Strawberry Letter 23 (Attn: Alex, Aedynne, Charlotte)

The phone rang at last coming to life as best machines could.

Alexander had received the message as it came through to the number he'd shared with the other kindred. Beast to beast, he was half surprised for the call. Still he'd taken the message and sat in his office staring at it the hour before making the call.

His night had begun different from the others. News received from allies in places too much like this had already pushed his beast up to the surface to the place where only Charlotte could pull him back. Now calmer, he studied the phone line like some oddity of nature, rolling the note in his fingers.

Then with a click of his tongue against the back of the fangs that receded back into place he dialed.

"Hello, this is Mr. Turner. I'm returning the call, Mr...Goodson." Alexander replies with an ever so soft pause. 

"I was curious to see what prompted the call. More interesting discussion on the values of effort and social reform or something more interesting for you?"

The request and the call were both something of a curiosity. He and Charlotte had agreed that they had to learn more of the area and its current masters, if they were to exist here for any period of time.

"My time is open up enough to meet. Where would you like to talk? I can be in the town center in perhaps twenty minutes or so." Alexander's accented voice coming across the phone clearly. 

He sat back on the edge of his resting place where he waiting on Charlotte to rejoin him from her shower. Stretching and feeling the warmth spread through his body from the blood recently taken he awaited the reply.

The domain was new as was this kindred. The myriad of things that could go wrong simply from this conversation play out in his mind as he listens. For a moment Alexander looks over to the bathroom door and the scent of the soap on Charlotte's skin. Undeath had locked that sweet magnolia blossom smell to her like a gift...or perhaps a bait. Still, it lingered and made its way through the room, making him pause.

"I'm still learning the neighborhood, but I think I can find it. About what time would you like to meet?" He said "My companion and I have to be about anyway. I can make sure my companion handles that while we talk."

"I'll do that, while you get your crew together. Then we can meet up. I will see you there." comes the response.

Alexander's voice gives nothing more than interest away in the brief seconds it continues, though the sound of Charlotte's shower make it to the phone. The large, shower head not the most discreet of devices. 

Awaiting the final reply from his host's side, Alexander starts to prepare to bathe himself. Now full with the thoughts of what this meeting would be about. 

( And...opened to the others. )

The heavy beat to Kanye West's "Black Skinhead" drummed through the gentleman's club. Honestly, it could only be described as a club in the loosest of terms. Lights flashed across the elevated stage, painting both the reflective floor and the three dancers that were currently dancing in shades of crimson and purple. The girls on the platform currently moved in time to the mix; one was currently off beat by a few seconds, but it didn't matter in the end. They weren't there to really dance, they were there to make money. One could easily guess that many of the dancers in the club were current students at the local university. The building was medium sized, and dimly lit on the outside. The parking lot itself was good enough for the business, but many times patrons would have to park on the street or in the local neighborhood.

The club was actually busy tonight, with the bar being mostly full. A few of the patrons were currently watching the televisions on the wall. They were playing ESPN, with highlights from the previous game. Several were talking to the girls which were clinging to them. Others remained with their drinks, their eyes locked on the stage. Dim lights lit most of the club, causing the shadows in the club to darken and elongate. Here and there, a flash of strobe would highlight the dancer that was still on stage. Toward the back of the club was the booths for the private dances. Beyond that was another room for the "gold" dances. A small hall seperated the back of the club from the gold dance room and the private dance section. The hall lead to the back door, which in turn lead to a fenced in patio. Outside, a few patrons smoked and talked in the dirty neon lamps that hung above the patio.

Smoke hung heavy in the club as a few waitresses went from table to table. Dancers followed in their wake. It was in this din of sin that the beast currently resided. Fairchild's cold gaze ran across the club in front of him, noting the entertwined limbs and slow, sinister grinds. His lower jaw jutted out slightly as his fingers teased against the edges of his drink. He was currently in one of the back booths. Somewhere in the shadows, the beast smiled. Light teased against his almost patented leather jacket. The Beast of America almost dismissed the girl that was currently talking to him. He nodded along, his gaze falling against her slender, alabaster figure. Her name was Sara. The black bikini that she wore contrasted starkly against her pale skin. Across her upper arms and chest, dark ink was tattooed onto hersoft, supple flesh. Fairchild smiled, turning his gaze to her as he took in her features. Her blonde hair was cropt short, with it just reaching her cheek bone on the left side of her face. She almost reminded Nathan of a dancer he had seen a long, long time ago.

It was mostly small talk, something that Nathan was easily able to do. But he kept an eye out for his guests, wondering when Alex and his friends would arrive.

( I would go for it. If they join, they join. )