Humans suck.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny slid down the wall, face pale, clearly shocked from the earlier incident now that everything started settling in. "I don't feel so good..." she groaned and hunched forward while slowing her breathing. "Sorry about this. I...didn't think that all of this existed. I thought vampires were just people with bizarre urges but watching you transform shook me up a bit. I was told since I was little that this was all folklore and nothing more....oh gosh..." Ginny covered her eyes when a dizzy spell hit her. Dammit, she was breathing too fast.

One problem that Ginny had were panic attacks. They were rare but when they hit she'd hyperventilate and curl into a ball until someone calmed her. Fortunately she was in enough control this time around to prevent it from happening. "Sorry, sorry. Ummm...can you transform back? We'll get something to eat and, for now, pretend that didn't happen. I need some hot tea...yeah...that should help calm me a bit..."

The dizzy spell was still there but they had to get off the streets. For all they knew that vampire might be running to get a gang together. Onto her feet she went, hand against the wall. Before moving she waited for Colin to transform back into a human.

[ms]

Colin laid his head on her knees a bit, tilting his head and listening. She wasn’t as composed as he first thought. Brave front, now the smells of fear and confusion were strong to his nose. Taking his head back he nodded, hissing and groaning a bit in pain. He had been doing a lot of changing the last few days, his bones and joints were tired. Full fur melted into him again, leaving a pale skinny human in over-big torn clothes sitting in its wake.

The tail was most painful. The pulling of the spine out your ass was one thing, the shoving it back in wasn’t something that he liked. A yelp as it sucked in was heard, then he was human again. Sighing slightly he touched his head, where the cut had been. His eye was still swollen, but the cut was gone. Not bad. Working himself to his feet he hunched over a bit, feeling very tired and hungry. Reaching out a hand he tried to find Ginny, hoping that she’d walk with him instead of in front of him. He didn’t want to be reliant on senses that wanted to shut down for the night.

“I’m sorry, I really am. But we are true. Show me the way to the place and we’ll talk about it, alright? It’s not as bad as thought to be.” Blind fingers reached, trying to ask her to trust him.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny didn't know that Colin was blind and that's why she kept walking ahead. He was so composed and always had his vision in the right spot every single time. Yet, right when he was reaching for her, it was then she noticed something was off. Eyebrow raised, she reached for his hand, paused and waited to see if he would take it. He didn't.

"I'm...I'm so sorry I didn't know you were blind. I can be so stupid at times! I should have known why you were lost, you can't see. Here." She took his hand and started to walk him towards the diner.

Wow she felt like an idiot! There were times in which Ginny wondered why her stupidity hadn't gotten her killed yet! At least the earlier incident had passed by without...too much trauma. Now at the diner, she walked in with Colin towards the hostess. "Just two." She said. The girl nodded and sat them at a booth right by the exit, then gave them both menus.

"I'm just going to get a Ruby Cheeseburger with fries. It's pretty good; so are their shakes. Is there anything in particular you want? I can tell you what they have."

[ms]

Thankfully she took his hand, figuring out what he had been trying to hint at the whole time. But it was okay, he tried most of the time to not let people figure it out. He hated when they did, because then they acted like she was now. Like he couldn’t do anything, that they were insensitive. Yes, he did have a thing against those that were rude because they were stupid. But those that honestly didn't know he wanted to educate. Letting her talk herself into silence he followed, keeping a nose out for anything else that might want to take a whack. He hoped not, he didn’t like to fight… he’d been doing a lot of fighting now that he thought about it.

Sitting happily he felt a little safer, taking the menu and holding it helplessly. Sighing a bit he listened to her, wished he wasn’t so close to the door, and carefully put the lamenated paper aside.

“Meat is good. I’ll take whatever you’re having, I don’t care. And water would be very nice. Clean water’s hard to come by. Thank you again, this is very nice of you. And please, it’s alright. I work hard to make people not notice, so the fact that you didn’t is a complement.”

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny winced upon realizing how she was treating Colin. He was doing fine without her help say for that one time he didn't know how to get to Ruby's. Curse her slow reactions...

"Oh it's fine. Like I said, I like helping others. If someone's hungry then there's nothing wrong with getting them food." she smiled and looked down at the menu. The earlier incident was racing through her head, replaying over and over like a terrible nightmare. The vampire's gleaming eyes, Colin's transformation and...the sight and smell of blood. It was so thick back there and no matter what she did, that scent still stuck with her.

A sharp intake of breath through her nose and shaking of her head brought her out of the reverie, "So...I'm curious...how long have you been here? And...come to think of it I never got a name from you. I'm known as Virginia but everyone usually calls me Ginny."

At least talking about this will get her mind off that terrifying moment. It will bother her later tonight no doubt.

[ms]

Food, wonderful idea. Where’s the waitress or waiter or something? Patience, you’ve been here over a hundred years, patience. But he was hungry! She was talking again, and he had to admit he honestly didn't know her name. He was a little distracted. Feeling the few people in the diner staring at him he shifted, keeping his head down and hands folded on the table. She was thinking of what had happened, and he couldn’t blame her. He still had night-mares of his turning, remembering the horrid events a hundred or so years ago.

Sitting back, he rubbed his face, feeling that he’d have to find a way to shave again… his face was getting furry without his wanting it too. Ginny, huh? Nice name, old name. Pretty too. picking up his napkin he started to tear the edges into his lap, keeping himself busy.

“Been here? Since before the empire state building was built.” He smirked a bit at that, remembering her comment about being in New York. “Call me Colin. It’s good to meet you Ginny. So how long have you been here? New York is infested with leeches, for you to only meet one today…” He seemed to run into them all over the place. Then again, he did smell different.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny looked up towards the waitress when she finally showed up, "Hi. We'll both have Ruby burgers with side of fries. Water and a chocolate shake as well, please." The waitress nodded and wrote everything down, "Do you want onions on the Ruby burgers?"
Ginny shook her head, "Nah. We're good. Thanks."
"No problem. I'll get your shake."

With her now gone from the table, they continued their conversation, "...since before it was built? Wow you're...haha. It's odd to call someone with a youthful appearance old." She chuckled. It would explain why his senses were so attuned to his surroundings! A part of Ginny couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to "see blind".

"Good to meet you too, Colin. Well...I've been here for the past four days or so. I'm waiting for my plane to Europe for a study abroad program. I wanted to save money and chose the cheapest option. At least I'll arrive right on time."

[ms]

Silently thanking Ginny for ordering for them, he put his elbows on the table and kept playing with the paper in his hands. He thought a lot about what she was doing, where she was going. Study abroad? Only been here for a few days… how interesting. But made him feel bad, she was trying to save money and he was making her spend it. He rather that she didn't, it was better to do something like save money for something that’ll last than spend it on something temporary.

“Yes, well, that’s one thing betting bitten does I guess. Keeps you looking younger than you really are. But I’m not old, there are those much older than myself.” He chewed his lip, trying to find a way to say what he felt he had to. It wasn’t his place to take her money like this. Yes, he was a pick-pocket… but he wasn’t someone to take like this.

“Ginny, you shouldn’t… you’re trying to save up for Europe, you shouldn’t be helping people like me. School is far more important. Take it from someone who’s never been to school, it’s important.” Okay, that was a bit of a lie. He had gone to school. Once, for two weeks, to learn Braille. But everything else that he knew was from personal experience.

[†The Blood Countess†]

Ginny nodded, "Yeah. I kind of figured as much. I read a lot about werewolves and vampires but I don't think much of it is fact. Yes, a bite from a werewolf is enough to make you a werewolf. Us humans keep coming up with different theories and such...but it's a bunch of...I don't know." Ginny sighed and accepted her shake once the waitress returned with it. After eating the cherry, she began to drink from a straw.

"Hm? Oh, don't worry about it, Colin. The trip is payed for and I have a generous amount on me. Most of it is spending money for my time there. I'm willing to sacrifice some expensive trinket...not that I'd want one...trinkets are worthless...but you get what I'm saying." She smiled, "It's just better to help someone. Don't feel bad, alright?"

That said, she returned to her shake. How strange this was! Having dinner with a werewolf! A real werewolf! Looks like she'll have to do some research into this...REAL research.

[ms]

Alright, alright, so he wasn’t going to be on about how she shouldn’t do this. He was just not used to it. people didn’t like the homeless, or the weres.

“So I’m guessing you want to know about wolves and vampires, huh? Ask them, you’re in this world now, you should know. Don’t worry about sounding stupid, you don’t know, learn while you have the chance.”

(Wow... sorry...)

[†The Blood Countess†]

"It would be nice to know the basics. Just how to defend myself from them should they try to attack. I can't help but get a feeling that we'll meet that vampire fellow again and maybe a few goons of his." Ginny nervously stirred her chocolate shake and eyed the passing people outside. Thus far none of them looked like a vampire. It was then she noticed that their food had arrived. After thanking the waitress, she snatched the ketchup and poured a generous amount into the basket.

"Do you want some ketchup? It tastes good with fries." She placed it in front of his basket to make it easy to find and returned to her food. It was then something caught her eye outside. Just as she expected...there he was with three other males. Great.

Heart rate soared, color drained from her face. Crap! What are they going to do? What's a human and a werewolf against three vampires?! Maybe they can take the back route? There was one in the restaurant but they'll have to finish their meal first...

Rather than saying anything to Colin, she continued eating as if though nothing happened, "So...what do you do in your spare time?"

[ms]

She was interested in defense. He almost laughed at that, as that would be a way to off him. But he could understand it, could see why she would want to save herself from being eaten. Pulling a face as he got a strong whiff of tomatoes and vinegar, he pushed the offending bottle away and picked up his sandwich. One bite was enough to make him want more, the hot meat, the sweet bread atop it, the thick cheese.

Wow. He never ate so fast, going through half of the burger as she looked outside and came up with another question. She tried to hide it, but he caught the harsh scent of fear on her. Wondering faintly why she would be afraid when the thought of the attacker came to mind. Hmm, interesting.

“Well, for werewolves it’s don’t try to run. Trust me, we’re wolves. We might not be faster, but we’ll out-last you. Silver is good, as are sticks to prop our jaws open or distractions. Rats are great distractions, they make a lot of noise and move quickly, we chase it. vampires are harder. Stay still, and whack with bats. They move fast, so it’s better to stall them until the sun comes up or they try to find easier food.” Well, that was a quick nut-shell. Kind of.

“What do I do? Nothing really. I walk around, take the train, try and find other wolves or someone looking for a big pet. Boring life really. What are you going overseas to study?”

[†The Blood Countess†]

"The thing about silver is something I knew but wasn't sure if that was true. Okay, I'll just have to carry something silver with me to keep the human eaters away. As for the rat...I think I'll just climb up a tree, that should keep them away. Wolves can't climb trees so I'm sure a werewolf can't when the feral part of the brain kicks in. It pretty much seals away human logic...I hope." Ginny had done a lot of reading about how humans react to some situations. If it's a fight or flight, logic usually shuts off and will to survive kicks in.

"Vampires on the other hand...I know garlic and crucifixes don't bother them...well...garlic does come to think of it. They have a strong sense of smell and when there's too much of garlic or onion it really drives them crazy. I actually met someone who claimed they were a vampire, tossed a few onions at them and complained about the stench for hours." Hmmm...but why carry onion around? That wasn't on her list of things to do.

"Enough of that. Um...well I'm going over there to study literature and music. Mostly music."

[ms]

Nodding as she talked he grinned, glad that she knew a little about the myths and truths of it already. Sadly it didn’t give her much of an edge. Her best option was to avoid them if she could. But he was getting nervous about the topic; she wanted something else to talk about. He figured as much, hence why he brought up what she was studying. So she was into music, what a great thing for someone so young to enjoy.

“Ah, music. Universal. The blind can hear it, the deaf can feel it, the damaged can make it, and those without ‘problems’ can study it. It’s truly one of the few items that are so shared. And so diverse. Smart girl you are. How did you get into it?”

[†The Blood Countess†]

A few more slurps from her shake and Ginny opened her mouth to respond, "Well..." she looked at her hands resting atop the table, "...when I was little I always sang for the class whenever the teacher asked...mostly 'Colors of The Wind' from Pocahontas or 'Part of Your World' from Little Mermaid. My parents were advised to start me in voice lessons and they did. I've been singing for...thirteen years now? But my stage presence is...horrendous. I stiffen up and my voice gets constricted..." The human shuddered and dropped her head in shame. How she hated the stage! It scared her to death!

"...yeah and...since that's really my best quality I'm studying that in Europe for three months in hopes of actually making a performer out of myself. I was never taught stage presence until high school and even then I did horrible. Maybe Europe will break it...if not? I don't know what my career shall be. I definitely don't want to work at a fast food place and have to ask 'would you like fries with that, sir?' every day."

If all else fails she did think of being a veterinarian but...no one in her family would support her in that. She was "given a talent" so she must use it. "Sorry about that. I complain too much when I should be happy for what I have."

Ah, humanity at its finest! Complaining when she had a lot to be grateful for. At times like this she wanted to kick her self in the mouth...