Dancing through the forest.

[Jyo]

As the night life of Celestial forest went about it's business, another form joined in with all the night creatures. It appeared to be a beautiful young blond woman. She almost seemed to glide along the ground as she moved through the trees and he blue eyes glittered when they reflected the light of the moon.

Melissa Vanderhost looked up through the canopy of the forest into the twinkling night sky and twirled around on her heel which cause her dress to flare out slightly. Her long blond hair trailed behind her as she spun through the forest. None of the animals around her were even disturbed, they had gotten so used to her presence that she might as well be one of them.

Jumping into a tree, Melissa smoothed down her dress as an owl landed on her outstretched arm. Reaching up with her other arm she stroked the birds feathery chest and let out a small sigh.
Such a beautiful night, I've seen so few of them lately. She thought as she allowed the owl to flutter onto her shoulder and nuzzled her head against the avian predator.

[Vince]

Vince wandered, as he did so well, through the forest. He had become, through trial and error, one of the finest scavengers/foragers in the world, and was never one to turn down a free meal. In this case, it seemed to have take the form of an owl, and so, with great care, he shouldered his rifle. He was about to test fate's patience and fire, when he noticed exactly what it had landed on. It looked like a woman, though Vince had learnt never to trust himself on these matters.
"Hey, wotcher!" He shouted to her.
He waved cautiously.

[Jyo]

Melissa had heard the footsteps for a while now, she had ignored them until they had come this way. This was one of the nights she wasn't seeking company, but would gladly accept it if it came her way. Most of the animals scattered when the man arrived, but that meant very little, they weren't used to him as they were Melissa.

Her bright blue eyes looked down at the man introducing himself and she smiled while shrugging gently which caused the owl to fly up into a branch while she slide out of the three and floated down to land in front of this new person.

"Greetings young man, what brings you here?" She asked as she drifted around him talking in the soft sultry voice that caused so many to be captivated by her. He blue eyes were taking in every detail of the person in front of her. It had been a long time since she had spoken with anyone, she was glad for the chance.

[Vince]

Vince raised an eybrow.
"Young man?" He said, somewhat incredulous "Excuse me, ma'am, but I don't think you're in any position to claim seniority over me,"
Well, as far as he could tell.

[Jyo]

Melissa giggled as she twirled in close up behind Vincent and let her head creep up, almost resting on his shoulder as he breath brushed his neck.
"Oh is that so?' She asked in a sing-song voice before twirling away and chuckling.
"I'm over eighty years old." She said while coming around in front of him and turning on the spot.
"I take care of myself." She added.

She gave a small bow.
"My name is Melissa, welcome to my part of the woods, would you perhaps care to come and rest your head somewhere?' She asked as a smile crossed her lips, she took care not to show her fangs yet, letting him guess was much more fun than telling him anything at this point.

[Vince]

Vince tried to ignore her as she went behind him, though he was always aware of her. A trick he'd learnt after nearly being stabbed in the kidneys.
"Eighty?" He said, eyebrow creeping further up "You've got to be kidding me. You look about twelve!"
Still, he was always one to take advantage of a situation, and you didn't get offered bed and board every day.
One thing did worry him though. Melissa's teeth seemed a lot sharper and longer than they needed to be. The air hissed through them differently, which kinda scared him. Still, what use was looking a gift horse in the mouth?
"I'd love to sleep somewhere, though,"

[Jyo]

Melissa raised her eyebrow and tilted her head.
He must have met some rather developed twelve year olds. She thought, after all, she had been turned in her early twenties, anything but a kid.

"I'll hope you meant that as a compliment" She said with her sultry voice creeping back in and giving a small giggle as she drifted toward the wanderer and gave him a quick smile.
"You know, it's very rude to not introduce yourself to a lady, particularly when she gives her name first." She said softly, almost with the hint of a threat, but still remain as sweet as honey.

[Vince]

"Yes, it is, rather, isn't it?" Replied Vince, ratcheting his voice up a couple of social classes.
He looked into Melissa's blue eyes, looking lost for a moment in the azure. Then he appeared to snap back.
"Oh, riiiight, you were asking me for my name, weren't you?" He said, rolling his eyes at his own apparent stupidity "It's Vince. Vince O'Reilly,"
He grinned from ear to ear.

[Jyo]

Melissa giggled.
"That wasn't too hard now was it Vincent?" She said while keeping the smile in place.
"Maybe you are a nice one." She said as she drifted away and beckoned with her hand.
"Well come along, it's not far, but I do like to be back in during the evening." She said while slowing down to make sure he followed.
"And I'm sure you would love a nice dinner." She added.

I think I won't bite this one, he doesn't seem to be the type I would like to taste of, probably not bad, but he seems more likable alive. She thought as she waited to see if the young man would follow her.

[Vince]

Vince trotted after her, the thought of the faint hiss in her voice and the glimpse of incisors a smilodon'd be proud of ever present. Still, he thought, I imagine real vampires make all kinds of jokes about having good friends at a meal.
He kept grinning and caught up.
"So what's your story?" He said, conversationally.
Well, I hope so.

[Jyo]

Melissa gave a small chuckle.
"Oh my story is hardly an interesting one. I fell in love many a year ago, and the man who I wed passed away and left everything to me. It's rather depressing to tell the truth." She said with a slight wistful tone in her voice. She wasn't lying, but she wasn't telling the whole story.

"So now I live out here in the woods, it's very pleasant, if a little lonely." She commented as she led him to her house. It wasn't very large, four rooms each with a bathroom and a living room, dining room, and a small study. Plus another few comforts, not that one could see them from the outside.
"Not exactly humble, but I like to think of it as quaint." She commented as she opened the door for him.
"Come and rest your feet." She said.

[Vince]

"Much obliged," Said Vince, nodding and slipping inside "I like what you've done with the place. Most people would've gone for the 'crazed hermit' designe but not you,"
He looked down at the carpet, even as his boots shed half their weight in rust on it.
"Nice, very nice,"

[Jyo]

A slight look of annoyance crossed Melissa's face and disappeared in the flash of an eye. She didn't care for the rust shedding off onto the floor, but she could clean it quickly. It was just the fact that she was one who loved a clean house.

"Thank you, I never understood why people felt that one should live uncomfortably when they live away from others." She replied with a smooth smile.
"Allow me to show you to your room. You can get freshened up before dinner." She said as she headed to one of the doors down a hall to their left.

[Vince]

"Brill," said Vince, stepping forwards, but leaving his boots behind.
He slipped in behind her, thick socks masking his footsteps. There wasn't even the catastrophic smell you'd expect. He glanced around the house, making sure none of it would suddenly evaporate. Well, after your first hallucination, you do tend to get a little bit cynical about sudden windfalls.

[Jyo]

Melissa gave a smile as she opened the door to one of the guest rooms. Inside was a twin bed, a desk next to a fireplace with a high backed chair, an closet that Vincent could store his things in and another door that led to a small bathroom.

"Please do get settled in and come on down to the living room when you are done. I should have dinner ready before long." She said with a quick smile before drifting off to her kitchen.

[Vince]

"Great, fine, good," He settled down, dropping his backpack which made an uncharacteristically loud thud.
He leaned his gun up against bedstead and lay down, relishing in the bed. Compared to some, it was heaven. He sighed, getting used to the idea that, at some point, he'd have to go and hating it thoroughly.
"Just out of interest," He called through "but what is for tea?"

[Jyo]

Melissa looked back as Vincent asked what she would be preparing.
"I have some venison that I decided would be nice for dinner, some side dishes and I figured red wine would be fitting." She said with a smile before she attended to preparing dinner and leaving the man to his own activities for the time being.

Once the food was ready and was laid out on the table she would call to Vincent.
"Food is ready." She called. Naturally she would wait for him to arrive before taking her own seat.

[Vince]

Vince was shaken out of his reverie by Melissa. He sat up and swung out of bed in one smooth move, leaving his coat on the bed, and was walking out of the door faster than anyone could've thought possible in socks. He sauntered into the dining room.
"Crikey O'reilley," He said, looking at the food and drink "This beats anything else I've had by a long shot,"
Quite something, bearing in mind he'd once stolen plates from waiters in almost every restaurant he'd been in, and was quite clued up on this.

[Jyo]

Melissa smile sweetly.
"Well then help yourself. Anyone who hasn't had such a meal shouldn't dawdle about when it is sitting there waiting for them. have a seat and enjoy." She said as she sat down and readied herself to eat. She didn't actually need the food, but she could still enjoy the pleasures of a good meal.

Melissa had left a bottle of the red wine for Vincent near his glass, and had another bottle for herself, it was red, but not wine. Melissa kept a private stockpile of the sustenance she really needed constantly chilled and ready to serve.

[Vince]

Vince tucked in, with table manners born of eating every meal of his childhood in the same room as his grandmother, who could outstare a snake and could smack a horse into the ground (according to village legend). In other words, very good, but a little paranoid. He glanced up at Melissa, then briefly at her bottle. He couldn't be certain, but he had a good idea of what was in it.
"So," He said, taking a leap of educated guesses and short observations over a chasm of embarrassment and pain "You're a vampire?"