<span style='color:red'>Hehe. Better?</span> Korif chuckled with a slightly knowing wink. He knew that Leah was picky when it came to blood, but there'd always be something enough to please her. Even if it came down to stalking someone for a little while. He turned and looked at a digital clock on the worn mantlepiece. <span style='color:red'>Four-fifteen... you'd better be going. Wouldn't want you cooked, now, would we?</span>
She looked up at the clock. It was getting early, but the sun wouldn't rise for another two hours. <span style='color:purple'>The sun doesn't come up for a while, but I've got to work a few things out before day. I probably won't make it back to the flat in time to sleep. If you find out you can walk before night and I'm not in my apartment check out Cirque. It's a club down in the Vamp district, talk to Sari there, or talk to Siaka to get into the flat.</span> She said. She bent down and kissed his forhead, tousling his hair before she turned and left. She had a job to reclaim.
<span style='color:red'>Alright. See ya.</span> he smiled to her as she left. Still a little tired, Korif settled himself back to sleep for a few hours. He woke up and looked at the now-glowing clock. Eight-thirty PM. He spun himself round to sit upright on the sofa, and found that his holed leg didn't give way. Safe in the knowledge that his leg was working, and his arm had been for some time, he got up and left for the door. He figured V would know where he'd gone. Man, that guy seemed to have ears everywhere in his place. Toying with the thought and with a little smirk, Korif set off for the Vamp district and made his way into Cirque. He took a seat and looked around. <span style='color:red'>Little dingy, but hey. If that's what they like, I pity the poor fool who tries to tell 'em different.</span> Korif shrugged. He'd wait around for a bit, see if Leah turned up before he actually asked for her.
Leah did turn up, though she was on stage. The only thought going through her head about how she was degrading herself, what happened to being a doctor? She shook her head before the lights went up to reveal her wearing less than she would have liked and rather heavy make up and her hair done up in another set of those oriental sticks, and music started. <span style='color:purple'>{I'm going to make you wish you were truly dead Jean.}</span> She thought, hearing the manager's laughter in her head. She soon forgot that the other 'dragons were there and continued with her show, flashing fangs and taking money which was put in the tops of her boots. When she was done she left the stage from a back way, skirting away from the next act with their bondage paraphinalia. Thinking about it she shuddered, she'd seen their show once and that had been enough. She went to the dressing room and washed away the make up and took her hair down. <span style='color:purple'>Hah, real clothes.</span> She muttered to herself as she searched through one of the closets. The door opened and she turned. <span style='color:purple'>Oh hey Sari, what's up?</span> She asked. I think there's an Anubi here to see you, but I couldn't read him, I think his name started with a K, but I got shoved out before I could figure anything else out. <span style='color:purple'>Let him back here if he asks.</span> She said. Sari nodded and left.
<span style='color:red'>Holy crap, gal...</span> Korif thought to himself, certain Leah heard. He hadn't expected this. Meh, whatever. Yet more proving-his-point. He slunk off to the bar. <span style='color:red'>I believe I heard you mind-jumping in my head?</span> he chuckled. <span style='color:red'>Am I alright to see Leah?</span>
Sari looked up, it struck her how tall the arden was. Leah's in her dressing room, back that way, the one with a 13 on the door and a pentacle scratched in. She said, nodding her head back. Leah lay down on the small couch, her hands behind her head, looking up at the ceiling as she heard a knock at the door. <span style='color:purple'>Come in.</span>
Korif hesitated a second, and with a smirk on his face, said <span style='color:red'>You are decent, right? Wouldn't want to just stumble in on you... more scantily clad than you were just a minute ago.</span> He opened the door a crack anyway, as he had a feeling that Leah wouldn't have told him to come in unless she actually wanted him to.
Leah laughed. <span style='color:purple'>Yes, I'm decent. I'd have to be a total whore not to put on some real clothes after a show.</span> She said, sitting up. <span style='color:purple'>...Well, now you know what I do for most of my living, don't ask me who's in the moral right.</span> She said. She leaned back on the couch, a sad sigh escaping her.
Korif smirked. <span style='color:red'>Alright, but I reckon it's me.</span> He opened the door and stepped in. <span style='color:red'>Must say, that was... interesting. Didn't working at a fast-food joint appeal to you more than this? At least you could've kept more clothes on than you do up there.</span> He had a feeling he was winding her up, and he wasn't sure what the outcome would be. He reckoned she'd hit him, but not hard enough to break something... he hoped.
<span style='color:purple'>Working at a fast food joint wouldn't pay nearly as well as this. 'Sides I could have gotten a job where I'd have gotten to keep more clothes on at Danse Macabre, but that would feel too much like selling myself -more than what I do now at any rate.</span> She said, her voice numb, she wouldn't get mad, she refused herself to feel anything that might let her do something stupid. She thought back on that particular job offer and shuddered. It seemed kind of sick to her, letting regular 'dragons into a club and dance with hungry Vamps and new Shifters. The casuality rate was disgusting. She got up and walked over to a vanity, picking up a wad of paper money and sticking it in her pocket. <span style='color:purple'>Mind if we get out of here? I just need to pick up my check.</span> She said, looking over her shoulder at Korif.
<span style='color:red'>Sure. If even the shine of black PVC hit my eyes, I think I'll go blind... y'know, even if you couldn't do anything outside'a this place, you could make manager. Sure, it's not as... exciting,</span> Korif grinned a little when he said 'exciting' <span style='color:red'>but surely it's better than constantly worrying which 'dragon's gonna get a good enough tug at your pants?</span> He wasn't terribly sure that was what happened, but he'd known enough girls from school that did jobs like this, and boy, did the pant-grabbing happen a lot.
<span style='color:purple'>If I could be manager I don't think I'd want to be, just dealing with the folks before ad after my stint is enough. Besides, Vampdragon politics come in. We have Masters, and then a Master of the city, who kind of controls the areas Vampdragon population and deals with foreign affairs so there isn't some huge war. Jean is the master of the city, I have minor Vampdragon powers, I could probably win if I really wanted, but I don't want to be a mster of the city.</span> She said. She went up the the counter and scooted a few 'dragons out of her way. There was a time slot which she changed her card and then went to Sari, who gave her a check without any of her usual quips. <span style='color:purple'>The thing about being on stages, ist that depending on what show I'm doing, I'll forget that people are watching, but for the most part everything is coreographed so 'dragons can't grab at you. That is, unless Jean was feeling evil at the time. God I hate him.</span> he said, once they were outside.
<span style='color:red'>Hehe. There's bound to be one with longer arms than the others. Trust me.</span> He followed her out into the refreshing midnight air, which seemed cold before he'd gotten inside. He'd just avoided the light-glare from the bondage display. Geez, that sort of thing made his skin crawl. <span style='color:red'>So, where to?</span> he questioned, stepping up beside Leah.
<span style='color:purple'>Doesn't matter to me, so long as it's not another club I'm perfectly fine.</span> She said, tugging the sleeves of the shirt she had pulled on down so she could hold them over her wrists. She crossed her arms and looked around her, everyone was busy with this or that, a few aknowledged her and sometimes by name, the place was crawling with that dark feeling of her kind. <span style='color:purple'>You think your place is safe yet?</span>
<span style='color:red'>Never is. Protocol is to move on after a police raid on one's safehouse. I'm staying at V's as a temporary measure, should be getting a new safehouse set up someplace else, soon. Sorry to say, it won't be in Bhim. It's too risky.</span> Korif grimaced a little as he spoke. He didn't want to do it, but it had to be done. If he didn't, he'd be in a whole mess of trouble and more than likely a whole world of pain. <span style='color:red'>I could do with a drink, myself. Need something to settle my nerves and help me think things over. I'm getting no help whatsoever from the others, save for V. It's alright for him, being an outsider... making this sound like a guild, aren't I?</span> he chuckled. <span style='color:red'>Oh, and don't worry, it's not a club. It's a bar, nice, small and quiet. No room for gals dancing on the tables.</span> he said with a little smile.
Leah listened as they walked, occasionally giving a nod of her head to show she hadn't tuned him out. <span style='color:purple'>Just remember what I told you earlier, if you ever need anything I'll be around. Though if it's alright with you I may drop by where ever you decide to take up a new residence.</span> She said, putting an arm around his waist. <span style='color:purple'>Good, bars I can deal with, but I've had enough of strippers and lust and what have you to last me a while.</span> She said.
<span style='color:red'>Yeah, no problem.</span> Korif smiled a bit, grateful for the support. <span style='color:red'>C'mon, then. I'm starting to get cold again.</span> He led Leah to the little bar he went to quite a bit. He pushed open the door, and gestured for Leah to go in, following her as she did. He sat at the bar and ran his hands through his hair. The barman came over and gave the Anubi a playful slap on the arm. <span style='color:green'>Hey there, K. What'll it be, bud?</span> <span style='color:red'>Strongest thing I can afford. You want anything?</span> He tossed a wallet onto the bar, the barman scooping it up as the thief looked up at Leah.
Leah sat next to Korif. <span style='color:purple'>Sangre, if you've got it, the older the better. I'll pay for it.</span> She said, her tastes were rather expensive at the moment. The bartender's eyebrows went up at her choice, but otherwise he did what he could not to seemed fazed. She shook her head and took some of the money out of her pocket, putting it on the counter. <span style='color:purple'>My clients pay well.</span> She said, smirking darkly and already knowing what the tender was thinking, despite the fact it wasn't what she meant.
<span style='color:red'>Ugh... I tell you, I don't need this shit... thanks.</span> Korif mumbled as the fellow came back with the drinks. He took a mighty swig of his and put it down. <span style='color:red'>Oh, V's fine with you dropping by when you want. But please, if you're coming while we're asleep, try not to wake either of us up. Well, loudly, anyway.</span> He gave Leah a sly wink as he took another mouthful of the bitter but enjoyable drink. Pretty much a Ramathian absinthe. Oddly enough, true to his word, the alcohol was making his head a little clearer, giving him a little more room to ponder certain things.
Leah took a sip of the Sangre set in front of her. She set it down when Korif finished speaking. <span style='color:purple'>Okay, so coming and making you scream for whatever reason is bad?</span> She said, smirking as she did so. She watched Korif as he drank. Noticing his face and how the features seemed to clear after a bit. He also seemed to be devoting most of his thoughts to something. <span style='color:purple'>What are you thinking about, Korif?</span> She asked, a dark smile coming across her face.
