|
Lost
Dec 21, 2009 1:17:50 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Dec 21, 2009 1:17:50 GMT -5
Plot Toru Kane is a vampire who has immigrated to North America from Japan in search of his long lost family. He has taken time to learn English, but isn't always very good at it. At this time he has gotten side-tracked from his original intent. Toru, despite being a vampire, has gotten a job at a small bar. He is attempting to fit in but having difficulty. He needs a few friends. These friends will help him adapt to North American culture and also come along on the adventure to find his family. [/color][/center] The evening was growing cooler as Toru hurried toward the small grungy bar where he worked. The last streaks of gold and magenta were fading into the deep navy hue of the night sky. A breeze took hold of his purple hair and tossed it about as he sped down the sidewalk. He was late for work and his boss wasn't the nicest guy; he was sort of a crook. Marceau was his name. He would let anyone into the bar, no matter their age and he always encouraged drunken brawls. Often he would send Toru into the middle of the fray to intervene. Luckily Toru had a secret that was on his side. He was a vampire and the strength his dark gift had given him allowed him to avoid being pummeled to death by large, angry, drunken men. Toru was a very shy and gullible person. He trusted too easily and this was a huge weakness. Still, as nice of a guy as he was, Toru hated Marceau. His boss often picked on him for not being able to speak English well. Aparently Marceau was also racist. The tall muscular half French man hated anyone who could not speak English or French fluently. He was also racist toward appearance. He hated Toru because he was Asian. The only reason Toru got hired at this shit hole was because no one else was stupid enough to apply there; and Marceau thought he was a girl. Toru rushed into the locker room and donned his uniform. It was fairly simple, black pants and a white dress shirt. Toru checked to make sure Marceau wasn't around before heading out to the bar to start his shift. In no time a huge crowd of no goods entered. They demanded large pitchers of beer. A sigh escaped Toru as he filled the pitchers and placed them on a tray to take to the party. These men weren't regulars and this worried Toru. Even though he was a vampire, he was still delicate looking. Many times he was mistaken for a female and harassed by a bunch of drunk horny bikers. He set the tray in the middle of the round table and began to walk away when one of the burly men reached out and slapped his ass. "Hey!" Toru called out. The man's eyes widened when he heard Toru's voice. That was one part of the vampire that wasn't feminine. "You ain't a girl!" "No." Toru answered, his brow furrowing. "Why you look like a girl then?" asked the biker that had slapped him. Toru ignored him and went back behind the bar. Hopefully something good would come if this evening.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 6, 2010 12:29:20 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 6, 2010 12:29:20 GMT -5
(NOTE: this is the real Valentine I'm using. I'm going to put up a post for him on the primary chars. page.)
Valentine meandered down the concrete, on his usual morning walk to stretch his legs. Well, in all actuality it was dusk, but it was the equivalent of morning for him. He'd dressed as he usually did these days, in a pair of jeans and black boots, a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and his favourite leather jacket of the same color. At least he'd be comfortable whater he ran into.
He looked around at the buildings he passed. This particular neighborhood was rather on the dingy side with it's peeling paint and overfilled garbage cans. But Valentine had seen worse. He was passing a bar when he heard shouting. "Hey!" someone yelled. Curious, he stopped and listened. The sound had come from inside.
Well, he thought to himself, you have nothing better to do at the moment. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The smell of stale beer and smoke, as well as other things, hit him in the face. Valentine shook his head a bit in an effort to diffuse its affect. The interior of the place didn't look much better. A pack of already drunken men that looked like they belonged behind bars was crowded around a couple tables, laughing and carrying on raucously. When his gaze traveled to the bar, his curiosity purked again. Behind it stood a young man with purple hair. The fact he was of Asian descent made him look a bit feminine, but his scent told Valentine otherwise. More intriguing still was that this person was as he was, a vampire.
Casually he walked over to the bar and sat down on a stool. With a small toss of his head he flipped his bright red hair out of his eyes. "Hello."
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 9, 2010 19:54:01 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 9, 2010 19:54:01 GMT -5
Toru noticed the guy with red hair come in; he could also tell the guy was a vampire. Toru was definitely apprehensive about that fact. He didn't need any trouble. The guy sat down at the bar a few feet away. Hello he said. Toru walked over to him, a glass in hand.
"Hello. What can I get you?" He'd used that line so many times he heard it in his sleep. Toru hoped this customer didn't want conversation, that was one of Toru's weak traits.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 9, 2010 23:03:16 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 9, 2010 23:03:16 GMT -5
Valentine could feel the boy's uneasiness as if it were tangible as he approached. "Hello. What can I get you?"
"A glass of peach shnapps, if you have it. No ice, please," he replied, smiling as not to show any teeth. From what he could tell, his host was not very old for one of their kind.
Ruefully he laughed to himself, But there aren't many out there who aren't children compared to you.
His attention split as he kept up with the bar tender and began better analyzing the other people in the bar. The young one was not only anxious because of his prescence there- if this was the typical cround in this place, he imagined things could get irritating.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 9, 2010 23:50:43 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 9, 2010 23:50:43 GMT -5
Toru nodded at the red haired man's request. With ease he sat the glass down and grabbed the bottle of Peach Schnapps. He'd just finished pouring the glass when the same group as before began banging on the tables demanding more beer. That was fast... he thought to himself. Toru slid the glass down the bar. "Excuse me." he said. Without much trouble he poured three pitchers of beer and set them on a tray. He picked it up resting it on his shoulder and walked over to the group.
Once the beer was on the table one of the bikers grabbed Toru around the middle. "Show us a good time woman!" he demanded in a slurred gravely voice.
"I told you before I'm not a woman!" Toru yelled grabbing at the burly man's forearms.
"Prove it." the biker's friend with a large forearm tattoo said. He moved and grabbed Toru's shirt feeling for breasts. "Flater than a pancake" he laughed to his buddies. The small crowed roared with laughter. The tattooed arm moved downward, causing Toru to turn red and get angry.
"I told you I'm not a girl!"
The tattooed biker's hand shot back and his eyes grew wide! "It ain't kiddin!"
Another of the greasy men spoke up, "whatdya mean 'it ain't kiddin'"
Toru fought back against the biker that held him and got free for an instant before he was grabbed back again.
"It's got junk!" cried the tattooed biker. Again the crowed roared, obviously so drunk as to not remember earlier when Toru told them he wasn't a girl.
He was so embarrassed.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 10, 2010 22:30:35 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 10, 2010 22:30:35 GMT -5
Valentine's brow furrowed when he saw the way the men were treating the boy. Annoyance shifted to loathing and shere disgust as they started to feel him up, refusing to let him go dispite his blatant objections. The red head stood, pushing back his stool. With strides the devoured the floor beneath his feet yet made nary a sound, he came up behind the moron that held the young man and gripped the back of his neck with long fingers, his skin almost snowy compared to the man's.
He pulled the man backwards slightly, making him aware that he was being held. In a cold tone, he asked, "Didn't anyone ever teach you the hazzards of ganging up on someone?" What remained of his Irish accent was more pronounced in his irritation, as it always was. "Let him go."
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 10, 2010 23:50:39 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 10, 2010 23:50:39 GMT -5
The grungy biker did as he was told, clearly frightened of the strength the other possessed. Toru straightened his shirt, "thank you!" he said to the red haired man before going back behind the bar. He wanted nothing more than to leave right now. Toru had never been more embarrassed in his life, but today seemed to be a lucky day; both because his boss still hadn't shown his face, and because of the stranger that rescued him.
The vampire grabbed a fresh glass and poured the guy another drink. "On me." he said with a small smile.
The crowd of bikers became a little less rowdy but still carried on as normal. They obviously wanted to just move on after their supposed leader got put in his place.
Who was the other vampire and what did he want?
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 11, 2010 22:17:20 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 11, 2010 22:17:20 GMT -5
Walking back to the bar, Valentine reclaimed his seat. He returned the boy's smile, trying to rid himself of what remained of the icy anger he'd felt a moment before. His blue-grey eyes had probably gone darker and stormy with his change in emotion, he knew.
"You are most welcome, and thank you in return. Heheh, I've never taken kindly to bullies, particullarly ones that are cowardly enough to gang up on someone in such a manner." Cocking his head slightly, he asked, "Is this what you have to deal with on a normal basis? Your employer should be out here keeping these mongrels in line."
((occ: I'm sorry it's short >w<))
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 12, 2010 9:03:03 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 12, 2010 9:03:03 GMT -5
[[ occ: that's alright mine probably will be too, I have to head out soon >.< lol ]]
Toru laughed, "It is always like this. Boss likes to send me into situations as those." He felt like that sentence was wrong but he didn't bother to fix it because he wasn't sure how to say it properly. Instead of worrying over it he proceeded to wipe down the bar.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 12, 2010 14:28:53 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 12, 2010 14:28:53 GMT -5
Valentine shook his head as he sipped his drink. "And I thought things were bad in Ireland." He'd seen his share of bar brawls in his time, a couple of which he'd been in himself. But for someone to send a boy of his size that was assumed to be human into a fight like that. . . . He tried to clear the thought from his head, for the more he thought about it the madder he'd get.
"Not to sound nosey, but what is your name?" he enquired. It was clear the bartender had trouble speaking English at points, but it didn't bug Valentine- he did better than a lot of Americans he'd heard speak these days.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 18, 2010 17:22:21 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 18, 2010 17:22:21 GMT -5
"Toru." the vampire answered politely. This guy was the first to stick up for him, he hoped the other vampire would stay for at least a few more hours. Toru ventured to ask for this man's name. He said he'd hailed from Ireland a place that Toru hadn't ever seen. It was comforting to him that this vampire was also from a distant land.
"What is your name?"
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 18, 2010 20:15:44 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 18, 2010 20:15:44 GMT -5
"What is your name?"
Valentine swallowed the sip of alcohol he'd just taken and the corner of his mouth turned up in a small smile as he looked at Toru. "Pardon my lack of manners. My name is Valentine. It's a pleasure to meet you, Toru."
The crimson-haired vampire looked around again, eyes sweeping over the miscelanious cobwebs as he took another sip of his drink before returning his attention to his newly made aquaintance. "If your boss is such an arrogant lout, why are you still working here?" he enquired, his curiosity sincere. "From what it sounds like, by this point I would have gotten mad enough to clout the blaggard in the face and quit if I were in your shoes."
From what Valentine could sense, Toru seemed like an amiable fellow who didn't have a short fuse, but to take such treatment was absurd. Then again, he could understand a bit- Toru didn't have the good fortune of being 5' 10" as he was, and vampire or not he was still young in comparisson. This train of thought made him curious. "I think I may stick around a while, and see what this blighter looks like for myself."
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 19, 2010 11:55:09 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 19, 2010 11:55:09 GMT -5
Toru shook his head when Valentine mentioned quitting. "I cannot." The young vampire had far too many debts to clear. His apartment, his loan to get overseas, no matter how shitty the job was he'd have to do it.
As soon as Valentine mentioned wanting to see Marceau Toru grew a bit anxious. The racist prick would have a lot to say to this fellow with crimson hair. Toru's boss was less than tolerant of other people and he didn't hide it from them either. He'd had the young vampire throw people out by their jackets simply because they spoke or looked a bit odd.
Unfortunately, as luck would have it, in strode the muscular man. He was an unattractive fellow, with a dimpled chin and a large wart next to his almost crooked nose. He had sharp beady brown eyes that loomed out under giant black caterpillars. His hair wasn't buzzed, but it was short and stood up in places. Crooked teeth showed through his smile.
"Toru!" he yelled. "Get me a beer, and be quick about it!" he moved to sit at the end of the bar close to the door.
Toru turned immediately and grabbed a bottle. He opened it by hand and set it down on a coaster in front of the disgusting man. "Sir." he said politely.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 19, 2010 22:19:18 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 19, 2010 22:19:18 GMT -5
Valentine's head turned slowly to find the owner of the voice. His line of sight came to rest on a rather vulgar man. Upon seeing him his proverbial hackles went up, just from looking at him. There was no doubting what he was- an overgrown, cowardly bully. It was all he could do not to bare the fangs that were a permanent fixture in his mouth.
He watched Toru's boss surreptitiously as he went to sit at the other end of the bar, never letting him out of his sight even though it didn't seem as if he were looking. Subconsciously he began sending waves of unease in the moron's direction, letting them slip in his ear and burry themselves in his head, at the same time progecting calm towards Toru.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 28, 2010 22:03:30 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 28, 2010 22:03:30 GMT -5
Toru felt unexpectedly calm. Usually he was raging internally whenever the imbecile was around.
"Hey!" called one of the bikers. Marceau looked behind him, a grin forming. "Will!" he called, grabbing his beer and moving to sit at their table.
Toru sighed with relief that he was left alone. Again he moved to wipe down the bar. The vampire did what he could to keep the place as presentable as possible. He hoped that if he did so he would get better customers. People who weren't vulgar or involved in crime would be wonderful. Toru figured he could keep dreaming.
He glanced over at Valentine once more to make sure he was alright. One look told him that the other vampire disapproved of Marceau and the way he ran things.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 29, 2010 17:53:14 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 29, 2010 17:53:14 GMT -5
"I see what you mean," Valentine said, his voice low, regaining a bit of the cold it had held before. "I have seen his type time and time again. It never changes."
He began to sort his thoughts, nursing his drink as he searched for a feesable solution, blue-grey eyes unseeing as they stared at the bar. The younger vampire's problem wasn't really any of his business, but no matter how old he got he disliked seeing someone treated this way. If nothing else, it provided an interesting puzzle for the moment.
An idea crossed his mind and he looked at the bar keeper. "Toru, are there any employment positions open here that you know of? I think I may have a way to solve your little cunundrum." If he could get the brute in charge to hire him, Valentine could keep him away from Toru.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 30, 2010 22:18:09 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Mar 30, 2010 22:18:09 GMT -5
Toru's eyes widened, "here? You want to work here?" he asked. He wondered what the other vampire had in mind. Valentine sure was a nice guy. Toru shook his head after a few moments of thought. "I don't think he's looking." His green eyes moved to rest on the bully. "Maybe if I get him drunk enough, he say yes!" the young vampire thought out loud.
With two beers in his hands he walked over to Marceau's table and set them down in front of him. Marceau looked up at Toru with a creepy smile.
"What a good boy!" he said as if he were talking to a dog. "Aren't you a good boy?" The man reached up and tousled Toru's violet locks. "Okay, go away now." he said.
Toru walked back to the bar. "I hope this works." he said. It was about time Marceau got what was coming to him.
|
|
|
Lost
Mar 31, 2010 17:05:23 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Mar 31, 2010 17:05:23 GMT -5
"I hope this works," Toru said as he made his way back behind the bar.
Valentine smiled slyly. "It will." It was brilliant.
He waited patiently as the man downed first one beer, then the other. His speech began to slur, his movements growing more and more clumsy. It was then that the red-head made his move. Standing, Valentine walked over to Toru's boss, his steps showing a grace that was deceptively lazy. He came to stand in front of him. "Hello, good sir. I was just stopping by for a drink and I wondered if you perhaps have any job openings. I've been looking for work for some time now, and I would be most appreciative if you would hire me. I'm sure your bar tender could use the help."
As he spoke he made direct eye contact with his 'victim', his voice unnaturally persuasive. He projected into his mind the answer he wanted to hear, compelling him to say yes. Valentine could probably have pulled this without the idiot being inibriated, but it was a nice insurance policy.
|
|
|
Lost
Apr 13, 2010 22:06:11 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Apr 13, 2010 22:06:11 GMT -5
Marceau looked up at the red head, squinting one eye and gurgling. "A job?" he asked in his drunken slur. "You?" He slammed a hand down on the table top and laughed. "I don't care. When can you start?" he asked.
Toru's brow furrowed. Valentine would get very little pay he knew this well. Even though the other vampire didn't want the job for the money it was still an irritating fact of working for this unbearably filthy and crude man.
|
|
|
Lost
Apr 14, 2010 17:18:38 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on Apr 14, 2010 17:18:38 GMT -5
"When can you start?" Marceau asked drunkenly.
Valentine smiled to himself- his plan had worked. "Immediately, sir. I'll get right to it." He turned on his heal he strode back to the bar. Setting one hand on the top, he hopped over to stand next to Toru. Smiling at his purple-haired aquaintance he said, "Alright, boyo, the board is set. And don't make such a face, you might get stuck that way."
|
|
|
Lost
Apr 29, 2010 22:20:32 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on Apr 29, 2010 22:20:32 GMT -5
"Stuck this way?" Toru asked with concern. No one had every said that to him before; was it possible for one's face to become stuck in a certain position?
He was relieved that Valentine had gotten into the job so easily. Things would be a little less stressful now. The time seemed to be picking up and it was much later than Toru had originally thought it was. In about two hours he'd be finished his shift and away from this place for another day.
The bar closed at 2:00 am, leaving Toru enough time before dawn to feed.
|
|
|
Lost
May 1, 2010 8:48:48 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on May 1, 2010 8:48:48 GMT -5
Valentine wiped down the bar for the last time for the night, humming to himself. Things had gone a lot smoother since he'd come behind the bar. Their customers were less inclined to misbehave in his prescence.
He laughed to himself- this was generally the way things went. Valentine was somewhat tall and quiet with strangers, polite but aloof. People were usually unsettled by the fact that they had difficulty reading him. But would any of them believe that he was actually a pacifist?
Hopping over the bar- it was faster than going around- he went with a tray and began gathering up empty glasses from the now vaccant tables. This kind of work didn't really bother him. It was simple, and it helped someone to boot. Hopefully Toru would be mistreated less here because of his plan.
|
|
|
Lost
May 1, 2010 17:29:45 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on May 1, 2010 17:29:45 GMT -5
Toru took a quick inventory as Valentine rounded up the glasses. Finally work for today was over and he could head out and enjoy the rest of the night.
"Thank you." Toru said to Valentine as he headed around back to the lockers. With a sigh he undressed and re-donned his outfit from earlier. With Valentine around Toru could kiss the harassment good bye! This calmed his frazzled nerves greatly. Now he could focus more on getting his life on track.
|
|
|
Lost
May 1, 2010 19:22:13 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on May 1, 2010 19:22:13 GMT -5
Valentine cleaned off the last of the tables and went to wash his hands to remove any residual mystery goo that may have gotten on them in the process. The layer of grime that clung to everything in the building didn't discriminate between bar thugs and hired help.
If nothing else, he resolved to himself, I will leave this hole in the wall cleaner than I found it!
He went and grabbed his jacket from where he'd stowed it behind the bar. Giving the room one last look around, he went and waited by the door. It would be rude to leave without saying goodbye to his new coligue. Valentine chuckled. The two of them were going to get along well he predicted.
|
|
|
Lost
May 2, 2010 18:11:11 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on May 2, 2010 18:11:11 GMT -5
Toru turned off the light and headed toward the door. He noticed Valentine standing near it, waiting for him. "I hope you can handle it here Balentine." Toru said with an awkward smile. He had trouble with his 'v's' "It gets pretty bad." He knew that Valentine could hold his own, especially against this crowd, but Toru still worried for the sake of everyone involved. After heading outside, Toru locked the door behind him and stowed the key in his pants pocket.
He looked to the taller man.
|
|
|
Lost
May 2, 2010 20:10:30 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on May 2, 2010 20:10:30 GMT -5
Valentine chuckled and said jokingly, "I think we're good until the species that is the bar brute evolves a brain. Then I'll start getting nervous."
He followed Toru out the door and watched as he locked up behind them. When he met his gaze he smiled cheerfully. "Well, I guess I'll see you at work tonight. I'm sure you want to catch a bite to eat." Giving a small nod he turned and headed down the sidewalk. "Until then."
|
|
|
Lost
May 2, 2010 21:10:19 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on May 2, 2010 21:10:19 GMT -5
Toru watched as Valentine walked out of sight. Grabbing a meal sounded like a good idea.
The vampire scoped out a homeless type and drank his fill. His principals weren't strict but he knew what he could get away with. After that he headed home. Tomorrow brought about another big night and unexpected trials.
One more night in his existence and another few dollars toward his search. He'd find his parents soon, that much he knew for sure.
|
|
|
Lost
May 2, 2010 21:52:28 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on May 2, 2010 21:52:28 GMT -5
Valentine went pretty much straight home. Well, to the boarding house he'd been staying at for the last month. He came through the front door without a sound, mounting the stairs to the second floor just as quietly. The woman in charge and the other tenants were all alseep. He was sure they all considered him odd already- who didn't?- but why provoke more suspicion.
In his room he changed into his pajamas, a pair of black cotton sleep pants, and laid down on his bed. Toru had to go feed, he knew. Had to find some warm body to take blood from. But Valentine himself rarely took that route unless it was absolutely necessary. It had been a good three months since he had taken 'solid' food. He settled for the emotions of those around him. Always he'd seemed to be particullarly in tune with others feelings, even when he couldn't understand his own. . . .
As the sun rose, he drifted off to sleep, planning already for work.
|
|
|
Lost
May 12, 2010 0:12:39 GMT -5
Post by starlessnight on May 12, 2010 0:12:39 GMT -5
Toru woke with a start and realized he was late again. For some reason the events of the previous evening and tired him out more than he thought they would. He pulled on some pants and boots before leaving. Shit, shit, shit! he thought as he raced toward his place of work. For the second time he hoped his boss wasn't there to scold him.
When he reached the place he went in through the backdoor and made an a-line for the lockers. He felt uncomfortable not wearing a shirt, but he couldn't find a clean one fast enough. Trou glanced around as he removed his street clothing and placed on his uniform.
After a huge sigh, he headed out to the bar. Marceau was sitting at the bar with a large scowl on his face. "You're late boy!" he hollered. Instinctively Toru flinched. He bowed and apologized.
"You ain't gettin' payed for today." he said.
Oh well. Toru didn't really care, it was better than being harassed or thrown to his goons. The vampire loathed the thought of being sent to grope town. He hurried behind the bar and got his boss a beer.
|
|
|
Lost
May 15, 2010 12:17:45 GMT -5
Post by cloudedstormrunner on May 15, 2010 12:17:45 GMT -5
Valentine strolled in through the back door of the bar. Toru's scent told him the younger vampire had come in only a few minutes before. He didn't stop, for he had no need to change clothes- he'd gotten dressed in black pants and a white button-up shirt before he'd left the boarding house.
Walking into the main room of the building he spotted Toru behind the bar already, a somewhat unhappy expression on his face. It was no wonder, for there sat the boss, a perfect picture of sulleness. "Good evening, Toru," Valentine said, greeting his coworker cheerfully. With a slight bow to Marceau he said, "Sir."
He rolled up his sleeves as he stepped behind the bar. Without a word he dug around until he found a mop and a bucket, which he filled with water and added soap. Bucket in one hand and mop in the other, he went back around the bar. He set the bucket down in the middle of the floor and set to work mopping.
|
|