Fragile (Drake)

[tori]

I've been walking around all day, thinking.
I think i have a problem, I think I think too much.
I've been taught to hold back my tears and avoid them.
But you've made pain into something I could touch.

I've been walking around all day, laughing.
Think I'd be better off without you here, and I bet you are sweet and hard to get over.
So I'll cry and people will stop and stare.
Now thats ok, let them stop and stare...

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Tori could not wait to see Fox again.

It was odd for her to think about it. It was unusual for her antisocial self to want to see someone again. But she did. She wanted to see Fox again; better yet, she couldn't wait to see him again. It wasn't like her. None of this was like her.

She didn't want friends, and yet she had agreed to go with Fox and meet some new people. She didn't want to be around anyone that could hurt her, and yet she was going to be hanging around Erika and Crepsley as they traveled to, of all places, Vampire Mountain. That was probably the most dangerous place she had ever been in her life. Aside from her father's house, of course.

Apparently this was the time for her to step outside of the comfortable shell she had spent her entire life inside. Between the friends she had made and the friends she would make... She definitely wasn't acting like the scared little girl she had been molded into since birth. And, for some reason, that was okay to the young woman.

She was in the big top now, her wings extended and flapping about as she cleaned the mats and made sure everything was ready for the next performance. The couple who normally did maintenance had asked her to cover for them while they "went off and explored" the nearby woods. Tori did not believe them for one minute, but she had accepted the job. She was not one who could say no, and this would help her get her mind off of things.

As she cleaned, a little song started to make its way past the girl's lips. It was soft, sung in almost a whisper, but it was a comfort to her. It was a way to past the time.

[Drake Night]

I will stand by you, I will help you through

The sun had just set when Drake stepped into the 'Big Top' as some called it, making sure everything was in order. It was something that he did often and the set up crew had gotten used to his presence. But instead of walking into a young couple trying to rip out each others tonciles, the vampaneze was met with a angel of sorts. "Hello there...."

When you've done all that you could by yourself

[tori]

Tori jumped at the unexpected voice, her wings pressing close to her back. She whirled, bringing the broom up slightly, as if it was the only protection she had. True, it was the only protection, but it wasn't a very good one. 

Especially considering who her "guest" was. 

The young woman stared up at the Vampaneze, her green eyes wide and wary. It had taken her a while, but Tori had finally learned the difference between the Vampires and the Vampaneze. And, though the man - Drake, she believed his name was - had not yet hit the stage where his physical features completely changes, she still knew he was a Vampaneze. Mostly through conversations not meant for her ears. But the fact was the same. 

She knew he drained his victims dry. 

But holding a position of defense wasn't exactly polite, so Tori quickly, quietly, lowered the broom. There was a distrustful look in her eye, but the young woman never would have spoken on it. It wasn't polite to. 

"Good... Good evening, sir..."

[Drake Night]

Drake rolled his eyes, it seemed word of his 'kind' had spread to even the most fragile of people. It brought him back to a few weeks ago when his Bijou convinced Mr.Tall to let him stay, and the hate filled looks when she showed him around. She kept his hand in hers as a way to strengthen her physic connection with him trying to block out the rude thoughts of those around her.
"You can call me Drake." He hated the fear in some peoples eyes, when he wasn't with Bijou people acted as though he was going to kill them all or something. What they didn't understand-and he would never admit-was that he hadn't taken a life since he joined the Cirque. Oracle had made him promise to only do so if he had no other choice, it was the only way Mr.Tall would let him stay.

[tori]

She could see the disgust in his eyes, and immediately lowered her owns. Her wings drew in close, pressing against her back in an almost protective manner. The look reminded her of her father, of the way he had stared and sneered every time she dared to let her wings experience more than the inside of a coat. The look had been followed by a nasty word or something meant to bring her lower even farther than she already felt. 

Tori swallowed back her obvious fear, risked a glance up at his face. "Victoria Ashwood, sir..." she murmured, biting her lip lightly. Her wings gave a gentle rustle; she pinned the back with a little more force. 

She couldn't risk getting them hurt anymore. 

"I apologize for the, um... the aggression I showed earlier. I'm just a very jumpy person, and I did not mean to insult you."

There. She had covered all her bases. 

[Drake Night]

That made Drake laugh, but not in a rude way. He took a step closer to her, hands up in a 'I surrender' like way. He had done this around children and animals to show that he meant no harm.
That look in her eyes worried Drake, it was the same of some of the blood slaves some Vampaneze sometimes had. It was when older ones had enough will to stop feeding so that they may repeat the meal. It was the look of terror, and Drake hated it. "Its all right, you don't have to be afraid. Anyone bothers you and I'll talk to them." His smile was friendly, some might call it charming. Strange thing was, he meant his words. Bijou would never forgive him if he lifted a finger in violence when it wasn't needed, so he would only use words.

[tori]

He took a step towards her, and immediately Tori matched it for one backwards. It was habit, as much as she hated to admit it. It was instinct. If someone came near her, she retreated almost instantly. It kept her on the submissive side, and allowed them to believe they were stronger and they held the power. 

"I, um... That's very kind of you, sir," Tori risked another quick glance at his face, a worried look in her eyes. She allowed her wings to relax slightly at the posture his body held. 

She had learned a long time ago how to read body language. 

"But most of those at the Cirque have been nothing but kind to me. It's not really necessary to talk to anyone." She hesitated, then quickly added, "Sir."