The Fine Print (Julia)

[luka layden merik]

Feelings you never knew
Pulling you under now
Your fighting the undertow
Before it sucks you down
Wearing

Luka roamed around the music store. He really wasn't interested in purchasing anything. He was just wasting time and hanging out. It wasn't for a lack of money. His father kept him in a steady supply every week. He rarely ever spent it, so it had been massing up. He thought of it as blood money. He really wanted no part of it. It only seemed to make him feel like his father was trying to by his loyalty. Which the old leech had none of it.

He really didn't want to go back to campus just yet. Sometimes he just needed a few hours to himself. No homework, no campus drama, just a few minutes alone. It had been raining all day. The dark sky was clouded allowing him free access to the world outside of campus.

He glanced over at the rock section. The selection of huge. Many titles poked out at him. He decided on three cds. He had not planned on spending any money this trip. But he had more money then he knew what to do with and he thought he might as well buy him something. It would be less cash that the Merick family would have. That was the only consolation. He used the credit card his father had given him as a freshman and purchased the cds.

His sensitive nose picked up the smell of baking cookies. His lips curled slightly. He liked the aroma of fresh baked cookies. Luka turned his head around to look where the scent was coming from. The food court was just a few meters from the music store. He saw the stand of baked good. He was glad the smell of human food did nothing to increase his vampiric hunger. He had fed well last night at the night club, leaving the girl dazed but still breathing.

He walked up to the counter. He stared blankly at the menu. It wasn't until the cute blonde asked him what he wanted, he snapped out of it. He smirked over at her. He wasn't a player by any means, but he did have a charming personality and his smile could melt many girls hearts. "Could I have a hot tea and a chocolate chip cookie?" He asked the lovely blonde. Human food did nothing for him, but he did sometimes enjoy the taste. He paid for his order, snagging the bag and the cup he went to sit down in the food court. He smiled when he noticed the blonde had slipped her number on a napkin in his bag. Perhaps he would call her if he got hungry later.

[professor julia slayton]

Outfit

Julia loved the mall! It was practically her favorite place. Although she knew she had to go back to the academy soon she decided a few extra minutes wouldn't hurt. The first place she decided to go was some store that was having a sale. Although she had never been in there before sales were always good!

She picked up a blouse, and a pair of pants and tried them on. She decided on the blouse and put the pants back. She was about to check out when a beautiful blue scarf caught her eye. It wasn't on sale but it really was something. She ran her fingers through it. She checked the tag. EEK! it was really expensive. Finally after about 15 minutes she put it back, she knew she couldn't afford it. She checked out and took her items.

She meandered for a few moments window shopping was what her mother called it. She stopped when she picked up the smell of cookies, she liked cookies but she was on a diet. She decided to follow the scent, obviously it led to the food court. One cookie wouldn't hurt, would it? She got in line but saw one of her students at the counter. She narrowed her eyes, honestly she thought he was going to hit on the young blonde.

She saw the young woman slip her number on the napkin. When it was her turn at the counter she decided on a cup of coffee. She looked over at where Luka was sitting. Gracefully she walked over to him and sat down. "Hello Mr. Merik." she said her signature raised eyebrow in play. She really didn't mean to do it, it was more of a habit. She took a sip of coffee.

[luka layden merik]

Feelings you never knew
Pulling you under now
Your fighting the undertow
Before it sucks you down
Wearing

He was slipping the napkin in his pocket when a strange yet familiar scent invaded his nostrils. He looked up to see a familiar figure. It was the academy's counselor and professor of psychology, Professor Slayton. He tilted his head to the side as she sat down at his table. He frequented the mall often. The music store had a fine selection of instruments. Though he had never seen her here before. It was strange to see a teacher outside of the prim and proper fashion of the academy's walls. He found it quite alarming and exciting at the same time. He wasn't going to deny that the elf wasn't attractive."Hello Mr. Merik."

He tipped his black fedora to her. One strong and stern lesson his father had taught him was manners. He was always polite to everyone. Though his father only intended them to be used on vampire society. He would certainly be upset know that his son was being respectful of an elf. "Afternoon Professor. I'd ask if you like to sit, but seems you already have." He gave her a toothy grin. He took note of her eyebrow. Had she seen the blonde slip him the number? It didn't matter. Even if he did call her for a bite, it wasn't as if he would kill her. It was common knowledge that Luka didn't kill when he fed. Granted there had been a few lapse in control, but he did feel terrible about it. He was so much different than the other vampire students. He seemed to enjoy life, regardless of whos.

He took a sip of his tea. Human food did nothing for him. Though that didn't mean that he didn't enjoy the taste. "No classes today?", he inquired to a reason behind her outing to the mall. He had finished up his morning classes earlier that day and wanted to take the time to enjoy the rain. It was the fun times he could actually walk out during the day without making the public, outside of the school, freak out.

[professor julia slayton]

"Actually yes I've finished my classes but I probably will be having to get back to the academy soon." She said with a smile. Luka wasn't a bad student at all. She was aware of his relationship with his father but he didn't really some to her office that much. Seeing Luka here wasn't the first for her. She always saw him in the music store but he never seemed to notice her and she didn't want to bring attention to herself. She put her coffee on the table. "So Mr. Merik what brings you here?" She asked.

She smiled at him again. "I needed a new shirt." She said answering her own question. Luka probably wondered why she was here. "I have a thing later today and I needed something to wear." Her voice was soft and musical, most found it charming. She had a date later today that was the truth, she wasn't really looking forward to it. Her sister put it together, knowing her sister the guy is probably a complete idiot.

She took another sip of her coffee. "How's school going for you?" She asked again with a raised eyebrow. "No problems right." That was the usual councilor statement. She had to make sure all of her students were doing fine it was her job. She looked at her watch she gave herself 10 minutes of chat time with Mr. Merick then she would leave the mall which would take about 5, 10 minutes, get back to school which took 20 minutes and get in her office as fast as she could. She figured all of this out while keeping a solid look at Luka eyebrow intact. What could she say the woman was a multi tasker.

[luka layden merik]

I lust for after
no disaster can touch
touch us anymore

Wearing

"Actually yes I've finished my classes but I probably will be having to get back to the academy soon."

His senses were catching everything. He could smell the scent of her perfume, along with the offensively strong aroma of the coffee. It was just one human drink he could not stand. His not crinkled softly, but he made not expression of distaste. He was content with the tea, until he could get back to his dorm and raid his mini-fridge for a pack of blood or two. "That's a shame," he chuckled softly. "Its such a nice day." His joke would not be lost on her. Though he liked the sunlight, rain allowed him to venture out among humans freely. He simply appeared as a pale teenage boy in need of a tan.

So Mr. Merik what brings you here?"

He smiled and lifted the bag of cds from the table. "Adding to the music collection. Next week I'm going to pick up a new guitar." He placed the bag back on the table and broke the cookie in half. "I have to spend father's money somehow." He gave her a look. He knew she had read his file. He had talked with her once about the disdain he had with his sire. The man was a monster and the vampire society knew it...though many loved him for it. Luka on the other hand hated him.

"I have a thing later today and I needed something to wear."

He nodded politely as she explained why she was here. Luka had a wide selection of clothing back at his dorm. Most came from second hand stores though. He didn't want many of the students knowing that he was rich. He preferred to blend in as best he could. Though vampires had a hard time doing so. Their looks, movements and even their voices, drew people to them. They were the ideal predator. It was just something even keeping to himself, could not change.

"How's school going for you?...No problems right."

He wasn't going to tell her about the troubles with the senior Lukas. He could fight his own battles and that headstrong twit meant little to the soft spoken boys. So he lied, "No troubles at all. Classes are going well, my dorm is great. Its sunshine and kittens" He chuckled. "There's no way you would let me hang around for another four years would ya?" He was only semi-joking with his question. He'd do just about anything to not have to go back to Merik manor when he finally graduated next spring.

He studied her. She seemed different outside of the academy's walls. His greenish-yellow eyes were keen on the slightest changes in a persons behavior. She seemed more relaxed. He finally took a bite of the cookie he had been holding in his hand. The taste was good.

[professor julia slayton]

"Its such a nice day."

She let a light laugh out. "Yeah right, maybe for you Mr. Vampire." She said teasingly. After she said that she started to regret it. It really was a different way of speaking to a student. But then again her students did need to know she wasn't that strict out of school.

"Adding to the music collection. Next week I'm going to pick up a new guitar."

She nodded. It was good the boy had a hobby. "Guitar? That must means you play." She said sounding interested. She loved good music herself, but as usual she probably didn't share the same "music likes" as Luka. "That's good that you play the guitar." she said with a smile. "I play the piano." She said while imitating the movement. She wondered if he wrote his own music although he was young he was quite capable.

Julia admired Luka's politeness, it was something she didn't find in many teenage boys. Although she did have a load of clothes, she didn't wasn't to give that blasted date a thrill. Honestly she might have been better off wearing what she had on right this second, but then he would think she was an old hag. But honestly she didn't care, unless he was cute. She couldn't believe she was thinking all of this while talking to Luka.

"No troubles at all. Classes are going well, my dorm is great. Its sunshine and kittens. There's no way you would let me hang around for another four years would ya?"

Julia let out a laugh herself. But somehow she didn't believe he was completely OK, so of course she raised her eyebrow after she finished laughing. "Well that's good." She said with a smile. Luka was such a good kid she hoped nothing would happen to him. "So any plans for the week?" She asked just wanting to start a conversation.

[luka layden merik]

Dear future, I bought you.
I own the right to let go,
Destroy you. This is my life.
Wearing

"Yeah right, maybe for you Mr. Vampire."

He chuckled at her slight jab at him. It was refreshing to see her in a more relaxed atmosphere.. This was something new and he guess few really got to see...at least student wise. " Yeah, that true, but you look normal in the sunlight. I look like a fairy threw up pixie dust on me". He knew he was quite attractive in the sunlight. Only a handful of people had ever seen him and thought he sparkled like a star. But he didn't like it. It made him too abnormal...as if drinking human blood was normal. He was growing more comfortable with her presence. He didn't totally see her as a teacher right now.

"Guitar? That must means you play...I play the piano."

He nodded. He did play the guitar. He played it very well. Not having to sleep and fingers that would not bleed, meant lots of time for practicing. "Since I was big enough to hold the thing up. It was my moms", he mused softly and took another bite of the cookie. He grimaced softly as he chewed the bite. He was thinking back to another time when he was a child and the thought made him unhappy for a slight second. "Father forced me to play the piano. He went nuts when I was old enough to refuse him", he said with a sad smile. He left out the part where as punishment, his father locked him up for a week, with only animals to feed on.

"Well that's good...So any plans for the week?"

She raised her eyebrow again. He knew she didn't buy his everything was 'sunshine and kittens' bull. He mentally shrugged to himself and made a mental note to working on his subterfuge skills a bit more. It would keep others from knowing what was really going on with him. She seemed to be making small talk. He hadn't done this with anyone for a bit and he knew he was rusty at it. "Nothing really. Just class. Maybe going into town a couple times." He wasn't going to tell her why he was going into town. He had to feed and the blood packs at the school where like drinking spoiled milk. He hated them and had to hit the clubs every few nights to keep his inner beast at bay. He never killed his prey. He always left them slightly dazed, but otherwise perfectly healthy.

He finished up the cookie and wadded the bag up. He smiled wide as an idea popped into his head. The professor seemed to like music. He stood tossing his empty cup and bag into a nearby trash can. He glanced at the music store. He could just go ahead and buy the guitar. He was only waiting till next week, so his father didn't notice a large purchase on the credit card bill. "Excuse me for a minute. I'll be right back." He darted off at a quick 'human' speed. He could have been in there and back by the time Professor Slayton looked up, but that would mean exposure.

----------

He returned carrying a guitar case in his hand. The dark case contained a beautiful Gibson
J-45 True Vintage. "Sorry about that", he apologized for running off and leaving her alone. "Do you want to hear me play?", he smiled and asked hopefully. He typically only played for Bailey, when she was lonely and came over to his room for entertainment.

[professor julia slayton]

Julia looked at him and let out a laugh. "Well Mr. Merik when it rains I look dead." She said jokingly. "Without this makeup I'd scare you to death." She half lied, she thought she looked scary but some thought she looked good, better even. "I don't think you look that bad." She said with a smile. "Now I shouldn't be telling you this but my last boyfriend looked like a fairy threw up on him, or worse." She said with a laugh. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and let out a sigh.

"Since I was big enough to hold the thing up. It was my moms"

Hearing that he did play made her smile, something he could enjoy. Her smile faded with the next statement. "My my." She said when he described how his father made him play the piano. "Well that's too bad, I actually enjoy playing." She did like playing, when she learned to play well enough at least. She always hated practicing, she always thought it was a waste of her time. She looked down at her fingers, she hadn't played for a while, maybe it was time to get out some old music and bang away.

She nodded as he explained his "plans" to her. "I'm doing absolutely nothing." She said with a laugh. "I know it sounds terrible, councilors tell you to get out and do something and then they don't." She couldn't make any sense out of what she had said which meant her diplomacy skills were close to zippo at this point.

"Excuse me for a minute. I'll be right back."

She nodded and let him go. She looked down at her lap and sighed waiting for Luka's return. She looked around not recognizing any of the faces which really wasn't like her she usually knew everyone in town. She patiently waited for Luka's return, when he came back she smiled when she saw the guitar case. "That's OK." She said. "Yes I would love to hear you play." She said with a smile. She admired the guitar's beauty. Though that was the one instrument she couldn't play it was almost her favorite. She didn't know why but she really enjoyed the sound of it.

[luka layden merik]

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Wearing
Playing

"Yes I would love to hear you play."

Luka grinned as he held the brand new guitar up, placing it on his leg. He quickly tuned the instrument. His sensitive ears picked up on the slightest off note, as he strummed a few cords. There was no embarrasment as his finger began to stum softly along the cords. He was used to playing in front of people. Granted he had never in front of a teacher or in the middle of the food court, but it didn't matter. He would soon loose himself into the song and the rest of the world would fade away. "Its new. You're the first one who get to hear it", he glanced up at Julia and offered the lovely woman a warm smile.

Nimble fingers strummed at the wires. He didn't need to use a pick. The playing would do nothing to harm his hard fingers, as it would the tender fingers of a human. He had been working on this one for a while. It had never been played for anyone. Bailey was always the one he played new songs for. He would just have to play the song for his dear friend later. His voice was soft and deep as he began the first verse.


"D' you breathe the name of your savior in your hour of need,
And taste the blame if the flavor should remind you of greed?
Of implication, insinuation and ill will, 'til you cannot lie still,
In all this turmoil, before red cape and foil come closing in for a kill

Come feed the rain
'cause I'm thirsty for your love dancing underneath the skies of lust
Yeah, feed the rain
'cause without your love my life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust"

As his fingers moved quickly to each cord, he smiled at her. He wasn't missing a single cord, as he eyes moved from the wires to his teacher. He was sharing something very special with her. Few did get to hear him play...let alone sing.

"It's all a game, avoiding failure, when true colors will bleed
All in the name of misbehavior and the things we don't need
I lust for after no disaster can touch, touch us anymore
And more than ever, I hope to never fall, where enough is not the same it was before

Come feed the rain...
'cause I'm thirsty for your love dancing underneath the skies of lust
Yeah, feed the rain
'cause without your love my life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust
Yeah, feed the rain
'cause I'm thirsty for your love dancing underneath the skies of lust
Yeah, feed the rain
'cause without your love my life ain't nothing but this carnival of rust"

He lost himself into the song, closing his eyes. He let the sound of the guitar fill his senses. Eyes of passing by patrons of the mall were on him. A few stopped to listen to the young vampire play. Music was the release he needed from his bleak reality. The reality that he would live forever. It gave him something to be hopeful about. As the last verse came from his hard lips, he opened his eyes. He was trying to gauge Julia's reaction to his new composition. Would she like it? If she didn't, he knew she would put on a pleasant face and lie to him. She didn't strike him as the kind who would be rude. Though he honestly wanted her to enjoy it.

"Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the world is burning
Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the heart is yearning
Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the world is burning
Don't walk away, don't walk away, oh, when the heart is yearning"

He drew the song to a close. He looked around and saw the small crowd of people, who had gathered. He took off his fedora and ran his fingers through his mass of dark locks, with a weak smile. He didn't like that much attention and the crowd seemed to see that and started to dissipate. He was thankful for that. Too many humans made temptation greater. He'd hate to pounce on one of them if he grew hungry. His gaze returned to the one he was serenading. "What'd you think?" He asked softly.

[professor julia slayton]

Outfit
singing
Playing

Julia smiled as the student picked up the gleaming guitar. She was anxious to hear this young musician. She was honored when he said she was the first, it wasn't everyday a student wished to play for her. She sat back in her seat and sighed waiting for him to begin. When she heard him strum the guitar strings she started to perk up and really listen.

She loved how he really went into his music and really let it out he was one hell of a performer. She closed her eyes and just listen to his lyric, and the sweet melody. When she opened her eyes she saw a huge crowd gather around. She smiled at him he was attracting a crowd, this was good. She was also worried that as a vampire he might well 'get on' which was how she referred to it. She made sure to keep a watchful eye.

When she heard the song come to a stop grief filled her she didn't want it to end. She let a puff of air leave her mouth almost exaggerating how the song took her breath away. She smiled. "It was lovely." She said softly, it was all she could muster out. She felt that she should play for him now that he played for her.

She took some time just soaking in the music. "Now my dear student I'm going to play for you." She said walking up to the man sitting at the beautiful grand piano. She whispered in his ear and he stood up let her play. She checked the tone of the piano making sure it was right. She looked up at Luka. "Now you might refer to this as more "old ladyish." She said with a laugh. "But I like it." She paused. "Remember I am near 40."

She put her slender fingers to the keys and began to play moving to the rhythm. She played her notes as gracefully as she could. It had been a while, but the talent didn't leave her obviously. She opened her mouth and started to sing. Her high voice was usually considered fit for a musical but she liked it. She let the notes come out strong and clear. She smiled as a crowd started to form. She knew that most were tired of the man's chopin and mozart she figured this would give a nice variety a treat almost.

When the song came to a finish she glanced up at Luka and in one graceful motion stood up. He thanked the man and gave him his seat back at the piano. Naturally he started pounding out some Bach piece. She looked back at Luka. "So do I pass your expectations?" She asked teasingly. She did hope he at least enjoyed it somewhat.