Have Some Composure {OPEN}

[kori]

Another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit
You throw your arms up you’re so damn sick of it
What are you hurting for?
What are you searching for?

Kori was in a mood for being around people. Not vampires though; humans. Humans who didn’t know what she was, and who she could talk to and learn about without them finding out about her. She had learned that the best place to learn about humans was to go to a coffee shop. Humans were fascinated with the drink; Kori had even tried it one time, though she had spat it out immediately. She rarely liked human food anyway.

Kori lounged in the corner of the coffee shop, her arms draped over the back of her booth seat. A waiter came by, looking slightly nervous. “Hello, how can I help you?” he said, shifting his feet. Kori grinned at him lazily, knowing her odd vampire-shapeshifter aura usually attracted humans. “Yes, I’ll have a muffin, and a cup of coffee,” she purred in reply. She would take the food and pay for it with money, but she wouldn’t eat it. It would just look odd to have somebody in a coffee shop without anything in front of her.

The waiter bobbed his head nervously, scrawling down her order before scuttling away. Kori laughed; she felt playful and mischievous today. She leaned forward on the table now, scanning the shop with her cold green eyes. It was early in the morning, still mostly dark, so there were few humans around. However, there was a slight scattering of them around, enough to keep her entertained.

[Kitty Israel]

Having finished the night shift at work a few hours before (at least, it felt like a few hours), Kat found herself unable to sleep. She didn't mind, though, since she still didn't have a sleep schedule. Besides, the Shapeshifter was strong enough to go a day or two without sleep, though coffee made things better. From her tips, Seeta Kat was happy to find that she had enough to purchase something.

Wearing jeans and a gray t-shirt, Seeta looked like any other person in the room-- for the most part. Her face had a slightly apprehensive look to it, and her lovely olive eyes betrayed what she was by a ring a garnet around her pupils. But the young woman was most worried about how skinny she still was-- borderline awful, really. She was working on gaining a little bit more weight so she didn't look sickly, but it was more difficult than she thought it would be. Especially since Seeta loved to dance and go to the studio a lot, so it didn't help that she was always burning the calories she ate. I really need to put on some weight... she thought for the umpteenth time.

As she thought of this, Kat ordered a Venti caramel macchiato and paid. The caffeine wouldn't affect her as much as it did humans, and she loved the taste. But Kitty hadn't really looked around before she'd walked in and ordered her drink. In fact, she had been so lost in the punk rock music that had been blaring in her ears through her sound-proof headphones that she didn't really notice anything around her at all. Sure, she removed them to order her coffee, but the headphones went right back on when she sat down...

And that's when she noticed the vampire sitting there, looking around. She had seen eyes like this girls before, and didn't want to remember the bad things someone else had done to her. It was a difficult decision to make, for Kat was sure the woman would see her... but she decided to stay where she was. I should be able to run if she comes over... I can't go back...

[kori]

Another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit
You throw your arms up you’re so damn sick of it
What are you hurting for?
What are you searching for?

Kori’s order was brought to her, and the vampire was picking at the muffin. Suddenly, a new aura attracted her attention. It was both familiar and unfamiliar, something she had rarely encountered. Kori snapped her head up, scanning the small shop. The only person who it could be from was the newest girl, an emaciated creature who’s aura was slightly askew, like somebody had knocked it out of place. Kori’s own aura was like that, but stronger and darker.

Kori leaned forward, her sharp green eyes scanning the shapeshifter. She caught the hint of red in her olive eyes, confirming her suspicions. Kori was excited now, for she hadn’t met another shapeshifter other than her brother in decades. She could hear the shapeshifter’s heart rate speed up, and knew she had been seen. This shapeshifter was familiar with vampires, and had a haunted look about her. Something had happened…Kori was now dying to find out, though doubted that she would. If she thought humans were interesting, shapeshifters were pure enigma.

Kori made a decision to talk to the shapeshifter. She considered using her mind, but that would just terrify the other girl. “Hello Shift!” she called in greeting instead. She gave an easy, non-threatening grin, beckoning with her hand, the emerald ring on her finger shining as much as her illusioned eyes.

[Kitty Israel]

Not only was Kat absolutely mortified when the vampire called out to her, but she nearly fainted when she was beckoned over. There was no way she could deny that it was she who had been spoken to. No one really glanced around, for which she was thankful, but Kitty was still terrified... and was unsure of how to react. There was something different about the vampiress, but Kat wasn't really willing to risk her life just to figure out what this girl was about.

As the debate was going on in her head, Seeta Akatriel took another drink of her coffee, still staring at the woman. A shake of Kat's head-- so slight a human would not notice-- was hopefully enough to make the woman see she did not want to be noticed. Of course, more vampires (in Kat's opinion) wouldn't care what a Shapeshifter thought. But Kitty at least thought she should try. Trembling hands grasped her cup as she sat frozen in her seat. It was as if she were under a spell similar to the one drawn when she danced, only she was on the receiving end... trapped in the eyes of a creature she wanted to despise. It was like being a slave all over again.

But the memories were repressed as she drank again of her hot beverage, and Seeta wondered what the vampire would do; in Kat's still slave-trained mind, she could be beaten for such insolence... what would happen now?

[kori]

Another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit
You throw your arms up you’re so damn sick of it
What are you hurting for?
What are you searching for?

Kori could tell that the shapeshifter was terrified, and she wasn’t surprised. The only reason she was even slightly accepted among vampires was because she was mostly a vampire, and because her brother was so important. Shapeshifters, especially ones who knew of vampires, had good reason to be terrified. Kori found them utterly fascinating, and was more than a bit proud of their resistance. Instantly, her interest in the girl spiked.

Kori frowned slightly as the shapeshifter shook her head ever-so-slightly. Actually, it was more of a pout; she was now determined to talk to the strange creature. She stared at the shapeshifter unashamedly, trying to read her mind. It was hard; she wasn’t used to reading a pure shapeshifter’s mind. She caught a brief image of a dance, and smiled.

Leaving behind her food, Kori stood up and glided over to the shapeshifter, sliding into the seat across from her. “So you like to dance?” she asked curiously, without preamble. She thought that if she brought up something the girl liked, she would open up to her more. She had no idea that it might be terrifying to have somebody come up and tell what you were thinking. She could see the girl was still worried, so she gave another easy grin. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite. Promise. I’m Kori.” She introduced herself.

[Kitty Israel]

In Seeta's mind, that "easy grin" was a flash of fangs that wanted blood. "Stay out of my head," the young woman said through teeth gritted out of fear. Even as the words escaped her lips, Akatriel had wished they had never even been thought, for this girl would be able to hear them if she wanted. Biting her lip, Kat took another sip of her coffee-- unfortunately, the last sip-- and glanced around, wondering how no one was noticing this weird encounter.

"I'm... Kat," the Shapeshifter finally replied. The music that had been blaring from her headphones stopped abruptly by a quick push of a button-- didn't want to be too rude to the vampire. But Kitty didn't know how to just interact with one of the creatures, so ended up just looking like a scared young woman. More like a scared young teen, though Kat was nearing her twentieth birthday. Birthdays didn't really matter to her anymore, though, since she had no one close to celebrate it with; it had turned into just another day, and didn't bother her like it had during her first two years of slavery. But these things were not in her head now.

No, all of her attention was focused on every minuscule movement made by the woman calling herself "Kori," wondering what she was going to do to Kat. Thankfully, all her scars were covered up, so Kori would perhaps just think she was another of "those crazy Shapeshifters." In some ways, Kitty was one of those crazy Shapeshifters, but she was actually pretty good at hiding her small bouts of insanity. Really, "losing track" of time was better than what some of the other Shapeshifters did-- she would keep it over multiple personality disorders any day.

"What do you want?" Kat asked, somehow able to keep her face almost flat, as if she were tough. Normally, she was very good at putting on such airs, but she had yet to practice it much among the vampiric crowd, and therefore wasn't sure if she actually looked tough or not.

[kori]

Another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit
You throw your arms up you’re so damn sick of it
What are you hurting for?
What are you searching for?

The shapeshifter snarled at her to stay out of her head, causing Kori to pout again. She rarely stayed out of anybody’s head; though most humans’ minds were dull and uninteresting, some were deep, fascinating, with secrets and desires so hidden, they didn’t even know about them. She saw the shapeshifter look around, though Kori didn’t bother. The way Kori had set it up, it looked like two old girl friends had run into each other, and were now enjoying coffee. Kori grinned again; she was glad to have met another shapeshifter, even if the other didn’t feel the same way.

The shapeshifter introduced herself as Kat, an interesting enough name. The music Kori had been hearing tinily from the girls headphones stopped, though Kat still looked terrified. Kori wondered how to alleviate that fear; she wouldn’t see Kori’s twisted aura, and couldn’t see the faint hint of red that had once clouded her eyes in life. She thought Kori was just a vampire, probably here to kill her.

Kori moved both her hands onto the table, crossing them so that she was settled comfortably. She watched Kat’s eyes follow her every movement, looking like she was about ready to jump up and run. Kori didn’t want her to; there was so much she wanted to know. However, to learn more about this one, she’d probably have to reveal a little bit about herself.

“What do you want?” Kat asked. What did Kori want. She thought for a moment, then slowly held one arm out on the table. “Please don’t be afraid,” she said softly, trying to alleviate the fear in Kat’s tone. “I would never hurt one of my own.” With that, she allowed the outstretched arm to turn into a jaguar arm, though she kept her claws sheathed. It was hard to keep up the partial transformation, and it only lasted a few seconds before morphing back into her human arm, complete with the wooden bangles on her wrist.

[Kitty Israel]

Kitty jumped a little when Kori's arm Shifted for a few seconds. The vampire was a Shapeshifter? It was like seeing Jaguar in a female version, and it made Kat shudder. She had heard rumors of an apparent change of heart in the slave-trader, but Kat didn't care; any slave trader was still awful in her eyes. "If you wouldn't harm one of your own kind, what of Jaguar?" Kat demanded, keeping her own Shift form to herself. He had harmed many in his day, did Kori not know of this?

"Whether you are Shapeshifter or not, you're still a vampire," Kat pointed out, her mind in constant motion as she tried to figure out what was going on. Even the relaxed way the vampire was sitting made Kat watched to make sure she wasn't going to strike without warning. "Vampires aren't exactly very kind towards 'our kind,' so I still want to know what you want from me." Kitty was really only being catty because of the walls she had built up to protect herself-- they were the same walls which made her feel isolated, but sometimes she preferred being lonely to being vulnerable.

In a situation so precarious as this, Akatriel knew it was much better to keep her walls up, though some of her inner terror still showed in the slight shake of her hands and the paranoid look in her eyes. She found herself wondering what Kori looked like when she was in her other form-- what her eyes were like, if she still had the bloodlust of a vampire, so on. The last time Kitty had shifted, she realized exactly how skinny she was and had begun to cry as soon as she Shifted back. Times were difficult for the girl, for no matter how much she ate, she always danced it back off on accident. She didn't look healthy and was tired of the whispers, but Kitty could not stop what her very soul cried out for.

"I love to dance..." Kitty finally whispered, recalling the first thing Kori had asked her when she had sat down. The young woman made momentary eye contact with the vampire before she got back to nervously glancing around.

[kori]

Another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit
You throw your arms up you’re so damn sick of it
What are you hurting for?
What are you searching for?

As soon as Kat mentioned Jaguar, Kori knew why she was so skittish. She had been in the slave trade. Kori scowled; though she didn’t particularly care for humans, the way the shapeshifters were treated in the slave trade made her feel sick. There was a reason she had only recently been reacquainted with her brother; his activities as a trainer made Kori furious. He had always been good at manipulating others, but what he did to those humans and shapeshifters…

But Jaguar hadn’t been cruel in a long time, not since he had rebuilt Midnight to keep Jeshickah from doing so. Though the slave trade was still alive and well, Jaguar hadn’t been part of the cruelty. “My brother may have made mistakes, but he’s repented for them now,” she said between gritted teeth. She wanted Kat to know to watch her tongue; the jaguar siblings were protective of each other. “Would you condemn your whole species because of the past actions of one man?” she demanded. Jaguar might not be perfect, but he wasn’t evil, not anymore.

Kori tilted her head, giving a wry grin. “Vampires are not kind to any breed but their own,” she commented. “And even then, that kindness is limited to few others.” Kori hadn’t met another shapeshifter other than her brother in decades; she didn’t want to scare this one away. Kori didn’t know why, but she felt a need, almost a craving, to be friends with Kat. She seemed so sad and alone…Kori would be the same, if it weren’t for her brother. Kori leaned forward, her voice low and urgent. “Do you condemn a jaguar for killing to eat? Or the humans, who do much worse to other animals? What do I want…” she trailed off, thinking. “I want to talk to you. When was the last time you talked to another shapeshifter.” She paused to study Kat, before commenting, “Based on your name and build, I’d say you’re some sort of cat. Correct?”

Kori eyed Kat up and down, her sharp emerald gaze softening. The girl was thin and scared looking, something Kori had become accustomed to during her time at Midnight. She caught the last thing Kat said, and she grinned. “I’ve never danced. Would you want to teach me?”

[Kitty Israel]

Akatriel realized soon after she mentioned Jaguar that Kori was related to him. It should have been obvious, but Kat was so focused on staying alive that she hadn't made the connection that she had only ever met a vampire-Shapeshifter other than the one seated before her. Her olive eyes flashed with anger when Kori defended Jaguar, though. Out of anger, Kat pulled up her shirt sleeve and turned enough for Kori to see the deep scar there, pearly against her skin and embedded with magic. "You expect me to respect anyone who taught others to do things such as this?" Kat demanded, her rage making her eyes look more garnet than they actually were.

Taking a deep breath, she ignored the tears that had momentarily clouded her gaze, not allowing them to escape her eyes; she did not cry for others. Tugging her sleeve back down, Kat fiddled with her coffee cup, only glancing at Kori's face instead of meeting her eyes. It was difficult to be grilled with questions as Kori was doing, but Kat was starting to get the feeling that the girl was actually curious of her and not wanting to send her back to Midnight; it was still uncomfortable, though, and Kitty stayed alert for anything out of the ordinary.

When the vampire asked Kitty about the last time she had spoken to a Shapeshifter, a bitter look crossed her face. "The last time I spoke to one of my kind was at my last... residence," she couldn't bring herself to call it house or home, for she had been a slave there. "There were a few of us there, but we weren't really supposed to talk to each other. We knew what we were, though, and communicated as best we could." Terrible memories flashed in Kitty's head as she thought about it...

One of them had been male and a wolf, the other a female and some kind of bird... compared to Kitty's sad state, they looked extremely healthy. They had been under the thumb of much kinder owners than Akatriel, and in some ways, she had hated them for it. But even with this, Kat could see that they were weak and terrified; hell yeah, Kat was the same, but it made her more determined to escape. When she left, they were too terrified to follow. But they had cared for her the best they could, and for that she was grateful. Being the youngest of the three and also the only one gifted in another way, Kat knew they wanted to care for her...

Memories faded and Kat glanced up at Kori. She was a little surprised that Kori had guessed her for a cat, since she didn't feel she embodied her feline form as much in her human form anymore, and ever going by Kat didn't make her feel cat-like. Kitty nodded and her arm momentarily covered in fur much like Kori's, only fully black; she was a melanistic jaguar, also known as the black panther. Her spots weren't nearly as noticeable as Kori's were, but Akatriel had always loved her beautiful black pelt.

Noticing the grin on Kori's face, Kat allowed a meek smile as well. Would you want to teach me? the vampire had asked. The Shapeshifter was a bit surprised, since it had always seemed to her that vampires could really do anything. Trying to think of what to say, Kitty ended up shrugging. She was nervous dancing around others ever since her "gift" had arisen; it was odd to dance for people and cast such a spell over them. Most of the time, Kat couldn't even control it, and she was never sure how it happened. "I... I'm not sure I can," she half-lied.