Ｓｈａｃｋｌｅｓ {Ｖａｍｐｉｒｅ Ｓｅｍｉ-Ａｄｖａｎｃｅｄ} discussion

Local Pub

Alexandra leaned over the bar, scrubbing the wood with a tattered rag. The rag, in all honesty, wasn't even clean itself, nor was the water she used in attempt to clean the bar. Her blonde hair wafted down around her in thing curls. A man ordered a pint and she grabbed a cracked mug, filling it for him with the frothy, amber liquid. She could see the way he looked at her tight corset with lust in his eyes. She sneered in disgust. That's all she was to men, a piece of meat

Clara walked into the pub looking for her father. It was one of those rare accession that they got together. He was her father and she still care about him but wouldn't dare go back to that house. The only thing she kept from it was her mothers things including her locker she always wore. Her aunt hated him and told her not to go bit she did anyway.

Alexandra smiled cheerily at the newest entry to the bar, as she was always instructed to do. Most people in town knew the smile was as fake as could be. Alexandra wasn't known for being the most...hospitable...woman in town, but she was beautiful when she smiled, regardless if it were fake. "Can I get you anything, love?" she asked politely, continuing to scrub the floor with the dirty rag

"No thank you. I'm just here to meet someone." Clara smiled but not for long. Why even try when you really didn't want to be here she though to herself. She walked over to the corner booth like always and waited for her father to stroll in like always and hour late most of the time.

Alexandra shrugged, and changed to scrubbing out a mug, dipping it into cold water and swishing it around. This was her everyday job, going through the motions. Serving ale, washing, washing more, and going home. Occasionally, she had to change out the large barrels of ale when they ran low, which gave her more muscular tone than she would have liked, but there was not much she could do about that. As she scrubbed, she let herself start to hum an old folk song

Clara watched as her stepbrother walked into the pub and set at the bar. What a great day just don't look over at him she thought. He had dark hair and amazing green eye. He was considered a charmer to many women. Clara started to bit her lip out of nervousness.

Alexandra, as per her routine, smiled at the man and offered him a drink for only two coins. She didn't particularly enjoy the way his eyes crawled over her either, but oh well. She could never do much to control that, no, not while she was actually at work. When she wasn't behind the wooden bar though...well, that, that was a different story

Clara decided to get up and leave not wanting to see her father or stepbrother. As she was about to leave her stepbrother Chris grabbed her. "Nope get back her Clara. Father got busy and told me to come."

Alexandra kept an eye on the pair out of her peripheral vision. It wasn't unlikely for disagreements to occur in the pub, especially with alcohol flowing through the patrons' veins. On occasions, she even had to break up fights while working. She hoped this wouldn't be the case. "Hey, keep things calm" she shouted over to the boy

Chris nodded and wrapped an arm around Clara. "Father sent me because he was sent on an errand." Clara shrugged his arm away. "Tell him to leave me alone then."

Alexandra's brows furrowed. The girl seemed to not be enjoying the man's company very much, yet the man seemed to be persistent. She kept an eye on the gate that held her inside the bar. She estimated how quickly she would be able to get out and separate the two, if need be

Chris shrugged and let her go. "I'll let him know how you feel." Clara rolled her eyes. "You need to be an idiot to not understand. Tell him that I understand." Chris nodded and smiled at her. "Yes yes dear Clara."

Finally, Alexandra had enough, and with a roll of her eyes, she called out, "Is he bothering you, poppet? Because I will escort him out of here if you'd like" she said, crossing her arms over her corseted chest.

"No I was just about to leave anyway." Chris smiled and started to walk out of the pub. Clara rolled her eyes. He wasn't one for trouble and usually got out of it with easily. Clara sat back down in the corner booth. She hated her stepmother and her children.

"You sure you're alright?" Alexandra called to the girl, "Would you like a free pint? On me" she suggested, holding up a glass, "You look like you might need it" she said, letting a soft smile slip across her thin lips

"Sure why not." Clara walked up to the bar taking a set. She hated the thought of her stepbrother's arm around her. They all disgusted her. She shook away the thoughts about her family.

Going over to one of the barrels, Alexandra opened the tap and let the frothy liquid trickle into the grey mug. She frowned. This one was getting low. Walking over with the mug, she set it down in front of the girl, "Enjoy"

Clara nodded she was really stressed out and her aunt would lecture her later. She took a gulp up the pint. She smiled after taking a drink it was the best way to clear her mind.

Alexandra went back to humming as she cleaned wooden plates and sharpened a cutlery knife. It wasn't usual for her to work alone, but today she did and it was almost...uncomfortable. No one to have comfortable banter with, no one to exchange looks with when an annoying customer came in...

Clara finished her pint and stood up. She was ready to leave but say down again. She had nothing better to do then get lectured by her aunt and then do chores for not listening to her.

"You sure you're alright, love?" Alexandra asked, looking up from the perpetual circular motion of scrubbing. "You seem a little bit...out of things." Yes, perhaps she was prying, but Alexandra was never one to hide what she thought or saw.

"I'm fine just didn't except to see him." Clara sighed. She had nothing nice to say about any of them. She was disgust by her gather for believing the lie and kicking her out.

"Was he family? Or an unwanted courter?" Alexandra asked, unable to bite her tongue as the questions poured out. Rarely could she ever bite her tongue. It was her worst of habits, letting her words fly at their own will. It often got her into trouble

"Stepbrother to be correct." Clara smiled and shrugged. She had nothing nice to say about him or his unfaithful sister. Her stepmother was considered a witch by her aunt.

Alexandra's nose wrinkled, "Stepfamilies. Never good, are they?" she said, leaning against the wooden bar. She threw the dirty and tattered rag into a bucket in the corner. "How long have you been so unfortunately related?"

"Ten years but I live with my aunt for the past year." Clara shrugged and played with the hem of her skirt. She bit her lip as well.

"Why with your aunt instead? Is she nicer than the rest of 'em?" She asked curiously. One of her favourite things about being a barmaid was that she could ask questions, and often the freedom of liquid courage allowed others to answer at their will.

"I was forced out by my father and my aunt took me in." Clara sighed she had no reason to hate her father but she did and it made her feel guilty.

"That's very...unjust...of him" Alexandra said sympathetically, propping up her head with one of her hands. She enjoyed having some female company. She liked how she never had to worry about the tightness of her corset and how it exposed her breasts more than she cared for. She didn't have to watch how she spoke. And it was nice.

"Not really by what he thought. My stepmother told him I had been with a man in my room. He believed it and told me to get out." Clara sighed she hated the witch.

"She sounds like a right witch" Alexandra said, sympathizing with the girl, pouring her another glass and setting it down in front of the girl, "You may have it if you wish, I'll only charge you a coin" she said, giving the girl a half of deal.

Clara smiled and put two coins on the bar. "Thank you and keep the change." She liked the barsmaid and was happy to have a real conversation.

Alexandra smiled, "Thank you very much Miss...?" she realized, as she pocketed the spare coin, she didn't even know the other woman's name. "I'm sorry I did not ask earlier, how very rude of me."

"It's fine. I'm Clara Brave." She smiled and sipped her second pint. She was happy to have a reason to not get home now. "And you are?"

"Alexandra Roseheart" she replied with an even smile, her blonde hair flowing around her shoulders. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm surprised we haven't met before" she admitted. Almost everyone knew Alexandra, at least by reputation

"I usually keep to myself when u come here." Clara admitted. She never was a people person and only came to see her father.

"Ah" Alexandra said, "Well, now we've met and you know you can always come to me for a cheap drink" she said with a friendly wink. She had a few regulars whom she gave this deal to, but not many

"Thanks a lot." Clara smiled and finished her pint. "I better get going before my aunt comes to find me. Thanks for the talk." She got up and started to leave. She was happy for the distraction.

"Never a problem, any time really" Alexandra admitted with a shrug, "Have a nice night, Clara" she called out as the girl started to leave, emptying the pub of everyone besides herself.

Clara nodded at Alexandra and waved. She had a lecture to hear when she got home now.

Long days led to long nights. With the sun beating down upon the city of Itola, and far too many impatient clients to attend to, it was fair to say Ambrose was at his wit's end. As was his usual, he'd begun his day just as the sun began to peek above the horizon. Spending the majority of the morning gathering various documents for his days work had proved rather-- trying. The blond male couldn't quite recall the last time his work had been quite to out of order, and he had to wonder about the cause of such. But of course he knew; Ambrose understood himself well enough to know without much thought. The realisation, which he daren't even begin to think of in actual detail, plagued his mind for the rest of the day. He saw a familiar face in all those that passed him by in the street; his mind wandered when he was meant to be focusing on his work; the day dragged on to the point of feeling as if an entire week had passed him by in the span of one day. By the time his work for the day was completed, Ambrose was much in need of some type of relief. Which was why on his way back to his family's home he found himself stopping into the familiar pub, taking up a seat within one of the most out of the way corners possible. His tolerance for for the company of another living being was dangerously low. But for now, this was the only place he could find solace from his thoughts.

"How's your day sir?" Alexandra asked with a blatantly fake smile on her lips, "Have you come to enjoy a pint of ale? Or perhaps some roasted chicken?" She asked. Chicken was their special. It was served almost every day on account of their being an overpopulation of chickens in the city. She leaned back against the barrels of alcohol, crossing her arms over her corseted chest, watching him evenly as if daring him to let his eyes dip to her breasts so that she may deny him whatever he wished to order

Fingers were slowly massaging at each temple when the voice arose close by, drawing Ambrose's lips into a thin line. What exactly had he been expecting? To go ignored only to give him valid reason for the annoyance he was feeling? To give him an excuse to lash out and actually express said annoyance in some open manner? The man knew very well that he wouldn't expect that in such an establishment; the staff were far too accommodating-- which in and of itself was somewhat bothersome. Slowly he lowered his hands to rest upon the table before him, turning a cold gaze in the direction of the voice. It was his default expression; one he had trained himself to display in any sort of situation. And by the look on the young girl's face, Ambrose was more than aware of what she expected. But it wasn't in his nature to give into what other's believed to be the next course and even still...he had no interest to begin with. "There's no need to ask after my day when it's obvious you have no real interest in such," he answered back with a tone that matched his gaze. "And the chicken will be fine, thank you."

Alexandra slipped into the back, taking a chicken from over the fire and taking off the wings and thighs, setting it atop a mostly clean plate. Not like their was much around to use. Walking back up the the bar, she set the plate down in front of him, grabbing a mug from beneath the bar and opening the spigot of ale, filling the container to the brim, a small amount of the golden liquid sloshing over the sides. Once again, she set this down in front of him, returning to her reclined position against the barrels

During the small amount of time Ambrose then had to himself, his gaze began to wander about the small pub. He couldn't quite recall the last time he'd paid the establishment a visit lasting more than a handful or so of minutes. Every once in a while, he'd tag along with his father or older brother-- never once staying longer than he felt was necessary. Not being one for social interactions, the man tended to sneak out once his father and brother had two or three glasses of ale in them both. Sitting there now-- he could admit that it wasn't all that bad; there were only a scattering of other patrons, most sticking to their own conversations and areas of the pub. When the barmaid returned with his food, as well as a glass of ale, Ambrose was noticeably surprised by the quick service. He offered a nod as a silent form of thanks before turning his attention to the plate before him. It wasn't one of the cleanest, then again perhaps his upbringing had made him picky, but overall Ambrose was rather pleased. Just as he was reaching for the chicken itself, the blond raised his gaze to meet the young girl once again. "Do you make it a habit," he began in a low voice, tearing off a piece of the chicken meticulously, "to watch your customer's eat?"

"There's not much else to do, is there?" Alexandra replied flatly, "Also that will be three coins." Her brows furrowed slightly, as this man was irking her. She wanted to drink her own pint of ale, but unfortunately, that was frowned upon while she was on shift. She looked out of one of the windows, watching the sun finally slip beneath the horizon. Soon her replacement would be here, thank goodness

A sigh of exasperation was heaved from strained lungs. How long had he been holding in that breath? Ambrose wasn't all too sure. Perhaps it had only been a handful of seconds, perhaps a full minute-- All he knew was that the ache of having done so was slowly beginning to ebb, leaving him with the task of reverting his attention back to the young woman. Well, she had a bit of an attitude on her didn't she? Not that the man wasn't all that surprised by it; most of the women that worked in these types of places were a bit, how should he say, rougher around the edges. So, he simply quirked a brow at her responding question before fishing into his pocket for the exact amount of coins. Once he placed them on the table, he finally took a bite of the chicken, only speaking once he had thoroughly chewed the meat and swallowed. "I suppose you'd be correct in that assessment. But I assure you, it's not all that entertaining watching me." Of course, he kept his tone cool, expression just as blank as it had been since he stepped through the door. Remember your manners, came his mother's voice at the back of his mind. But when, exactly, was the last time he did as he was told?

Alexandra rolled her eyes at the man. While he wasn't lude and seemingly wasn't a sexist pig either, he was an arrogant and rude guy, of which she did not approve.
With a sigh, she stood up and grabbed the barrel which was low on ale and carried it into the back room. Then, with slightly more of a struggle, she brought a new one back in to replace the old.

It was actually a bit of an effort for Ambrose to hold back a bout of laughter, the girl's obvious frustration coming across as more amusing than anything else. But of course he wouldn't actually give into that urge. The blond hadn't laughed in public in well over two years by then. Choosing to clear his throat as quietly as he was able instead, he turned his attention back to his food. Every once in a while Ambrose would find his gaze wandering back to the girl. It was clear that they were understaffed that evening, and he felt a twinge of sympathy for her. "Is it common for a young woman such as yourself to be working all alone?" He questioned when she was once again in ear shot, his gaze remaining lowered.