[b]Klaus[/b]
[justify][indent]The woman had made herself out to be all too human. What started as bait--a fruity drink and a wink from across the bar--had grown into an actual connection. An experience. They had retreated from the bar to sit at a table, Klaus leaning in to listen to her words, not her heartbeat: she wasn't single, but she needed time away from the boyfriend. She was a construction worker and took dance lessons. The allure was much more than that, however, and Klaus was drawn to more than these things that reminded him of someone from long ago. The woman was refreshingly witty, and she was turned off to his flirting. By the end of the early evening, he was simply listening. At least, until the drinks weren't satisfying his thirst any longer. 

His lips tightened and his dark eyes flickered away as he cut her off. "Love, I need to go." Klaus tilted his head back, downing the rest of the alcohol that barely worked. 

Her own gaze filled with confusion. "What is it? I thought we...were having fun," she said carefully, suddenly insecure. 

"Too much fun," he agreed as he stood. He watched her watching him, however, and the exhaustion grew to his face. He leaned over to kiss her, but she returned it, her lips far more hard and passionate. Suddenly her heartbeat was ringing in his ears, and he abruptly pulled away. They watched each other for a moment, and he smacked his lips, looking away. "I'm sorry." He said no more and left the bar.

Outside, Klaus drew in a long breath of fresh air. He had delayed on feeding to [i]talk[/i] to some woman who tasted like cigarettes. "Idiot," he muttered to himself. A couple suddenly eyed him as they walked by, heels clicking on the pavement. He grinned until they turned to each other to exchange perplexed glances, and he rolled his eyes. He stood there, debating his next move for the night when a light breeze carried the scent to him: blood. Immediately his head turned in the direction it came from, eyes seeming to glint red under the streetlight. He glanced around once, adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves, and then sauntered off after the aroma. 

[i]Crack![/i] What he didn't quite recognize as the squashing of a skull had Klaus pause in his walk. Eyes narrowed, he peered at the entrance of the alley, quiet as he listened. [color=C24641]"That'll teach ya, bloody fuckin' stray. Step on family turf an' get dusted."[/color] 

Realization flickered across his narrow face, and he took that as his cue to leave. Klaus was almost sure he recognized the voice as a Binachi or Smith, but he had been in and out of the family's hospitality so often over the last several centuries that he wasn't confident he'd be well greeted by a younger one. So, quietly, he stepped back. Sure, he was hungry, but it was apparent the blood was already claimed. So the older vampire relented and was content with finding a meal for himself. After one more step back, he turned on his heel--

And the woman from the bar bumped into him and fell back onto the pavement. "Ow, hey, Klaus," she greeted quickly. "Look, I don't know what I said back there, but--"

Klaus knelt to quickly help her up, spinning her around and pushing her forward as he walked, interrupting her with a spew of cliches. "I'm not looking for a relationship right now, love. It's not you, it's me. I prefer men. And right now, you should go home." He glanced back as she shook him off, bristled, and she opened her mouth to snap at him.
[/indent][/justify]