Watching the Ghosts

[Alyson Parol]

It was more then enough to make me smile, hearing that I had picked one hell of an awesome person to have my random freak out on. Of course it didn't make it any less of a mistake knowing that he was so lax, it just made it more bearable. I was contemplating bringing up a cliche topic like hobbies and interests but before I could get a word out I was being pulled closer to him. With arm draped over my shoulders I felt a flock of butterflies well up. It was a boy and he was holding me near, if that didn't get a girl to feel nervous I didn't know what would.

"Sweetheart?"

I kept my voice low to avoid sounding like I had taken offense to that statement.

"Humans?"

This time I didn't avoid looking up to him. That last bit was a little to strange to miss, even in my stupid girlie like stupor. No amount of mental swimming was going to make that sound normal.

"Do you mean people?"

It was plausable that he slipped up, in fact that seemed logical. The very fact that he was being so incredibly nice to me was some sort of proof that he had some kind of mental impairment.

Word Count: 212
Notes: Holy cheese this one is like sort of kind of REALLY bad! I will get my muse up soon and make a better one to make up for my complete incompetence as a writer. TT^TT

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] Sing it for me, I can't erase the stupid things I say You're better than me, I struggle just to find a better way I smiled wryly at the way she questioningly said the word. I gently rubbed her shoulder, hoping to reassure her. "Yes, sweetheart. Because, I am sure that under that wall of machinery that you have around your heart, there is a very kind, sweet person." I meant these words with all sincerity. I was notorious for speaking my mind and not holding back my thoughts, no matter how intimate they may seem. I liked to connect with people because I had realized that they will only be around for so long. It was tantamount that I get the most out of every relationship because humans are very fragile. Every day they are exposed to disease and sickness, the possibility of accidents, not to mention the malicious humans and those of my kind. Over the centuries, I realized that I will be around forever but these people won't and that I have to make the most of it while I can. No second chances. I breathed a slight sigh of relief when my slip-up caused less of a stir than I expected. "Yes, I meant people. I do that occasionally, a throwback to being foreign I suppose." It wasn't a completely bold-faced lie. My dad had been French and had taught me the language. I occasionally spoke in Frenglish, a strange twist of French and English that for some reason, a lot of people found charming. I gave her a charming smile as we neared the door to my back room. You wouldn't like me Keep moving on until forever ends Don't try to fight me Word Count: two four nine Song: "Here We Are" - Breaking Benjamin Notes: I posted this once and it didn't save -.-

[Alyson Parol]

Leaning into the man at my side was no longer and implausible idea. I had myself convinced at this point that what was happening now was nothing short of a very vivid dream produced by my very lonely subconscious. After some time everyone had dreams such as this one, and now it was my turn. It never crossed my mind what I might do were I to find out this was all completely real. While in the moment I planned to milk it for all it was worth, and if that meant cuddling up to an almost complete stranger then so be it.

“You’re sweet to say that, but I assure you it wilted a long time ago…I’m just meant to be alone and miserable for the rest of my life.”

A ghost of a smile crossed my lips as my more playful tone of voice leaked out into my words as I spoke. No sooner had I started to lighten up my new male companion informed me that he did in fact have foreign roots of some sort. I may come off as a hard core hater of all things, but a foreign guy was totally hot no matter who you were.

“Yah know something just dawned on me…I don’t think I know your name.”

I pulled my head away just the slightest bit so that I could look up into his eyes. It would be much easier to see what kind of reaction he would have to the question before he even answered. Maybe he didn’t want me to know, perhaps that would be getting to close. If I were in fact just a one night plaything a name may be more then what I was allowed to have. I was sure his eyes would say it all, and at this point I was sincerely hoping for a good sign.

Word Count: 308
Notes: I sort of noticed XD You told me you posted but I didn't see it! :3

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] You're so cold Keep your hand in mine Wise men wonder while strong men die I whisked her inside my room at the back of the club and closed the door, surreptitiously locking the door so that we would be safe inside. I pulled her against my chest and wrapped my arms around her. "Excuse me for being forward but you're cold." It was quite cold outside tonight. I hoped that she wouldn't notice the absence of a heartbeat beneath my ribs. That would be a very difficult situation to talk myself out of. I focused my dark eyes on her when she spoke and quirked a smile. "Stop lying, it's very unbecoming of a lady. No one is meant to be alone, not completely." I remembered when I had once thought that I too was to be completely alone. My new lifestyle opened the door to new possibilities but it deepened the loneliness in another way. No matter how good of a friend you made, if they were human, you would be required to leave them in a few short years. It wouldn't take them long to realize that you were not aging. Then, it was time to leave, no matter how much your friendship mattered, you would have to destroy it to ensure that they did not follow you. It was a painful process and brought a new understanding of the word 'alone'. I released her as soon as I thought she was warm. I took her hand in mine and a crooked smile crossed my features. I was almost positive that my outward appearance countered my personality in a way. Covered in tattoos and adorned with a lip piercing, I probably appeared much scarier than was necessary. All the same, I appreciated each and every tattoo and piercing because each was a part of me from when I was human. Retention of those memories was important; I didn't want them to fade with time. When she asked my name, I kissed her hand with a bow resembling that of a court jester. "Forgive me, my lady. I am Cody." I stood back up, smiling. I am odd, to say the least. Show me it ends, it's alright Show me how defenseless you really are Satisfied and empty inside Well that's alright Let's give this another try Word Count: three four nine Song: "So Cold" - Breaking Benjamin Notes: Stupid internet

[Alyson Parol]

Any cold that may have been present in my face was quickly replaced by a wave of heat that was surely making my face red. I blinked rapidly a few times trying so very hard to wrap my head around just what was going on and more importantly why I had no desire to respond as I surely would have any other time. My nagging unpleasant nature was always so quick to make itself known when anyone entered my personal space without any kind of invitation. But in this instance the little voice was silent and I was calm.

“Unbecoming of a lady huh? Well then I guess I should work harder at becoming a lady...I have to be honest it's been a long while since anyone has called me out on it.”

Once I was free, I was able to better observe his features. The lighting provided a better look at just whom it was I was dealing with. Outwardly there was a sense of intimidation. But by now I knew just a little bit better. I couldn't be totally sure that he was safe but until I was given reason to think otherwise he was someone I could hang with.

“Cody huh? Well I'm Alyson, it's nice to formally meet you.”

Something in my mind almost had me curtsying even though I was not wearing proper attire to do so. His mannerisms were so out of date it was almost comical, and were it not for the fact that I was so unsure of how to respond properly I might have expressed my amusement better. Instead I was at a lack for actual conversation, and the best I could come up with was small chat.

“So Cody, when did you come to own Blood Reign? Was it passed onto you by a friend or did you buy it and make it your own?”

My gaze moved about the room slowly while I engaged in conversation. It was not every day I got to wander behind the scenes of anything. This was no time to be totally swept away, at least not until I had something to remember the night by. Something that I could claim was real in the morning, if I could force myself to believe it that was.

* Tags: Cody
* Word Count: 376
* Notes: Loved your post! Hope mines okay!

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] And If They Get Me, And The Sun Goes Down And If They Get Me, Take This Spike And You Put The Spike In My Heart I was still holding her hand and gently spun her as a dancer's spin into my arms. This way I could smile openly as I talked, not having to be cautious of my pointy friends showing too much. I had found that most people would ask me if they were Halloween props and it was another situation I would have to talk myself out of. "Well then, I am glad to have the privilege to be your mentor now." In all honesty, I wouldn't mind keeping her around. She was a challenge to me, unlike the other girls in the main room who only wanted my attention. Maybe, if I worked hard enough, we could be friends. I spun her lightly away from me again, as we were in an intricate dance all our own to the music in our head. I still held her hand in the palm of mine. My dark eyes focused on her, my hand tightening on hers slightly. "The pleasure is all mine." I could feel the warmth of her hand in mine, a sharp contrast to my icy skin. I always chalked that up to bad circulation. I'm sure my mannerisms confused her to an extent, but most believed it was an eccentricity of mine. Little did they know, I had learned it while in a vampire court with my mentor. Their ancient customs branched generations and they followed the ways of the medieval courts in most situations. That included how you approached the king and queen of the court, how you danced, and how you behaved with others. However, being with humans for so long now, some of their mannerisms integrated as well. I tugged on her hand gently in the direction of the sitting room part of the room. I had black leather furniture situation around a stone coffee table. "Come, sit with me." I picked my glasses up of the table and put them on. I was in different company so I was sure she wouldn't mind if I bettered my vision. "When I first came here, I bought it and turned it into this. I like the type of crowds around here." Not only did the building serve as a night club, but it had an underground part that was fashioned into a vampire court of which I was sovereign. Being so new, the court was empty, a fact I hoped to change very soon. And Now The Nightclub Sets The Stage For This, They Come In Pairs She Said We'll Shoot Back Holy Water Like Cheap Whiskey They're Always There Someone Get Me To The Doctor, And Someone Call The Nurse And Someone Buy Me Roses, And Someone Burned The Church We're Hanging Out With Corpses, And Driving In This Hearse And Someone Save My Soul Tonight, Please Save My Soul Word Count: four zero four Song: "Vampires Will Never Hurt You" - My Chemical Romance Notes: It is =)

[Alyson Parol]

The suddenness of the spinning caught me off guard, but it didn't take much effort to keep on my feet. While standing so close to Cody's being it was obvious that the chill I had felt earlier was in fact not from the outside for the cold was still clinging to him. It was especially clear in his hands. There was something about this level of chill that was almost related to illness or being dead, neither of which seemed to be right.

“So not only do you run your own club, but you also know how to ball room dance.”

There was a swimming feeling in my head, I was almost drunk on the one surprise coming about right after another. If this were to keep up any longer I would have to consider turning in early to better avoid a miscalculation on my part.

I took Cody up on his offer and sat down. When I looked back towards him I saw that he had suddenly acquired a pair of glasses that made him seem so much farther from intimidating. It was really hard not to smile while looking onto his new appearance.

“Is this part of the secret life of the club owner, you wear glasses? When were you planning on telling all your little fan girls out there?”

I casually arched a head in the direction of the public area of the club filled with all of the girlies ready to jump on Cody were he to walk out from the back. I leaned into the chair a little more about the time I looked back at Cody. Slowly I pulled one leg over the other and clasped my hands over them.

“I can't lie, tonight has been....something else. If I may ask, what's with the strange olden day behavior? Did you live in a colony before coming here?”

I kept any malice out of my voice to avoid offsetting the light mood that had filled the room.

* Tags: Cody
* Word Count: 333
* Notes: This was rather fun to right! XD

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] You're a diamond, how I found you I still don't know. But now I got you and I'll never let you go. If your hearts a pocket looking for some change. My heart makes lots of sense Just stay quiet, Breathe deep, Breathe out, Breathe slow. Don't say a word. Let our eyes speak and they will tell you... I winked at her. "I'm a Jack of all Trades. You never know when ballroom dancing can come in handy. I've heard that certain people find it charming." I bit lightly at my lip ring, spinning it slightly. The ability to dance had been a necessity in the vampire court. It was used as a way to meet people and you did it with everybody, regardless of whether you liked them or not. We would often spend hours of the night doing it, with each night having a different theme. If the king and queen were entertained and thought you were talented, you might rise in court. However, if you frequently tripped over your feet and did not move fluidly with your partner, it was believed that you were unrefined and might be sent away from court, possibly to a lesser extension of the court elsewhere. The main court was used for delegations and they did not want someone who was going to be clumsy to be seen by another court. I laughed at her comment on the fan girls. "I have bad eyesight, not a death wish. I have a feeling I would lose favor with a lot of them if they knew. Better business for me if they stick around because they like me and think they have a chance." I smiled crookedly. Truth be told, the girls out there frightened me a bit. Their behavior resembled that of a mob at some times. Reminded me of the movie scenes where the entire town set out to stake the vampire to death. Her next comment made me curious. "Is it a good kind of something else?" I genuinely cared about what her answer would be. I'd noticed that despite being surrounded by people constantly, I was actually quite isolated from them. Her next question startled me a bit. I gave a half laugh before answering. "Something I picked up from a mentor. I spent quite a few years with her and she designated it necessary.'' Not a complete lie. She had been part of the court and in bringing me in, it was necessary that I learn everything. While in all actuality the few years was more like a few decades. I'm a fool with dreams, and not a lot of things. I swear that I will be all you need. Don't give up on me. Give me one more day. Don't give this all away. We'll be fine, you'll see. Just don't give up on me. Word Count: three seven one Song: "Fool With Dreams" - Framing Hanley Notes: I feel dumb. I just figured out what the 'A' in Ctrl-A stands for when you select all.

[Alyson Parol]

The bit about the girls thinking they have a chance came off sounding a bit rough to swallow. Up until then he seemed like an almost genuine guy. But then again what could I have possibly gathered in the very little amount of time that I had spent with him. On the other hand the fact that he had brought me into his part of the club and more importantly decided it was okay to wear his 'lady replant' around me made it seem less like and insult and more like a compliment of some sort.

“Well Mr. Jack of all trades, to answer your question, yes it is a good something else. Nothing about tonight has been similar to any night before and I really enjoy the change of pace.”

While pushing a lock of my hair back I unfolded my legs and pulled them up into the chair with me. Resting my head on my arms atop my knees I silently wondered more about his mentor situation. I wondered what sort of family one would have to come from to end up having to deal with someone like a mentor.

“So what kind of lady was she? I mean was she one of those uptight, hawk looking ladies with a bun wrapped so snug at the top of their head that it pulls the skin on their face back?”

I watched Cody's reaction closely hoping my comment hadn't offended him by speaking harshly of his mentor. It was moments of that exact nature that I wished I had a better mind to mouth filter.

* Tags: Cody
* Word Count: 262
* Notes: I thought about the Mt. Dew commercial when I wrote this one! XD

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] Fangs were flying, capes were torn Hell hath no fury like a Vampire scorned I realized belatedly that my comment about the girls may have seemed callous. "They don't have a chance because they don't care about who I am as a person. They see my image and find out I run the place and it's chaos from there. I get lost in the shuffle and become an idol to them even though I'm not what they expect. My heart may be dead, but it still feels pain." Her comment about it being a good something else made me smile. "That means a lot to me. I like to be different but not different from myself." I wasn't sure if I was making sense anymore. Sometimes that would happen if I dived too deep into the recesses of my brain. It started pulling up strange comments and ideals. Her description of what she thought my mentor looked like made me laugh. "No, she was not at all like that. She was only a few years older than me." In all honesty it was more like centuries but her appearance allowed for a little leeway. "It was a lot like having an older sibling really except that we were very formal with each other. She helped me redefine the way I lived. Taught me a lot about the ways of the court." As soon as I spoke the sentence, I bit sharply down on my tongue. Time. To. Shut. Up. about that. "She had dark wavy hair, and angular features. Not very tall, maybe 5'5". I always thought she looked very delicate even though she wasn't." It was odd to describe her. I remembered her clearly, but I had not thought much about her appearance. Nor had I realized how much of an effect she'd had on me. The number one rule in this game: Never call one by his real name Word Count: two nine three Song: "The Vampire Club" - Voltaire Notes: zomg

[Alyson Parol]

I could feel butterflies break loose in my stomach when Cody laughed at my sad excuse for a not so planned out joke. The fact that he had a sense of humor was a big plus to me, most of the characters I was forced to deal with on a daily basis couldn't take a joke to save their life.

“I'm an only child so my knowledge on siblings is very limited. I only know what I read about or seen in movies or on TV.”

Outside the room the beat of the bass changed and I could almost make out the song. At first it had my feet bobbing up and down on the side of the chair. I was content with the small range of motion while listening to Cody explain more about his mentor, but when he finished up something in me was ready to do more then just wiggle like a moron in the chair. My original reason for coming here was to dance the night away.

“Okay that's it, I can't sit here while there's music playing...it's making me...well crazy.”

I placed both my hands on either side of myself to take hold of the arms of the chair so that I could propel myself up and out. With a little more effort then I had expected I got both my feet planted on the floor to avoid falling. I stood before Cody with my hand reached out to him this time hoping he wouldn't mind taking it even though he didn't need it to stand.

“We don't need to go out there...I would hate for you to be attacked by hormonal fan girls ready to jump out of their pants when they see you.”

My face scrunched up briefly in distaste of the mental image. Some girls had no sense of personal respect and it disgusted me greatly. I was always so careful to present myself in a way that would garner respect, but in return I got nothing. It was always the girls with the least amount of dignity that got all the attention. On the other hand, the sort of attention they were getting was not the kind I wanted anything to do with anyway.

“Besides, you look nicer with your glasses, and if the toll to leave this room is the loss of your frames, I would much rather stay in here.”

* Tags: Cody! :3
* Word Count: 402
* Notes: Tried to shake things up a bit, hope it's okay :3

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] White walls surround us No light will touch your face again Rain taps the window As we sleep among the dead I quirked a smile. "I would much rather stay in here if that's okay with you. I'm not sure if I can tolerate them screeching 'OMG!! Who hit him with a geek stick?!?!'" I shuddered at the thought. I could even lose business. I guess the idea of the 'mysterious owner' had some kind of allure. "But I'm warning you, whichever we choose, I'm not a dancer." In a way, I had contradicted myself. I could ballroom dance, no problem. However, as much as I liked the music of this age, there was no way I could dance to it. The rhythms were uneven and difficult to move to, rendering it impossible. I did, on the other hand, like to observe others and see how they interpreted it. "I would greatly dislike being attacked myself. They are quite annoying, honestly. And so fake, such a waste of time." I shook my head. I truly had trouble understanding humans sometimes. Their theories didn't make sense to me. Such as the idea that you must be confident but not arrogant. Does confidence not come with a little arrogance? Or require it to some degree? Yet it was a sin listed in their bible, a book which technically ruled out my existence. I thought their theories were interesting to study, but usually impossible to follow. It was difficult to understand why they went so far to impress each other. So far as to even alter their own personalities to suit someone else. Such strange ideals. But then again, vampires had strange habits too. By some perspectives, we behaved quite like animals. We were highly territorial and wary when coming upon a strange member of our kind. We would behave cautiously until we were sure that the other was not a threat, much the way that dogs act when meeting another strange dog. Also, when we would fight, it was not in the way of humans. Fights were death matches, no questions asked. Vampire life was quite brutal, with stringent hierarchies that must be followed. However, if you challenged and were able to defeat one of higher rank, then you got his place, just like a wolf pack. The behavior of vampires is quite complex and intrigued me just as much as that of humans. I brought my thoughts back to the present. "Am I intimidating without them?" It made me curious how people saw me. Depending on how they acted around me, they may get a different side, as this girl had. Days go on forever But I have not left your side We can chase the dark together If you go then so will I Word Count: four one seven Song: "Anthem of the Angels" - Breaking Benjamin Notes: Typed that with a headache

[Alyson Parol]

“Well if I can be frank, yeah you look kind of creepy without them, which is why I mistook you as a pedo earlier this evening.”

It took no effort at this point to smile; on top of that it came naturally. Being away from the eyes of all the other much more judgmental females that were currently infesting the club helped with my current mood greatly. I couldn’t really say I blamed Cody for the company he kept; it was just the sort of people that chose to come to his club. And by the sound of it he didn’t much like to keep their company anyway. Things kept looking better every second.

It was almost an afterthought, something about the declaration of not being a dancer didn’t quite register until some time after he had addressed it.

“Wait so you own a night club…but you don’t dance to its music?”

I playfully tsk’d a few times before making some sort of demonstration out of the current beat of the song playing. I wasn't anything of a dancer either, but what I considered to be dancing was a very loose definition of the term so any movement to the beat counted in my book.

“There’s nothing to it, you just have to move to how the beat makes you feel.”

I kicked it up a notch for a second, pulling away from Cody just a little so that I could avoid running into him granted my “dancing’ got out of hand. It was all just a bunch of small feet movements and rocking around, but it worked with the music, and perhaps more importantly it was easy.

“C’mon Cody try it, who knows you might like it.”

I stopped flouncing around so that I could better observe Cody’s next choice of action. Whatever he decided to do was going to no doubt be amusing, and I didn’t want to miss it.

* Tags: Cody
* Word Count: 315
* Notes: Does your head feel any better now? :]

[Cody Lambert]

[bg=0A0702] I used to be someone But I grew to be something that I'm not It feels like I'm cornered By everything that you really want Why are we here in this same old room I sighed heavily. "Oh well, being creepy comes with the territory I guess." I flashed a mysterious smile. I was dropping hints and I halfway wondered what she thought of them. What idea came to her mind because of the words I was saying? What image did it present to her? I wished that I could be like the vampires in the novels, with the ability to read a persons mind. It would make something like this so much more simple. I wasn't sure if she would panic if she realized what I really was or accept it without a ripple to the pond. It was hard to tell, but I really hoped it didn't turn out to be something like earlier in the night. I bit my lip, a sly look on my face. "Yes, I am quite the contradiction. I like the music but I find it impossible to dance to. There is no sensible rhythm to it and half the dances that are devised for the songs are distasteful." I wondered if my archaic jargon would be lost on her. I noticed that my mannerisms were hard for others to understand simply because of the time gap between the way I acted and what was acceptable now. Honestly, in a way, I preferred some of the courts ways to the humans nowadays. I laughed at her explanation. "The beat doesn't make me feel anything. It's the words that move me. The meaning behind the lyrics and the power of emotion that the songwriter puts forth through them. That's why I like the music. If a song can move me, whether it be happy or sad, then I am likely to favor the song. However, if it is nothing more than noise and a rhythm to follow, I have trouble sticking to it. But then again, I can listen to classical music and it can move me as well. It has to have feeling for me to like it, not just a beat to follow." I smiled wryly. What a strange way for a person to think, even though I am more than just a person. We stand here, with damaged hope But still we carry on We both know and always will It cannot end like this We still have a long way to go Word Count: three five six Song: "Contradiction" - Sonic Syndicate Notes: It did until Cody started talking, lol

[Alyson Parol]

Many thoughts now weighed on Alyson's mind. For instance what did he mean “being creepy comes with the territory"? He was the owner of a club so it seemed counter intuitive to want to appear anything relevant to the term creepy. Who could come to a club that belonged to an outward creeper. Secondly what was with the manner of his speech? He couldn't possibly be anywhere over 25, so why was it that he was speaking like someone out of her history book that she never really bothered to crack open as often as she should.

“So if that’s how you feel then why open up a joint like this? Wouldn’t you feel more at home entertaining a generation that shares your same interest in music?"

Slouching back into a sloppy sitting position in the oversized chair Alyson allowed her gaze to fall on and remain on Cody while the Q and A session proceeded.

“Sure you wouldn’t see as much of the under dressed female population anymore but at least you’ll have your music right?"

Without really thinking about it Alyson had been staring at Cody, when she realized that she was doing it she was quick to correct it, but he had no doubt noticed.

* Tags: Cody
* Word Count: 206
* Notes: Okay so not only is it late but it’s short and I am SO sorry bout both. Also I changed to 3rd person I hope that’s okay!