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This was the only time I ever played Cheryl online.
Merrill smiles a little. "I'm not that good with words. But uh... I think I'll take your advice and head west." She nods. "Put in a good word about me for the highups there, huh?" Merrill says "Don't know if they'll listen to me, but sure." Cheryl grins. "Going to stick around for a few days? I could use a bit of time, get rid of my lesbian rap." She winks. Merrill smiles a little. "Lesbian reputation? I guess I can't comment on that. I haven't heard about it." She giggles. This may be the first time you ever heard a GANGREL sound like a schoolgirl. "Shadow and I are starting to get a few looks locally. Are you interested in helping me out with that?" Merrill brushes one of his own locks back. It falls, over and behind his bandanna. "It isn't like I'm the most masculine hunk you could find." She studies you, then shrugs. "Yeah, but you're still a guy. If you don't want to, that's fine." Merrill says "Well, it's the least I can do, I guess." Merrill says "You want to go on a date or something?" Before you know it, you're out of the house and at one of the local clubs. Merrill is dizzy with the speed. Don't women take a lot of time to get ready? Apparently Cheryl doesn't. The club is close to the house, and her 70s Tbird moves faster than you'd give it credit for. As she pulls into the lot, she turns her head and grins at you. "You ready?" Merrill says "Uh... yeah, sure." Merrill stands up. A club. Terrific. He's never been much of a club hopper. Oh well... Merrill says "I'm not much of a dancer though..." Cheryl looks back at you. "It's OK. Just sit with me and look nervous." Merrill grins. "I can do that." The noise from the club washes over you as you open the car door, and you realize it's...80s music. Naked Eyes is playing, for Caine's sake. Merrill yearns for Pachebel's canon. Merrill wonders if there's a way to reverse heightened senses... Merrill thinks . o O (don't get off guard. Probably a lot of brujah or toreador hang out in there... or would) Merrill passes into the club with Cheryl, just trying to be... well... inconspicuous. He probably sticks out from trying to look so inconspicuous. Naked Eyes stops wailing about being reminded of the singer's ex, and "Rock me Amadeus" comes on. Cheryl winces herself, shaking her head. "80s night. Sorry. For some reason the locals like it." And sure enough, as you walk in everyone looks at you..and then looks twice. Merrill decides to stop being such a baby. He relaxes and grins. "Yeah well. Every decade is sacred, isn't it? Merrill looks back at the people. What do they look like? Does he just look different from them? The headband seems to be in the wrong place. For some reaon, these people are wearing them around their ankles. But they keep looking back and forth from you to Cheryl. For her part, she's waving cheerfully to some of the people at tables. Merrill says "Nice folk, aren't they." She nods obliviously. "Real nice" she yells over the recitation of the dates in Mozart's life. Merrill just hangs with Cheryl. He's not sure what else to do. One of the waitresses brushes past you, giving you a small smile. She's got her hair teased out, bleached in parts, and is wearing a "Boy Toy" belt and rubber bracelets. Merrill thinks . o O (What kind of gangrel would hang out in a place like this?) Cheryl leads you to a somewhat secluded corner, where the speakers don't point directly at you. She sighs. "MUCH better." She pats the place next to her. Merrill sits next to Cheryl. He squeezes into the seat. "Cosy." She grins. "And you're a liar. But it's the place to be seen here. If you don't come by here, they start to wonder. I may be Gangrel, but I'm not stupid. I don't want someone breaking in to see what kinda weirdo I am." Merrill says "They? Who's they?" Merrill says "And why do 'they' care so much if you come down to some obnoxious club regularly or not?" She shrugs. "The Powers That Be in the city, and some here. One reason I'm thinking about moving." Merrill says "Jesus. Couldn't they just beat you once a week and be done with that then making you come out here all the time?" Cheryl laughs! "Good one! I dunno. It keeps the locals happy." She waves to the waitress. "I thinnk one of the town Tories had a Duran Duran crush or something." Merrill says "But I take it that means they come here a lot too..." She nods absently. "Slumming." Merrill says "I can't say I'm in the mood to meet them..." She grins. "I can't say you're missing much." Merrill says "Okay. So I'm here with you on a date, proving you aren't gay..." Cheryl leans a bit closer to you, as if she'd forgotten. "Right." The waitress comes to the table, and looks at you both expectantly. Merrill places his right hand on Cheryl's shoulder. "Uh.. yeah." Merrill looks to the waitress. "Oh uh... I'll have some water to start out with, please?" She nods. "Right...." and looks at Cheryl, who says "I'll have some of Thea's wine." Merrill smiles a little. The waitress takes off, after another look at you. She leans up to the bar and starts whispering. A few more looks are sent your way. Cheryl deliberately leans closer to you, but not to close you feel too uncomfortable. She mutters near your ear "Caine's toenails, they must be bored." Merrill mutters back. "What do you mean?" She shakes her head. "Nothing else to talk about, but they feel like they gotta talk anyway." Merrill says "So why're they lookin' at me like that? Am I really that far out?" She shakes her head. "Small town. New person. They'll get over it." Merrill says "must be damn small." She grins. "That's why I like it. I knew when you hit the borders." She stretches and yawns, rather catlike. Merrill says "You in charge here?" She takes a minute before answering. "I guess you could say that. The highups let me have free run here, so long as they don't have to hear anything." Merrill says "nice setup, I guess. I s'pose you're satisfied." "Kinda. Butit has its real disadvantages." She drops an arm into your lap, in what might look like a seductive pose to people watching. In fact, she's not even really touching you. "Like not being free to move." Merrill says "Mmmm? Oh, your wanderlust I take it. So how you planning on moving out west if you're tied down here?" She grins impishly. "I got ways," she says simply. Merrill nods wanly... Merrill says "I guess so." The waitress returns with your water and "wine." Cheryl offers you a taste. Merrill accepts and sniffs the glass. Blood...smells animal. Merrill takes a slight sip. He stays still during the ecstacy, not letting the thrill betray his face's features... though it tastes somewhat weak, being animal blood. Merrill returns the glass to Cheryl. "So they even serve that stuff here..." You don't feel the cramping painful burn...the animal must not have resisted. Cheryl nods. "The waitress is, well, Thea's slave." Her face betrays her distaste. "I hate it, but if all else fails and hunting's bad, I can eat here." Merrill says "who is Thea?" Cheryl shakes her head. "One of the minor Tories. The one who owns this place." Merrill says "I see." Merrill nods wanly. He sips at his water, more for appearance's sake that anything else. The night is over faster than it seems possible. Cheryl doesn't ask anything of you you can't give, and over time the locals stop staring. If it weren't for the extended remixes and bad covers, you might even be able to relax. Almost dawn, and Cheryl stads with you at the top of the steps. She smiles..oddly shy. "Thanks. Ya know. Can I get you anything?" Merrill shakes his head and smiles a little. "No, I'm fine... I'll see you tomorrow evening." Merrill says "I hope I helped your rep a bit. (he smiles)" She nods. "You did. I can get you bus tickets in the evening for Asheville...one that'll take you pretty straight there." Merrill nods. "Thanks." She hesitaes. "Listen...what do you know about lupies?" Merrill says "Stay out of the countryside when they're there." She nods. "Stay in the city up there, unless you can earthmeld." Merrill says "I'm afraid no gangrel has graced me with teaching me that power..." She grins. "Pity. Before you learn that, though, ya gotta learn to SEE." She shakes her head. "Stay in the city. It's pretty up in the hills, but damn dangerous." Merrill says "I hear you." Merrill smiles. She nods, and offers her hand, palm up. "If you ever need a place to run, and you're in this state, tell the Gangrel Cheryl sent you. It might help you." Merrill says "Alright... thanks. I wish I could give you a similar hand but uh... Caitiff don't stick together so well." Merrill realizes: "That's why she's doing all this for me. She thinks I don't know anything, that i really am clanless. i guess I would do the same..." She shrugs. "Ya never know. Sleep well." She turns and heads out into the lightening sky, presumably to sleep in the soil. Merrill climbs into his room, glad he doesn't have to bury himself by hand again.
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