2551/Cats and bats and Omelettes Oh My!

Cats and bats and Omelettes Oh My!
Date of Scene:	21 July 2020
Location:	The Griffin
Synopsis:	Thomas meets a fellow predator. Vampirella might still consider him prey.
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Blake, Ella Normandy

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Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake had his usual day which was actually a lot of night work. The sun has set as he rolls over and his hand encounters... nothing. Half a sleep he frowns and eyes shut, rummages about the pillows encountering only pillows. He opens one eye and regards the empty spot next to him. Yes. She's like that. Ah well, he'll have to wake up the old fashioned way-coffee and perhaps breakfast for dinner.

He goes by Lawton's room. He's out, no fresh cigarette smoke in the air. In comfortable sweat pants he pads down the stairs like a cat or the fog and stre-e-e-e-e-thes in the living room, yawning a great yawn.

Breakfast. Maybe a simple ham and cheese omelette? He'll make extra in case Satana shows up. He sets about that after turning on the coffee maker. Ah if the pride could see him now. Making coffee and wondering if AIM or Alchemax would get around to killing him first.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Some vampires can't enter a home without an invitation. Vampirella isn't that kind. She holds her own home sacred, sure, but any other person's? Her predatory instincts haven't the slightest qualm about transgressing.

    So she lights on the roof, noting but dismissing the spikes along its perimeter except with a nostalgic smile; they remind her of a certain Transylvanian castle famous for its spikes. As far as she can tell, the roof is a blind spot for all the cameras, though she's not terribly concerned if it isn't. Knowing she's coming isn't the same thing as being able to do something about it. Anyway, it's not like she's looking for a fight.

    Vampirella grunts with pain as her wings shrink and retract into her back, though the burning ache recedes quickly once her skin has closed over the wounds where the wings once were. Confidently, she walks to the access door and lets herself in, padding silently downstairs, following Satana's scent.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Silent? Perhaps. Maybe it's a matter of an unseen alarm on the roof access. Maybe a stray scent wafting from the vampire's body as wounds completely close. Maybe it's just a sixth sense you develop living on the veldt where small venomous things crawl about at night. A couple of floorboards designed to squeak surely help. Thomas isn't quite sure someone is coming. But he does pick up a kitchen knife that is far more costly than the ones most people use, custom made, in fact. The kitchen has one way in or out. He sits at the counter, two plates of ham, cheese, and eggs in front of him and hopes its a female demon. Life is odd sometimes.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    The trail leads to a private room, because of course it does. Vampirella stands outside it for a moment, thinking. She knows Satana isn't inside, so there's no purpose going in. There's also no purpose because she knows what she'll find inside.

    Why doesn't it bother her? It would have, if it had been Adam.

    Would it bother her if it had been Leslie?

    What is this apathy? Is it a natural effect of age spent among people not her own?

    Maybe it's just hunger.

    It doesn't feel worth it to kill someone just for an experiment to see if she can feel jealousy on a stomach full of fresh, hot life, though. Maybe there's another option. Maybe she should meet this cuckold.

    Vampirella shrugs minutely, to herself. Can't hurt. After all, he's just human. She glances down at herself and decides not to bother changing. Let him see her as she is.

    Vampirella heads downstairs, following not Satana's scent but the one paired with it.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake was described as having a very strong male scent. Not a bad smell but very obviously male and noticeable to even civilized humans. The presence is stronger now, taking their time. That's worrisome. He's used to be the hunter, not some prize at the end of a maze. Could it be the Bat? That's disturbing. He has no warrant on him, he's legit if not honest. But the Bat will try to give him a lecture, tell him he's redeemable, he could be more.

Bullshit.

Ask the poachers he left in Africa, the one who lived anyway. Anyway, he knew since he was nine there was no redemption in this life and no regrets for him... maybe a couple, but don't dwell on them.

Maybe it is Satana. This could be fun.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella emerges into the light. If it was a movie or a TV show, the darkness would part dramatically over her, but she just walks into the kitchen, silent despite those boots. Her green eyes cut to Thomas and measure him in a flicker. She remains back in the doorway, hands loose at her sides. "Who are you?" she asks, in her thick accent. Her face is flat but for mild curiosity.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake narrows his eyes and doesn't blink as he meets her gaze. Then he takes a bite of omelette and chews it thoroughly before replying. "If I entered a person's house uninvited, I would introduce myself and state my purpose first as a matter of manners. This is my house by the way. I should also point out my housemates are not the warm, welcoming soul that I am. And you would be... Are you lost, looking for someone, a fan of omelettes perhaps?"

Not after him, she seems not to know him and well she doesn't seem to be armed is putting it mildly. Friend of Deadshot, he'd never be quiet about someone looking this good. Oh of course. The pokerface cracks a little, "Are you looking for Satana?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella's lips quirk wryly. "What gave it away? Our shared fashion sense?" Not that they dress much alike, but there are similar themes, at least.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shrugs and smiles a bit. "Movements mainly. I'm fellow predator. I still didn't get your name. Since you're Satana's friend I'll give you mine: Thomas Blake, known to some as Catman. Silly name. I'm running with it." He pushes one plate closer to her.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    "I'm Vampirella," she explains, and pushes the plate back toward Catman. Thomas. Whoever. Aliases are a bother, as she well knows. "Where are you running with it?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake sticks the plate in the oven to keep it hot. He chuckles a little at what he assumes is a joke about running. "Vampirella... sorry drinks are not on me. Unless you find something in the fridge you want. Come in, sit down. I'm not sure where she is or when she'll get back. She has something big in the works. Anyway you're welcome heren if you're a friend of hers... if not... poor you."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella prefers not to sit; it's a vulnerable position. Still, there's little harm in it this time. She takes the offered seat and regards Thomas. "Poor me, then," she allows. "So, tell me about yourself, Thomas Blake."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake ponders his answer a few moments, "I'm Thomas. I like omeletes, big cats, Africa, and baccarat. I think superheroes are assholes and I'm very fond of Satana. Your turn." He links his fingers and rests his chin on them, waiting.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella taps her chin with a finger. It's perhaps the most animated she's been since entering. "My name is Vampirella. I like my cat. I've never been to Africa, I haven't decided about Satana, and I haven't decided about superheroes, but at least their sense of fashion is allowing me to dress like I want, sometimes. I think children are better than adults. Every few years, someone comes along to tell me everything I thought I knew about my history was a supernatural lie, but I've stopped worrying about it."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake seems a little surprised. "You haven't decided about her? ... listen we have an open relationship for what it's worth. I'd be clueless to suggest otherwise. Sorry I can't offer you something. I mean hospitality has its limits and I'm fond of breathing and sunning myself on slow days." he finishes his omelette and scales the plate into the sink with a clunk. The fork follows.

Ella Normandy has posed:
    "I'm not here to talk about her, I'm here to talk about you." Vampirella regards Thomas's back. "And I've never understood why people think offering blood is a good idea. Do they think being stabbed in the throat is okay because they see it in movies, and they don't know how it feels to really bleed?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake turns around to face Vampirella and says, "I'm not offering my /own/. And it's pretty obvious I've bled plenty. You seem a little down and I was trying to be polite. So... what about me?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Vampirella waves a hand. "I'm always like this when I haven't eaten." She considers his question. "What do you like so much about Africa?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake says with no pause, "Lions. I love lions. They're beautiful creatures. Their danger only adds to their beauty... much like Satana... and you. To win a place among such killers speaks highly of a mere human. It means you put all the civilized bull shit in the trash and live or die on your own merit. Who you are doesn't matter, what you are does. Every day you live is a struggle. You hunt or you go hungry and eventually die. But you only die once. Every other day you're alive. They're also surprisingly affectionate to those who win a place."

He locks eyes with Vampirella and says, "Sound familiar? She doesn't try to make me something she thinks I should be. I return the courtesy. I will say the few vampires and the demoness I met are pretty honest and forthright and I like that too."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    Predators are always honest with their prey; a thought that makes Vampirella faintly smirk. She lets it slip off her face. "You sound pretty taken with her."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shrugs. "There aren't a lot of people I am comfortable around. Kids usually. Satana, my friend Floyd, that's about it."

Ella Normandy has posed:
    For maybe the second time, Vampirella looks interested. "It sounds lonely."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shrugs again. "There's a difference between being alone and being lonely. So why the interest in me? Wondering why Satana is slumming with a mere mortal?"

Ella Normandy has posed:
    "I'm not sure why I'm curious. I try to cultivate it, though. The less I feed, the less human I become. Curiosity keeps me human." She rises from the seat and heads out. "I'll let myself out the way I came in. Don't make so much eggs if you don't plan to eat them yourself."