[Citlali Separa]

June 9
2337
The Voice - Soho

Yesterday had been a day. Citlali was still sore from having her ass kicked in the spirit realm and even with the magical healing her new little turi had given her arm, it remained sore and the movements slowed. She just needed a night to relax and recollect herself. Her new wards would need more attention and healing but for right now Citlali needed to plan. She lifted her head to smile at the club. She had found the little club in Soho the first week here. It always had good drinks, an eager crowd, and even decent music.

She breezed in with a coy smirk to the bouncer. Her dark eyes scanned over the crowd, taking in the mood. It was fairly relaxed, the eagerness a simmer under the surface. The scent of sweat, alcohol, and human assaulted her senses in a delightful way. A deep breath with a low purr buried under the music as she made her way to the bar. She had specifically worn her favorite dress for the night she had planned for herself; a skintight mini in a soft tan that made her skin glow in a golden hue and her legs miles long. Her long dark hair was twisted up and off her throat a few curls having fallen free.

Once her drink was ordered and delivered, Citlali turned on her stool lounging at the bar. After her first sip a clarity hit that the music she was listening to had an underlying static to it that didn't happen with CDs but rather a microphone. Her brain also started to process the fact that the words being sung in the low male voice were not in English but rather a Spanish folk song from her childhood. Her dark eyes looked up in confusion settling on the familiar figure on the stage.

[Everett Cooper]

Everett had lived in London now for all of just over a month and was proud to say he had found his new favorite bar within the first week he had been here. It really was just a little hole in the wall club that seemed to cater to the younger, trendy crowd, but it wasn't the crowd that drew the vampire but rather the open-mic nights they hosted for local musicians to play live. Ev had learned to play the guitar and banjo when he was a child, sitting on the huge front porch of his grandfather's home in the French Quarter of New Orleans every summer, and didn't often miss open-mic night at The Voice. The vampire enjoyed getting a chance to play and the regular crowd seemed to like him quite a bit, so here he was yet again.

Tonight, Ev had been feeling a bit homesick so his first couple songs had been Mexican folksongs he had learned from his father. His deep baritone voice and his trusty guitar cut through the noise of the bar and held the attention of most of the patrons he was pleased to see and finished his current song to a generous round of applause. Everett smiled and thanked the audience before placing his guitar on its stand and promising to return shortly for another set, then made his way through the small crowd to the bar.

The crush of people in the bar was almost comforting, considering he had fed just yesterday and his hunger was still at a low point currently. It was nice to see people out and just enjoying themselves and relaxing and it made Ev feel more at home in his new city, though he couldn't have said exactly why. He accepted a glass of water from the bartender and leaned back against the bartop, casually surveying the crowd.

[Citlali Separa]

Citlali… was actually impressed. Not only was the song well done but his playing on the guitar just added to her respect. By the time he had settled at the countertop Citlali had already leaned over to the tender to order his next round. The bartender had laughed a bit at her. Apparently not only was this vampire a regular here but sang often at their open mics and earned quite a few attentions. Not that that surprised the Nagual at all. He was attractive and now she realized he was talented as well.

Citlali turned herself on her stool towards the man and crossed her legs at the ankle to show off her legs even more. She frowned a bit at herself, not really knowing why she was trying to get his attention again. She typically didn't go after the same partner twice but then he had definitely been fun. Ah, well. Here she was and that bourbon was already being delivered. The tender slid it to him politely then nodded in Citlali’s direction. When the vampire finally looked up she greeted him with a smirk and tip of her glass.

[Everett Cooper]

“Oi, Blue-Eyes,” the pretty blonde bartender said, presenting a glass of bourbon to the vampire. Ev turned to look at her and accepted the glass with a questioning look. “Surprise, surprise. Got another admirer over 'ere,” she teased him, nodding to Citlali. “Real looker this time too, mate. Cheers…”

“Thanks, Chels,” Everett chuckled and looked up in the direction the bartender had indicated. The woman he saw nearly had him dropping his drink in surprise. Huh. Apparently London was a much smaller city than it appeared…

It was almost time for him to start his next set so Everett mouthed a 'thank you’ to the Nagual and downed the drink like a shot. Making his way back to the stage, he stopped to whisper to another of the performers who nodded and handed Ev a ukelele. He thanked the other man and settled himself back on his stool onstage. With a smirk tugging at his scarred lip Ev started to play a well-known song by the band Train, 'Hey, Soul Sister’.

[Citlali Separa]

Her smirk broadened at his reaction to seeing who had ordered his drink. Citlali chuckled at his reaction, a spike of disappointment rushing through her when he didn't join her. Until she realized he was finishing the drink to take the stage again. Her head cocked to the side in curiosity when he took up the tiny guitar rather than his own instrument.

Her gaze didn't move from him as he sang. She hadn't heard this song before and the lyrics rattled around in her head. Oh, he was trying to impress someone. And since she had only just arrived it meant he had most likely found a partner for the night. Ah, well. The easy response didn't match the black Hunger that growled in her. Citlali frowned at the reaction finally pulling her gaze away. She ordered herself another drink, hoping to drown her Hunger in alcohol instead.

[Everett Cooper]

His blue-gold eyes never left the Nagual as he sang, an easy smirk on his face as the audience clapped in rhythm with him and a few even joined in to sing the chorus when it came around. He loved when the crowd got involved when he played; meant he was doing something right. All was well, he thought, until the woman he was singing to turned away, and was that a bit of disappointment on her face? Huh. And here he had thought he was being real smooth with that song choice…

Well. Everett supposed the only way to get the point across was to keep trying. Swapping out the borrowed ukelele for his own dark blue lacquered guitar, he started an acoustic version of Billy Joel’s ‘Only the Good Die Young’. He watched the Nagual with interest, wondering if his musical flirting would work or not.

[Citlali Separa]

He was flashy and thriving under the attention. How strange for the type of creature he was. Different. Maybe that's what had drawn them- No. She had been on a mission and he had been collateral. Simple as that. The impromptu roll in the park had just been a side effect of high tension and conflicting Hungers. Nothing more. Citlali scowled at her arm, the faint scarring was still fading away but the constant phantom pains and aches that twinged her arm were still very much present. She could only blame her brush with death yesterday as the reason for her own sentimentality over something that had meant nothing.

Her skin prickled suddenly as her thoughts finally settled with the alcohol she was adding to her blood. Someone was staring at her. She finally lifted her head, searching for the eyes locked on her with a playful smirk. Hopefully an interested male. Instead she met those same golden blue eyes. The certain smirk drained from her face crossing into a furrowed brow of confusion as she finally heard his new song.

[Everett Cooper]

Apparently not. Hmm.

Everett wasn't sure exactly why he was intent on flirting with the Nagual woman other than their unexpected romp in the park a couple weeks ago had been fun. Maybe it was the surprise of seeing her in a place he frequented? Maybe it was the fact that nobody else in the crowd had caught his eye as much as she had? After all, those tattoos and the artistic scarification, those intriguing black eyes, the golden-tan hue of her skin…

Yeah. He definitely wanted her again.

With a flourish and a playful smirk at the audience, Ev leaned into the microphone and turned on the charm for one last song. “Most of you know I'm a colonial by now,” he started with a gentle chuckle, “and I been feelin’ a little homesick this week. So I hope y'all don't mind if I channel my good ol’ southern, country music roots for my last song…”

Cheers and a few shouted ‘do it ups’ encouraged him and he started to play once more. This time he was being blunt and dammit it had better work. Loretta Lynn wasn't someone you ignored, especially not when someone was singing ‘Outta My Head and Back in My Bed’ to you…

[Citlali Separa]

This vampire needed to stop outdoing himself. Citlali couldn’t remember the last time she had blushed from embarrassment. Yet here she was sitting in some dive bar with her tan skin stained red over her nose and spreading out. He was definitely singing about her. He hadn’t even stopped staring at her she finally realized. The color rushed down to her chest suddenly. She tried to regain her composure by sipping her drink again.

So tonight was already starting off better than her yesterday. Though his continued interest sent up a few warning flags for Citlali, another night with the vamp couldn’t really hurt much. Well it could but that might be the point of tonight. But that would come later. She leaned back to the bartender, ordering another drink for the vampire as he sang. She held it up once it came, signalling him to join her when he was done with that devious smirk she liked. It would probably have more effect if Citlali didn’t feel her face still burning with embarrassment.

[Everett Cooper]

Well, looks like she got his message this time. Leave it to the classics to work like a charm, Ev thought with a mental chuckle. He finished the last chords of the song and smiled at the standing ovation he received, both pleased and a little surprised by the reaction, then put his beloved guitar back in its case and stored it in the back room until he was ready to leave.

Everett tried to slip through the crowd subtly to join the Nagual at the bar, but was corralled by several admirers on his way there. He politely accepted their praise for his playing and talked with them about music for a few minutes. Several minutes after he finished playing, Ev finally made it to the bar. He leaned casually against the bar next to the Nagual and fixed her with that charming smirk.

“So darlin’... does this mean I get to know your name now?” he chuckled and accepted the drink she had ordered for him. He had made it almost all the way back to his apartment after their night in the park before it had hit him that they hadn't exchanged names, but there were some mitigating circumstances at the time as well. He had been hungry and they were both more focused on everything but talking.

“I'm Everett. And I'm pleasantly surprised to see you again, especially right here in my own backyard, as it were,” he added with a cheeky wink.

[Citlali Separa]

The vampire seemed to be a mini celebrity at this club. At least that's the way the other patrons acted around him. Though between his talents and looks, Citlali couldn't exactly blame them for falling under his charms. With him preoccupied with his fans she had a few minutes to compose herself, letting the embarrassment drain from her body and her skin return to its normal tan. By the time he joined her, the jaguar was back to her calm and collected self. She glanced at the smirk, mostly unphased with the extra time to fortify herself against him.

That mask faltered for a moment when he asked her name. Citlali hadn't even realized they hadn't shared their mashes. Not that she usually did anyways. That was getting really familiar with someone that was just an urge but he was already spilling his name. She tested his name, her slight accent rounding all the sounds together into a musical ‘eve-reet’. Her lips parted into a smile, “Citlali,” she said introducing herself after a moment, “Was there a particular reason for the show or am I simply fortunate?”

[Everett Cooper]

The vampire smiled when she finally introduced herself. Citlali. Sounded South American, not that that was real surprising considering her accent and her Nagual heritage, but he liked it. He wasn't sure where in South America, but if he had to guess he would've said Argentina or maybe Peru.

“Citlali… almost as beautiful as you are,” he said with a smile. Coming from anyone else the compliment would've sounded like a trite pick-up line, but Everett was sincere and his honest expression only backed up that assertion.

“As for the show,” he answered her question, “they have open-mic nights once a week here. You can usually find me lurkin’ around when they do. Did you enjoy what you saw, Citlali?” Ev asked with a cheeky smirk.

[Citlali Separa]

Citlali smiled slowly at the compliments. From anyone else the flattery would have seemed cheesy and like a dramatic flare to lure someone into his bed. Yet his spirit glowed with genuine joy as he praised her. Like it made him happy to compliment her rather than to be rewarded in any other way. His spirit glowed tonight. Bright and warm, his attraction to her had his spirit rubbing against hers and leaving her relaxed and purring lowly.

She leaned against the bar then watching him intently, “I will have to keep that in mind. Perhaps come see another show,” Citlali said thoughtfully. Really priestess? Making jokes about seeing him again already? Why? What was going on with her? Sure, he had been fun but seeing him again now was an accident. Planning to see him more was a habit. And habits were dangerous for someone in her position. She flexed her left hand; the fingers stretched then curled slowly with a small hiss as they stretched the faint healed scars.

“But, sincerely, you are very talented. You should be proud.”

[Everett Cooper]

Everett smiled in return, a gentle slow gesture that would have looked less out of place on a farm boy than a former Navy SEAL. The atmosphere of the crowd tonight was pleasant and, as shy as he often was about his musical talent, he enjoyed the admiration from the other patrons and a few of the other musicians as well as he leaned against the bar and sipped his bourbon. Add in the unexpected surprise of seeing a familiar face in the crowd and the thrill of another shot at getting said familiar face into bed with him, Ev was decidedly happy and relaxed.

“Yeah? It’s always nice to see a face in the crowd that you recognize, at least for me,” he answered. “Makes being up on stage a little less nerve-wrackin’. It’d be nice to see you at the next show,” Everett added, giving her a slightly shy smile.

When Citlali tacked on her compliment about his playing, the faint hint of a blush colored the edges of his cheekbones a slight pink and he chuckled and ducked his head a little awkwardly. “Well, thank you, miss. I’ve been playing since I was a kid and I just kept up on it through my service and… everything,” he hesitated just slightly at the last word, hinting at what he was and that it hadn’t changed his desire to keep up with his hobby.

In all honesty, Ev felt like music had been one of the things that had gotten him through the difficult months after he was first turned, helping him focus on something other than the gnawing, all-consuming hunger that plagued him night and day during those first six months or so. Max would sometimes play with him, either on his own guitar or the violin, and they would pass hours at a time in relative peace with each other. It was probably one of the biggest reasons that Everett had been able to work through the anger and bitterness he had had toward the Nosferatu for turning him without his consent, and because of that, he was sure that music would always have an even more important place in his heart now.

[Citlali Separa]

That accent and smile would have slayed a weaker person. They still almost ruined the entirety of Citlali’s night. Her pulse quickened slightly until she took a calming breath. Her smirk grew at his blush. So he was not used to being complimented. That was interesting considering the way he held himself with all that confidence.

”At least your hard work has paid off,” she commented on his musical ability.

She deftly avoided further committing to seeing this man again. His familiarity with her was already unnerving. She hesitated her next sip from her drink at his words. His spirit flared in pain in memory. Po instantly moved to soothe the hurt and her black eyes strayed to look at him in surprise at the goodness she found there. Her expression went glassy briefly before she pulled back to look at him with a few grounding blinks and mumbling in a tongue that not even Everett knew.

”Your song choices were what caught my attention,” Citlali commented, ”Very specific choices. I figured you had someone here you were trying to impress prior to my showing up.”