New Start (OPEN)

[Matt Breaker]

The air was cold and crisp as the sun started to set over the city, causing an eerie gloom to fall over the grubby alleyway. Rats scurried about from trash can to trash can, looking for their next meal. At the edge of the alley was a man. He appeared to be in his early twenties, though that was not true. The man clung to the side of the cardboard box that he was huddled inside of; desperately trying to keep any warmth that was still left in his body. The man, Matthew James Breaker, appeared to be the spitting image of a homeless Clad Michael Murray; well a ragged, malnourished, half dead version of him anyway. Matt smiled grimly at his thoughts. If only the humans really knew that the famous man really looked like Matt and not the other way around; they would be in for a big surprise.

He had been out of hiding for nearly three weeks now, hoping to start a new life. He had wanted to find a job and be able to live a somewhat human existence, but it seemed that that was impossible. With every job now days wanting a LEAST a high school diploma, he hadn’t found even a hard labor task to do. It wasn't as if he was an uneducated man, he had just never gone to high school. The schooling that he had attained had been from his parents and later his two mentors. He knew how to read, write, and to math very well; it came easy to him. That did not matter to the big and fancy employers; however, they wanted that stupid piece of paper showing that you graduated. ’Oh yes…I’m going to walk up to them and say…sorry but I was born in 1717…there was no such things as High School diplomas at that time…yeah right. They would place me in a Looney bin for sure.’ Matt thought as he chuckled to himself quietly.

A jagged cough erupted out of Matt’s sore throat. Even though Matt was a non-human with no definite age limit, it never meant that he could not die. Without the proper food or shelter, he could get weak and sick; causing an unnatural death for the reptillian like shape-shifter. Not that that really mattered to Matt in the slightest. After all, what did he have to live for? Was there something that he was meant to do in life? Yeah right. The only thing that he had ever done was hurt and let others down. It was what he was good at. The simple act of him being around others caused them to get hurt, so it was better that he just allowed himself to die; it would do the world a favor. Even as he thought that, a nagging feeling came into his mind. Maybe he wasn’t meant to harm others, but help. Maybe it wasn’t his fault that everyone he had ever cared about was cut down; like meat in a butcher’s shop. Matt slowly shook his head. He had always wanted to help others, but now he felt that he couldn’t. That he was unable to.

’It’s almost too late…if I stay the night out in this weather, I’ll probably die anyways. What is the use in fighting your own fate? Especially when you have nothing to fight for?’ He pondered his thoughts for a moment. When he had decided to come back into the world again, instead of living in the shadows, he had thought that it wouldn’t be hard to adapt to a modern life style. Now he realized that it was almost impossible. All Matt wanted was somewhere to belong. Somewhere that he could make a difference and start a new life for himself. Was that really too much to ask? ”If I could have one wish now…it would be.” He paused his quiet murmurings to himself as he gathered his thoughts. ”I would want to have a home…and friends…that is what I would wish for.” he finished quietly as he drifted off into a cold, shivering, sleep.

[Drake Night]

Drake had been having a wonderful evening. The Cirque had stopped in a new time and it was crowded enough for him to have a chance at fresh blood instead of the horrid stale type kept at Way Stations, and he had found the most delightful brunette to feed on. His thirst quenched and his appearance clean and cut as usual, he made his way back to his temporary home. But those plans were quickly crushed when he crossed a box where a very distinct scent crossed his mind. It was some form of subhuman, but not one he had crossed before. He'd met werewolves, witches, even a snake boy, but this one was different.

Drake's mind crossed back to Bijou, he often lectured the girl for her habit of picking up strays. And here he was, about to pick up one himself. "Hey, are you alright?" The faintest trace of an accent could be heard from his long since gone human days, but the aura of power and authority never left his presence.

[Matt Breaker]

Matt's eyes opened as he heard a voice speak. Usually he would have simply ignored the passerby and allowed himself to shrink back into his usual attitude of cold indifference, but he vaguely realized that something was different about this visitor. He peeked his head out enough for him to see and that was when the man's scent hit him in full force.

Even in his weakened state, he would recognize the scent of this type of non-human anywhere. 'Vampaneze...' He thought, feeling his eyes shift in a defensive way. Instead of their usual blue color, now Matt's eyes were Golden and looked very reptilian; like a snake or lizard. Matt's blood felt like it was boiling with anger as he looked at the unknown Vampaneze male.

The images of Matt's past flew through his mind like a home video. The man standing over his parents' lifeless bodies, blood coming from his mouth as he smiled at his act. The broken corpses of his two Pyro-Shifter mentors, Henry and Leila, as a group of three Vampaneze brutally murdering them before his very eyes.

Above all things, Matt despised the Vampaneze. They had taken everything that he had ever cared about away from him. "Stay away from me...Vampaneze." Matt voiced harsh but weak all the same time. If this guy wanted to hurt or kill Matt, now was the time; while Matt was too weak to really fight back.

[Drake Night]

Drake quirked an eyebrow at the small shuffles and watches the boy peak his head out and his eyes change colors. He couldn't help the small smirk that crossed his face as the boy recognized his scent, but didn't change the spark of worry when he realized just how weak the boy was. The Vampaneze cursed himself for actually caring, but kept his mind as neutral as possible. "I'm not going to hurt you, child." Drake had a natural holier-than-thou attitude with everyone, and the Shifter was no exception. "You need help, I know where you can get some." Drake glanced around by instinct, finding the area deserted, and he thanked God for that. Knowing his luck, the kid was weak and frightened, and he'd half to drag him to get help kicking and screaming. He knew that most of the Cirque didn't trust his motives, but what was nicer than helping some child find a place to stay? He couldn't think of any, and he needed to earn others trust.

[Matt Breaker]

Matt glared as the Vampaneze called him a child. Not only was he in the presence of an enemy, but he was being belittled by him as well. "Watch who you call 'Child' Vampaneze..." Matt said, his voice deadly quiet as he spoke. He was not going to allow his this man to look down on him.

Matt spat at Drake's feet as he said he was not going to be harmed. 'Who does this guy think he is? Vampaneze are simple killing machines...that's all.' He thought to himself as he looked at the man. "Why am I supposed to believe you? I've seen what your...kind...does." Matt said, each word coming out of clenched teeth. He could feel the inhuman side of his starting to come forth as an effort to protect himself. He was holding it back, knowing that the shift itself would drain him of his remaining energy. The last thing he needed was to black out in front of this Vampaneze.

Another cough seeped through Matt's throat as he looked at Drake, refusing to break eye contact. 'If he thinks he's taken me anywhere...he has another thing coming...' He said as he glared at Drake, his golden eyes alight with furry.

[Drake Night]

Drake rolled his eyes, he had lived lifetimes and was sure that his age dwarfed the boys. "Then what should I call you? My name is Drake, by the way." He had learned over the years that by telling your name to someone it could cause fear or comfort depending on who it was, and he was curious about his reaction.

The blatant stereotyping made him scoff. "My kind, hm? That's strange, because that's what I thought about humans. Made them easier to kill." A smirk crossed his face but quickly faded as he said, "Until the Cirque came along, I only kill when I need to feed, and for the moment you're safe. But you are injured, and need help. So would you like me to show you to some friends-human for the most part-who can help you? Or would you rather stay out here, in the cold?"

[Matt Breaker]

Matt narrowed his eyes as the Vampaneze introduced himself. It was unusual for any form of normality when it came to Vampaneze; at least that was what Matt had experienced. He knew one thing, though, he wasn't allowing this guy to say his first name, so he decided to use his surname instead. "You can call me Breaker." Matt hated to give out his name, even his last name, to Drake; but he did so because he was not going to allow himself to be called child anymore.

Matt felt more of himself shift as Drake mentioned how easily it was for him to kill humans. This angered Matt to no end. Matt lips curled back in a snarl, showing that his canine teeth had grown a bit. The weakened man grunted as he tried to hold back the urge to shift fully, which was costing him more energy. Backing away from Drake so his inhuman side was less threatened, he shakily stood, using the grimy wall for maintaining his balance.

"I don't need your help...or anyone's. Why do you care anyway? I'm just a danger to you and others...mind as well leave me to die." Matt said, utter resolve in his voice. He did not care about his own well being, feeling as though the world would be better off without him in it. Though what he really wanted in this world was a place to call home...to be truly accepted for what he was; but he thought that that could never happen.

Dark spots flooded Matt's vision as he strength gave out and he collapsed onto the cold ground.

[Drake Night]

Drake felt a pang of irritation but took a deep breathe to prevent himself from snapping at Matt. Although he did raise an eyebrow as the boy stood, surprised that he even could. He wasn't sure how to react when Matt started to shift, so he stayed where he was waiting for something to happen. "We're all a danger in some way or another, Barker." His words faded as the boy stumbled, and Drake used his inhuman speed to catch him before he fell completely. Wrapping one arm around his waist, he gingerly pulled Matt's arm around his own shoulder, making it look to any onlookers as though he was helping a friend who had had to much to drink.

With a rueful laugh Drake muttered, "Besides, I don't like death. To much left to chance, murder is another thing all together." Some people were born for what they became, Drake was good at killing. He lived for it, but it didn't do much for when he wanted people to trust him.

[Matt Breaker]

As Matt was being carried, he was reliving the horrid memories that caused him to hate Drake like he did. He felt as if he was in his own personal hell. Though because of his abilities, he was still able to sense were he was a bit. 'Great I could be killed right no be able to defend myself...' He thought as he sunk farther into the blackness that was Matt's nightmares.

ooc: by the way...from 10:30pm and on I won't be online. Darksiders 2 is coming out and I'm going to the midnight premier.

[Drake Night]

Drake couldn't help the inward sigh he released, his pride jabbing at his mind. Here he was, an ancient and powerful Vampaneze, slayer of thousands, carrying an injured child to be helped. The very idea of anyone doing that repulsed him, to have to care and worry about another being. It was that very hatred of those sort of emotions that kept him from siring an assistant.

Gritting his teeth he began to flit back to the Cirque, cursing himself for burning such energy but knowing all to well that time was off the essence. So he ran, past buildings and through streets until the various arrangements of tents and trailers came into his view and he slowed down. Frowning at the half conscious man in his arms, he glanced around. Should he take him to Bijou, she was rather talented with first aide and her telepathy would make it easier to asses the boy. Or perhaps he should bring him straight to Mr.Tall.

[Matt Breaker]

Matt regained conscious a bit as Drake slowed down. He lifted his head and look around a bit. "Where in God's name did you bring me...Vampaneze." He hissed out weakly as he looked at the Cirque. He truly had seen nothing like it. He seen people that he could tell were not normal. Having people like that near him was a bit weird. Since he had spent nearly all of his inhuman existence hiding in the dark shadows of the world, he never had given thought to the fact that there might be people that chose to live in the light.

He was disturbed by Drake holding him up, but Matt knew all too well that he couldn't carry his own weight at the moment. As much as he hated it, he had to allow this guy to help him. Cursing silently he glanced at Drake; his eyes still that golden color.

"Are we just gonna stand here...or is there an actually place that we are going?" He asked as he grumbled a bit. He was slightly irritated, of course that was not surprise.

[Drake Night]

Drake held back a snarl at Matt's attitude and as kindly as he could-which wasn't very-replied, "The Cirque Du Freak, and I'd suggest that you'd be nice around here." Ignoring the curious glances and open gawking he quickly went towards his trailer, knowing that Bijou had already picked up on the thoughts around camp of his return. He'd have to tell Mr.Tall of the events at a later date.

Drake quickly cleared his thoughts, careful of the Oracle picking up on something she didn't like. Glancing down at Matt he muttered, "Guard your thoughts, she's a curious one." Shifting Matt in his arms, he knocked twice quickly on the door before opening it and stepping into the small trailer and setting Matt down at the edge of Bijou's bed and smirking at her before leaving.

[Matt Breaker]

Matt looked around. 'Cirque du Freak?...Cirques of Freaks...interesting.' Matt thought as he looked around. "I have no problem being nice, Drake...just not to killers." Matt muttered as he kept his eyes moving. He hated seeing things with his golden, reptilian, eyes. Everything was color distorted.

Matt took heed to Drake's warning and instantly covered his mind so that the person, whoever they were, couldn't not hear this thoughts. Matt let out a groan of relief as Drake set him down and left. He immediately felt a bit more comfortable; without the Vampaneze male around. He looked at Bijou slightly. "Hello..." He said quietly as he glanced at her.

[Bijou Wilks]

Bijou had been completely enthralled with her latest sketch-a lovely dove that she had seen earlier-that she barely even noticed the ramblings of the Cirque's thoughts. Until they became collective, that is. Her ears had perked at the mention of Drake, and soon she heard the echoes that he had brought someone else along for the ride. By the judgement's cast, she was more than ready to yell at him about bringing a meal back. The very thought of him having to take a life disturbed her enough, if he thought he could actually do it in front of her, he had another thing coming.

She was caught up in how she should word her lecture that she didn't register the Vampaneze's arrival until the door swung open. Raising an eyebrow she watched him place a boy around her age down and leave with a smirk directed at her. Her eyes followed his movements as he walked out, his leaving thoughts stating that if he gave her any trouble to yell. Bijou turned her attention then to the boy, eyes widening after a moment. He was blank, not a single peep from him until he spoke aloud. For the first time in her life, Bijou couldn't hear a persons thoughts, and it scared her to death. "H-hello."

[Matt Breaker]

Matt looked a bit confused as she spoke to him. At least to him, she seemed startled. "Is there something wrong?" He asked as he looked at her. Was it his eyes that startled her? He hoped not because he was still to much on edge to allow his eyes to back to their normal color. Though he had the feeling that it was something else entirely.

He shook his head slowly as he looked around the tent, studying the things around him. He was actually quite curious about about the place that Drake had brought him as well as the girl he was now by. "I'm Matt by the way...Matt Breaker." He said politely as he looked at her, extending his hand to her. He was very polite and welcoming to anyone who was not a Vampaneze, but cold and hateful to though who were.