New York || Day 1

[imaginationswoes]

[Running is the current plan but it isn't going well. She's constantly getting lost and she's reminded again and again that she's never been out of her small town alone. She misses her family and her friends but more than that she is really missing a warm bed. Her feet continue forward, the tall buildings towering on either side of her. It's impressive, as far as cities go, but its to close together.

To much can go wrong.

She must of made a wrong turn because Airy finds herself walking along a very shady part of town. Winter is setting in but she thinks of warmth and she manages to keep herself heated. She has a backpack around her shoulders and it looks like she's wearing a uniform: white button down, green pleated skirt, black jacket and a matching tie. It's most definitely giving some of the people here the wrong idea.]

Shit.

[Airy whispers softly under her breath, a puff of white leaving her warm lips. When she spots two men pointing towards her she runs. Her feet fly across the street and she's about 75% sure they weren't following her. Mist descends on the area and Airy one again curses under her breath. She's only getting more lost at this rate and running around New York after midnight isn't on her to do list.]

Comments

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy shrugs, she doesn't see anything wrong with it then.]

Why do you ask?

[Maybe if he asked his food first? I mean... people give blood all the time. Though if he's trying to be discreet that's probably not a great idea. Really as long as he isn't hurting anyone good then it's okay.]

[charitaslamia]

People in this age are much more tolerant than they have been in ages past.

[There's a weight to his words that defies a short length of time, and his expression darkens, but to one of sadness rather than anger.]

People now are slightly less likely to kill what they don't understand.

[imaginationswoes]

I don't think that's it.

[She doesn't mean to sound insensitive and she quickly attempts to retract her words waving her arms around.]

What I mean to say is... people are still afraid of what they don't know. [Which is something that has Airy worried.] But because of movies and media people feel like they know vampires and things like that so they are less afraid of them.

Honestly, if I hadn't talked to you before you told me I might have had a different reaction. By the time you told me I already decided I didn't care because you were a nice person.

[Who bought her french fries which made him awesome in her book.]

[charitaslamia]

Yes, a fear of the dark is a part of every human. It keeps them safe in the sun, but they don't, as often, drag "monsters" out of their sanctuaries into the killing light of day.

[He shrugs.]

I suppose I have science to thank for that. Rational thought tells them things like me can't be real.

[And he smiles at that.]

Thank you.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy watches him and notes that, yes, sunlight will hurt him. He hadn't really said so before and she tries to keep the thought of sunshine away from her mind so she doesn't go creating the sun in the car while traveling down a highway.

Due to her efforts to not focus on it, she started focusing on something else and in her lap sat a little puppy that barked at Antonio with a gleeful chirp sounding more like a bird than a dog. The dog also had a pair of wings that formed out of white feathers.]

Ah sorry... [About the thing in her lap.] I can promise that I won't drag you into the sun at least.

[Airy doesn't even have the strength to drag him.]

[charitaslamia]

[He blinks at the creature in her lap before turning back to the road.]

I'll hold you to that.

Do you often think of winged dogs?

[imaginationswoes]

Nope.

[She tries to wave it away but it chirps again. She closes her eyes and eventually her lap is empty once more.]

A lot of my illusions... when I don't actively try and stop it, are more abstract.

[charitaslamia]

Ah, I see. [He nods his appreciation.] You have a vivid imagination. You should never stifle that.

[As they entered the city, it quickly because obvious why it was considered the city that never slept. It was just as alive as if it were the middle of the day. There was even an attendant in the parking garage as he pulled in.]

[imaginationswoes]

Well stifling is all I've been trying to do since... you know.

[She grows quiet after that and looks out the window. She grabs her backpack and pulls it into her lap.

Airy's eyes try and take in everything at once and succeeds in making herself dizzy. She does however look at the attendant curiously but then realizes that she's staring and that's rude.]

[charitaslamia]

[Antonio bids a greeting to the parking attendant as they leave the garage and leads the way to the door of the building, waving to night security, who greets him by name and doesn't seem to think it's odd Antonio's coming in at such an odd hour.

The guard does raise an eyebrow at Airy, but greets her as well, before Antonio heads to the elevator.]

I understand, but you shouldn't lose sight of it, either.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy is almost sad to leave the warmth of the car but at least it means she might be able to sleep in a bed tonight. She slips on her backpack and makes sure to grab the BurgerKing bag so that his car doesn't smell like french fries come morning.

She gives the guard a wave and a smile as she walks behind Antonio as if it's the most normal thing ever.]

I guess but then I wouldn't be... [Her voice trails off again and it's clear she has no idea how to describe herself. She doesn't think she's dangerous but she also has a feeling she can hurt people if she tried or was scared.]

Well, I'd get into less trouble. [All Airy wants is to be normal and return to the life she knows and loved. She had been happy then.]

[charitaslamia]

And just how much trouble has it gotten you into, I wonder. [He left the elevator to it's calming music and waited for her to illustrate.]

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy gives him a flat stare. She's sure that he can imagine what she's been through and as if her mind is taunting her a shadow appears along the elevator wall. It's a figure much like Airy's and it's running, the shadow behind it isn't discernible before Airy forcibly wills the imagine away by thinking of something else.

Instead the elevator is raining glitter.]

What do you think?

[She doesn't really want moments of her life played out in shadows like a TV. Her fingers wrap around her straps and she stifles a yawn.]

[charitaslamia]

[His eyes darted to the shadows, but then he was covered in glitter, at least briefly.]

I can see how it may annoy some people.

[He shook his head to clear his hair of the glitter and lead the way to his apartment quietly. It was the middle of the night, after all.]

But I'm aware you can't help it.

[And he opens the door, holding it for her.]

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy nods and with the motion the glitter vanishes. She steps forward keeping her expression relaxed while wishing that annoying people was all she was worried about.]

Sorry, it at least goes away.

[charitaslamia]

[He shakes his head as he opens the door to the apartment, holding it for her to enter first.]

There's nothing you need apologize for.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy walks in and then stops.]

Whoa...

[The word leaves her lips without much forethought. She then realizes that she's standing in the door way and quickly steps forward. It's big and there doesn't seem to be too much stuff around to clutter it the place. She peers out the large windows which is probably the scene that you'd find on a postcard.]

I guess you're bedroom doesn't have... [She waves a hand at the window.] ...windows.

[charitaslamia]

It does, actually. I appreciate the view, but it also has storm shutters.

[He moves into the apartment behind her and closes the door.]

Would you like something to drink, or would you like me to show you to your room? Ah! [He smiles.] But I was supposed to show you mine, wasn't I?

[imaginationswoes]

[She can't keep a straight face at his last comment. Her expression broke into a nervous grin.]

Ah yeah, if that's still okay. Then we can stop at my room... not that you have to come with. I can follow directions.

[Airy can't make anything she says sound right.]

After you. [She bows her head and stands out of the way so she can fall instep behind him and follow.]

[charitaslamia]

Airy, I'm very old. I don't quickly change my mind.

[He smiles.]

Up this way, and in the back.

[He heads to the small spiraling staircase that lead to the upstairs of his loft apartment.]

[imaginationswoes]

[It's good to know that Antonio isn't one to change his mind. Airy usually decides things on impulse, at least large important decisions, and it usually works out well.

She pads behind him, her boots clicking softly on the hard floor. She looks down to see if she's made a mess before looking up at Antonio.]

Should I have taken off my shoes?

[charitaslamia]

[He shakes his head, chuckling slightly.]

It's quite alright.

[He moves to the back of the upper platform, opening the farthest door and pushing it open to reveal a relatively plain bedroom, all things considered, though one wall is lined nearly completely with brimming bookshelves and a very comfy looking chair there, and hung on the wall is a large framed blueprint that probably looks like Greek to most people.]

Well, here you have it: the den of a vampire. Are you frightened yet?

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy peeks in, her body leaning forward while her hair slid off her shoulder and in front of her. Her fingers held onto the frame of the door keeping her hanging position steady as she peered around the room.

Her emerald gaze flicks around the room before glancing up at Antonio.] A little bit.

[Except her tone is light and she steps inside to look at the collection of books. It's impressive but then she realizes that she's probably spending a little to long in a boys room.]

Ah, I should head to bed and let you do... whatever it is you do at night.

[Like wander around alleyways and find strange girls.]

[charitaslamia]

[Antonio chuckles, content to let her wonder, even though he was most likely simply going to go continue to work on a project that was due next week.]

Yes, you must be exhausted. This way.

[The guest room was off to the right from Antonio's, though closer to the balcony.]

Make yourself at home.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy pushes the door open to the room and inspects it curiously. It's also empty and it doesn't look like anyone has stayed their recently; that or one of the two who live here is very good at cleaning.

She shrugs her backpack off her shoulder and places it on the bed. It's only then that she turns towards Antonio and the door.]

I'm going to change but in case you're worried... [She pauses trying to think of the right words to say.] ...what I mean is... my imagination sometimes comes out at night... so I'll leave the door unlocked. In case you hear something or get worried.

[Airy doesn't really know what happens when she sleeps.]