary." She admitted.

[Dorian Denixost]

The howl that suddenly pierced through the silence was not something he hadn't heard before, but it came without his really thinking it would - Dorian's mind had been so wrapped around what was going on between the three of them that the male had momentarily forgotten life was still going on around them. His head slowly turned to face the sound, the watchful gaze that he couldn't explain still on Mina, but with his senses rather than his eyes. He 'trusted' that Byakko would not attack her tonight.. at least not anytime soon.

The female's attention seemed to be greatly pulled by the dog's cry, and as he gazed into the distance, was surprised to see the moon had risen. It cast a strange, beautiful light over the park, the rain still there but now the moon carrying through like a lighthouse on a stormy night. His stare caught the giant thing for a few minutes, then the male was drawn back from his thoughts as the woman spoke softly. That's my queue.

A brow lifted, and he turned his head back to her. The look she sent both of them was purely indescribable; had he been anything but himself, he surely would have felt a sense of daunting fear. As it was, he simply gazed at her, the only 'fear' he could admit to holding for the mortal beside him.. This vampire was not like any he had ever met. She seemed as if she might hold a grudge. Might purposefully hunt down a certain person.

And then she was gone.

The last sound she made throbbed in his ears, swam around hauntingly in his head. His eyes closed for a moment, and then finally the dark orbs opened again. A soft sigh escaped from dark purple lips. Dorian felt as if he had learned a great deal tonight. Honestly, the male couldn't even begin to explain the thoughts in his head. He was so like a sponge, sucking up new information. Byakko had taught him something, but he wasn't quite sure what it was. Maybe she'd taught him what he didn't want to be like, deep down inside.

The male could safely turn his full attention back to the girl once he was certain the other had left. Her odd scent, that scent of bloodlust, danger, and darkness, was entirely gone now. Physically gone, anyway; Dorian could not seem to get it out of his head. However, at that precise moment, he caught movement and turned his head to the side to see Mina sitting again, her handkerchief pressed against her face. The scent of her blood pricked and penetrated the other, teasing scent that had been in his head. It did not stir any sort of want; Dorian was no glutton. He was not hungry now. Her blood simply reminded him that they were alone again now.

I can't believe it, she started. He could hear the tremble in her voice, and had the strange urge to sit beside the girl, lay a hand on her shoulder or make some other act of comforting. Dorian's unreadable countenance may still be up and running, but his earlier sense of 'toying amusement' had completely faltered. He felt sickened by viewing her as nothing but something to study. And intrigued all at once.

Damn. What was wrong with him? Could he not choose an emotion to side with? As it was, he did sit. Almost stubbornly, he told himself. Indeed, he sat down quite all of a sudden, and once beside the girl, turned his head to stare at her as she spoke. He leaned down somewhat, so as to be near her height, tilting his head somewhat to the side.

Confronted by a vampire, and I couldn't stop her. I was too scared to fight her. That's a first.

Dorian froze. His dark hues betrayed only the slightest change in heart, for they widened somewhat, brows rising. The male remained where he was sat, but leaned up somewhat, his head coming back, lips slightly parting. Deep in thought. And then her eyes were inside of him, searching, traveling, looking for.. something. He could not hope to explain what she might be looking for. Up until this point he had simply assumed she did not know what he was. She must have. Or maybe she didn't. When she found out, though..

I like to think of myself as a vampire slayer. I've taken care of several of them, but I don't think I've seen anything quite like her. She's... something else. She's scary.

Dorian mulled over that for a small while. His posture changed again, he leaned over, one elbow on his knee, palm supporting his chin, giving him an almost relaxed, casual countenance. Head turned to the side to look at her, softly tilted to one side, hair splaying across that eye. His lips were pressed together, but opened after he had studied her for a small while.

"You're a.. slayer," he repeated, softly, so softly that had she not been right beside him, the female surely wouldn't have been able to hear him. "Does that mean you.. slay vampires?" He had never heard of one of those before; in New York he associated with none others of his kind, and hardly bothered with listening in on the latest gossip. Any word of slayers was lost to him. He didn't know that in England, it was different, that there was quite a group of them. In fact, he knew nothing at all. He was like a child.

"All vampires?" he added delicately.

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[cherry]

Dorian's prescence, somehow, made Mina feel a bit more calm. There was no guarantee that Byakko was gone for good, after all, and she was slightly shaken up after her encounter with the vampire. She lowered the handkerchief slowly, glancing in near disbelief at the soiled piece of cloth. There were still a few droplets of blood on her cheek, strikingly crimson against her pale skin, and they glittered brilliantly in the dim light from the moon. It was not as if Mina had never been injured on the job-- still, as she had said before, there was something about Byakko that made it even scarier. The mortal knew that this was a vampire that was twisted, every trace of humanity gone from her darkened soul, and she was capable of killing without remorse. Something told her that, had Dorian been absent, Byakko would have slain her without a second thought; or perhaps, if she was extremely lucky, fed off of her and left her to bleed, to possibly survive and become a vampire herself.

You're a... slayer. Does that mean you... slay vampires?

Mina almost chuckled. She had no children of her own - in fact, as far as she knew, she was the youngest in her immediate family - and yet, she couldn't help but think that Dorian was rather like a curious child. Even through his dark and mysterious aura, Mina could tell that there was still something strangely innocent about him, and that comforted her.

"Well, of course that's what it means, sir," She answered as politely as she could, though with a slight twinge of laughter in her voice. "It's not my true profession, though. I do it on the side... on my own. I'm not a bounty hunter, or anything of the sort." Though there was still amusement in her eyes, she added, in an offhanded sort of way, "My brother was killed by a vampire. That's the only reason why." Then, with another small giggle, she assured him, "No, not all vampires! That's absurd! There are far too many in London for one person to kill by herself, especially one like me. I have a feeling that I wouldn't be able to handle a vampire like her by myself. I'm not strong enough." Her size-- it was the thing that hindered her the most as a vampire hunter. Though she was lightweight and agile, she also lacked physical strength that most vampires seemed to possess in great quantity.