Silent Victory [David; Open]

[Ares Lusitani]

Ares Lusitani wasn't one to lounge about, but tonight was special. She'd finished a job not hours before, and it deserved some congratulatory celebration. Sitting in the shadows, she watched numerous vampires circulate around the room. An occasional human passed through her view, and she knew there were quite a few - which was quite a few more than there should be among this company - that roamed about The Red Horn, but she couldn't be bothered to worry about them at the present. It was there own damn fault if they went and got themselves sucked dry. Ares dropped her gaze to her hands, which were slender and graceful - which could sum up the rest of her quite easily. She wore black skinny jeans and a dark blue hoodie, zipped half-way up, which revealed her lighter blue cami. She cared little about fashion, and less about what people thought of her.

Topaz eyes lifting once more, she scanned the bar. Many faces were familiar, but none that she would want to approach and strike up conversation with. Many of the vampires in the bar wouldn't give her lip due to her age, and so it wasn't worry of that which kept her from rising. Tonight, it looked like it would be a silent victory for the vampire. Her long fingers drummed on her knee, keeping time with the music that filled The Red Horn. She heard the door open, but the scent of vampire prevented her from having the need to look. Curiousity rarely got you anywhere, unless you did more than just glance. However, something about how the vampires reacted to the new addition made her lift her gaze. A male vampire walked slowly through the bar. He seemed quiet in nature, and his mental buzz was calm, unworried, easygoing. When she caught his gaze, she lifted a brow. His eyes were a reflection of her own. She tilted her head in greeting, motioning to the seat beside her in a silent invitation. He need not take it, but it was up to him. Ares resumed gazing at her hands, uninterested in if he took the bait or not.

[David Tanner]

The night always moved Tanner out of his apartment and set him wandering the city. He felt free in the darkness. There was no fear of being revealed, and he was not bound by the mortal need to sleep, or by the mortal fear of the dark alleyways and dangerous parts of the city. He could go anywhere. However, for some strange reason, he ended up at the Red Horn a lot. There was some inexplicable fascination with the place, where werewolves, vampires, and humans coexisted and even shared the dance floor. Sure, some humans didn't make it home at night, but to see them all together at once reinforced the thoughts that he always kept to himself. He had a feeling there was more to life than just hunting humans and fighting werewolves. He had a whimsical thought that they could all find ways to exist in some sort of peace.

As he entered the bar on this particular night, the smell of blood filled him with a heady rush, but it was quickly bedded back down. He was in control, as always. Most of the vampires in here, as usual, were of the crimson-eyed variety. No matter; Tanner always found someone to talk to, to make things interesting. As he surveyed the bar, unzipping his green army jacket, he noticed a pretty woman, a vampire, motioning for someone to sit down at her table. Her eyes were on him. He checked behind him, just to be sure, then walked over and took a seat. As he looked at her close up, he understood what he hadn't even registered before. Her eyes were like his. A pleased grin slid across his lips and he shook his head. "N-nice to see I'm n-not the only one in this p-place." He stuttered slightly, as he always did when meeting new people. One of the horrible habits from his human life that had resurfaced when he switched his diet.

[Ares Lusitani]

Ares watched in silence from beneath lowered lashes as the young vampire looked behind him, as if questioning if she was inviting him or someone else. Satisfied that it was him, he walked over. She slowly lifted her gaze, which was a deeper ocher color than his own, and smiled slowly at him, friendly by nature. It'd been too long since she'd had an actual conversation with anyone other than Jennifer. She lifted a finger towards the bartender, who came over quickly with a tall glass with appletini coloring it green. She lifted it to her lips, taking a small, slow sip, as he spoke. His stuttering habit made one of Ares's slender brows raise, but she'd long since learned manners. She set her glass down and steepled her fingers over her knee, which was folded over her thigh. She tilted her head, eyes dancing easily in the light as she took him in.

Breathe through your nose when you talk. Taking in any air through the mouth is what causes the stutter. It's like a speed bump. I used to have the same habit. Breathing through the mouth is a result of any nervous tension. It was easier to fib around the edges to make others more comfortable than simply let things go unanswered. [idk] Her gaze drifted to his left, taking in a handsome young man. She could feel her fangs lengthen. How she sometimes wished she was still lusting for human blood. No need to admit she was and make more problems for herself. Returning her gaze to David, she smiled. Forgive me. I am Ares. She held out her hand, the movement quick and graceful. Her hand was tilted slightly forward, in a gesture that was clearly friendly and accepting.

[David Tanner]

Tanner felt completely out of his element as he took in the way Ares acted, held herself, and even how she sipped her drink. She was so graceful and regal, and he felt scruffy next to her. He studied her, and realized that she seemed a lot older than him. Wiser, more experienced. As she spoke, he looked down at his hands where they say folded in his lap. His stutter was something he didn't really want to address. Ever. He looked back up at her and nodded, sighing. "Right. Thanks." He said softly, only rolling his 'r' a little bit. Obviously, he was embarrassed to have his stutter mentioned so plainly. Most people just acted like they didn't notice it.

He followed her gaze and saw the man she was looking at, then glanced back at her with his eyes narrowed in confusion. She seemed to snap out of whatever reverie she'd been in, though, and introduced herself. He took her hand, unsure with the presentations as to whether to shake it or kiss it like they did in the old movies. Wrinkling his brow, he simply shook it. Tanner was not one for formalities. "N-nice to meet you, Ares. Uncommon name." He raised his brows, as if wanting her to explain where it had come from. "My n-name is David Tanner. Most people call me Tanner." Again, he felt that plainness, this time in regards to his name. It wasn't as if he felt uncomfortable around her; he just felt sort of in awe of her. She seemed to emanate confidence and power.

[Ares Lusitani]

Ares smiled slowly at his regard of her and then her proffered hand. Her eyes crinkled as she held in her laugh. It was quite plain to see that she'd made him uncomfortable about his stutter, but she felt no remorse towards his feelings. He was young, and they would heal quickly enough. Her handshake was firm but gentle, and she quickly withdrew it from his grasp. She inclined her head towards him, accepting his words on her name. "Not many beings are named Ares, and after such a prominent figure. It originates from a Themysciran tribe from now-adays Morocco. Kind of like the Amazonians of Greek Legend, except we were real, and much more powerful and deadly." She smiled easily, unworried about the topic of conversation. She hadn't given much about herself away, and her tattoos were covered - supposing he could actually read them.

She lifted a slender brow, smiling with ease at the young 'man.' "Tanner. What a nice name. Are you one? A tanner, I mean? Or is it just a name? I think I might call you Rumplestilsken." She smiled, showing she was just teasing. Ares prided herself in her eccentricity, and would cringe to think anyone thought she was.... boring. She lifted her appletini and threw it back. Of course, the flavor was the only thing she was looking for. Her diet of animal blood didn't leave much to the imagination. Each animal's blood tasted distinctly of its owner. She lifted two fingers and the bartender brought over a golden liquid that looked very much like a Budwieser or Coors [not sure which] but was really just mild apple juice. She took a sip and motioned to Tanner. "You do not want anything?"

[David Tanner]

He tried not to let it bother him that she seemed unconcerned, and even a little amused, that she might have offended him. Tanner was overly kind and polite, so it always caught him a little off guard to meet with nonchalance like hers. She spoke of a tribe he had never heard of, and he was intrigued. Leaning forward, he rested his arms on the table. "That sounds amazing. Do you mind telling me more about it?" Tanner was always wanting to learn new things, and especially was fond of hearing people's stories. She didn't seem to be sensitive about the subject, so he hoped she would tell him more about her previous life.

At her question about his name, he shook his head and chuckled softly. "Hardly. I work at a restaurant." A humble occupation, but it paid the bills. "You can call me whatever you want, miss, as long as you extend me the same courtesy. I could call you Goldilocks." Clearly not a fitting name, but he felt the one she had suggested for him was not either. He watched the waiter bring her another drink. It sounded mildly of apples. He rose an eyebrow, but didn't question it. Most vampires he had known did not eat or drink anything outside the main source of their diet, but then he was not one to question the diets of others. "No, I'm alright. Thanks."

[Ares Lusitani]

Ares smiled slowly at his interest in her past, but the smile was slightly sad. Her past seemed to stretch eons into the past. She slid her hand down her glass, wiping away the perspiration, eyes distant as she thought about her mortal life. "Honestly, it's nothing special. I was trained in all of the areas: hand-to-hand combat, swordmanship, equine, the arts - music, reading, writing, and so on. I was in training, much like my fellow Thems, but things happened and I ended up here, centuries later." She sighed, saddened by how old she was. Sure, she was still a beauty. But honestly. There was only so many times you could take the same class without wanting to keel over and die - which is a definite 'no' for vampires, seeing as they're immortal. Ares wasn't usually reminiscent, but something about everything that had happened tonight... it was dragging on her.

"I was a monster for a long while. Blood was the only thing I cared about. But obviously, I changed." She lifted a hand, waving away the thoughts. She smiled at his comment about calling her Goldilocks. "I'd like to see you try, Rumplestilsken. She smiled playfully and twirled a finger through her long curls. A restaurant? Are you a waiter or...? Would I know the restaurant? She noticed him look curiously at her drink and ducked her head. It makes me feel more human. After so many years being 'alive'.... it's only the little things that bring you back to when you were mortal.