Blood and Absinthe ((Eric/Anouk))

[Anoushka bint Amir]

As the dancing slowed down (Anouk never thought that would happen,) the fangbangers, tired and worn, retired to their beds; Anouk was still at the bar. Her finger traced the edges of an empty absinthe glass that was filled with Tru Blood and La Fee Verte- her favorite beverage next to actual blood. The sun was timed to come out in an few hours or so, Anouk felt she should have filed her way out of Fangtasia with the rest of the crowd. But, Anouk not letting her night go to waste, decided to stay there a bit longer and dilly-dally at the bar a bit.

The barkeep nodded to her, wondering if she'd like another glass of her drink, Anouk reluctantly accepted, actually ordering two. One for her, one for a guest. Setting the extra drink on a napkin next to her, seeing Eric across the dance floor. As the floor was almost barren, except a few, she decided to call out his name, seeing if he would respond. So, she did it, though she wasn't sure whether to call him Eric, Sheriff, Mr.Northman, or any other crazy combination of names. Anouk decided Mr.Northman.

"Mr. Northman, care for a drink?"
She hollered across the club, hoping he would actually come instead of blowing her off. If not, she did have two drinks she could drown herself in before retiring to bed.

[Eric Northman]

"Mr. Northman, care for a drink?"

"That was my father and I hated him. Call me Eric," he said with a smile playing on his lips. He was drawn to this vampire for some reason; not romantically althought she was very beautiful but his heart was set on someone else. She had an aura of wisdom, something was seriously lacking in some of the vampires he knew.

"What brings you to Shreveport, Luisiana? It's not exactly the holiday destination for many," he said with a confident smirk. The bar was starting to clear from the many nuisances who had bothered him earlier and that made Eric very glad. He was in no mood to humor anyone, at least not until Pam returned with the information he desperately needed.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

Anouk smiled, this one wasn't made of marble after all, though his flawless, pale skin could say otherwise.
"Eric it is. I hope you don't mind O blood."
She motioned to the drink in front of him.
"In Paris, we would usually set an absinthe sp.oon on top, light it on fire, pour the water over it and drink. But, we don't have the pleasure of an absinthe sp.oon or sugar. So..."
Anouk took a rather large swig of her drink.
"We just drink."
Despite being undead, absinthe still gave her a bit of a buzz mixed with the blood, she only wished it was around when she was human.
His question though was a question running through her head as well.
Why had she left New Orleans. Well, it was getting a bit hectic, but she had always loved it. Anouk got to taste exotic Creole blood, hang out in the best bars and enjoy old fashioned southern living. She had already sold her place in Orleans, and was stuck here, but she wasn't too upset with that.
"Well, I was living in New Orleans since 1925, but I decided I had enough with the big city and decided to relocate somewhere a little quieter. I have an attraction to Creole and Cajun blood, reminds me of Spanish blood with a slight hint of Ghana for some odd reason. The entire south has a very warm taste, never really liked Yankee blood. It's a bit sour, especially Boston. Never liked Irish blood, too cloying."
Anouk was just talking, it was nice to finally talk to someone with a little sense and wasn't newly sired with no knowledge of the world.
"I guess you could say I'm looking for something different."
She smirked a bit, and took another drink from her glass.
"So, Eric, how long have you been Sheriff if I may ask?"

[Eric Northman]

"Eric it is. I hope you don't mind O blood."

"No, that's fine." He said and watched her explain the many ways to drink absinthe which he found amusing. He was not one for drinking human alcohol but he could appreciate the subtleties of it.

"I for one love the Irish blood. There is something so musky and heavenly about the taste of the Irish. It must be cause of their Catholic blood and all those pints of Guiness," Eric responded with a quick laught before his mind was drawn to the image of Scarlett again. Yes, blood Irish blood was the most delious thing he had ever tasted.

"Well-travelled and smart, I like that. I must try to get out of Luisiana more as they say, travelling broadens the mind." He laughed again, taking a sip of his O negative drink that the bartender had placed infront of him.

"So, Eric, how long have you been Sheriff if I may ask?"

"Too long and not long enough." Eric said cryptically. He was not the longest serving sheriff around but he had been here long enough to mark his territory.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

Anouk couldn't stop smiling as he spoke, he was very sociable to her surprise. Fan of the Irish, Anouk didn't agree but they could still drink together, Tru Blood has no nationality, which is why it lacked in flavor to her. Anouk was so well traveled she could tell where a person was simply by tasting their blood.

"If you've lived as long as I have, you have to travel. I can't even recall all the places I've lived, but I've been to every Continent minus Antarctica. I love the cold, but getting a boat down there is so difficult."
Anouk chuckled after she said this, she felt herself warming up a bit, hearing the ice cracking.
"It does, you see new things, meet new people, taste new people. Of course, before we all went mainstream being a vampire wasn't the safest. I've had many homes and villas burnt down or destroyed because the locals found out what we were. But humans will be human, afraid of everything different than them."
Yes, humans will be human. One of the reason she had a problem with them, most of them at least.
"How are you liking your drink? I know Absinthe can be a bit much for a first time drinker, but you must say the bite is stronger than your own most likely." The music in the background faded a bit, became a bit slower less thrashy as the dancing slowed and people paired up instead of one giant sea of bodies.

[Eric Northman]

"I have lived in many places as well, everywhere and nowhere. As you say, humans used to make it extremely difficult to stay long anywhere. My favourite was this little town in the north of England called Preston. Too bad it became to dangerous to live in, with the rise of football violence and unemployment. Trust me, you don't want to get in the middle of hundreds of drunken humans hitting each other with furniture," Eric said laughing at the memory of a brawl he had gotten in the middle of in early 20th century where he had almost gotten staked.

"Yes the drink is fine. Not the hardest stuff that I have downed in my years but spicy enough," he said taking another sip.

"Vampire to vampire, how many have you sired?" Eric asked with a mischevious tone of voice. True this Scarlett issue was waining on him heavily but it didn't mean he couldn't joke about being a maker.

There was nothing more satisfactory than creating eternal life. Pam, well she was Pam. A success. A worthy partner in business and life. Scarlett, well that was another story he didn't wish to think about at the moment.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

Hmm, siring. Touchy subject. Well, not exactly touchy but she's had her doubts about it. From what Anouk knew Eric sired Pam, but she wasn't sure she was his only offspring.
"Well, truthfully, in all my years, I've never sired anyone. I was with my maker my entire life up until 100 years ago and we had each other. There is one person I wish I could have sired, but she is long dead."
The person she was talking about was Fatimah of course, and as she said this, her face went from happy to almost droll, wistful. Anouk had a knack for showing emotion on her face very well, you could say beneath the faux stoicism she wore her emotions on her metaphorical sleeve. Anouk wasn't too hot on siring anyone soon, she had one child and nothing could bring her back.
"Though, if I do ever find someone worthy enough, I may have a fledgling of my own one day."
She took another sip of her drink, but after that pounded the rest down, asking the bar keep for another.

[Eric Northman]

"It is a science in itself, the art of selecting a human worthy of being given this amazing gift. Not all can handle it, which is why I believe causion must be used in that. I am very proud of Pam, she is the most excellent offspring, loyal and true," he said, leaving out Scarlett on purpose. No one was to know of her yet, not until they had spoken.

Eric noticed the change in her attitude when subject turning someone had come up. She had opened the door for him to ask but decided against it. He most surely didn't want to discuss Scarlett so maybe it was for the best to change the topic of conversation,

"Do you plan on staying in Shreveport for long or just passing through?" Eric said, aiming for a nonchalant tone of voice. He wanted to return the conversation back into the effortless banter of before.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

Anouk nodded when he spoke about choosing someone to turn, it was difficult. Not everyone was strong enough to handle living forever, some aren't worthy and some just want to be with a vampire, but not be turned into one.
"I only hope the one I choose isn't a fangbanger"
She laughed when she said this, bringing a little lightness back to the atmosphere.
Anouk wasn't sure about staying in Shreveport, but she had a while to decide, she got enough money from Maryam to stay in the hotel for a few months until she got an apartment of her own.
"I think I'm going to stay. I didn't introduce myself to you for nothing. I just need to get out of that hotel and find a place of my own."

[Eric Northman]

"I only hope the one I choose isn't a fangbanger"

"Oh yes, that would be most unfortunate. They are not pure enough for the gift. It's strange but sometimes the most reluctant, makes the best vampires." Eric laughed, enjoying the easy flowing banter. Sometimes even he liked not being so serious and menacing.

"I think I'm going to stay. I didn't introduce myself to you for nothing. I just need to get out of that hotel and find a place of my own."

"It's certainly a place where you don't get bored. There is always something happening," he said finishing his drink. Tonight had been such a stressful one and this was a nice way to unwind from that.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

Anouk nodded wholeheartedly, taking a swig of her fresh drink. She drank about 2 Tru Bloods since the beginning of the night, feeling a bit full but didn't want to waste her money.
"I do often hope to be able to share this gift with someone someday, but till then I drink and enjoy un-life."
She smiled, feeling her human humor come out once again in the bar. She felt at home, oddly enough.

(Crap post, sorry D: ))

[Eric Northman]

"Yes, I can recommend being a maker. It's like having a child; to mold, to teach and to administer tough love. I do hope you will have a chance to be one," He said with a sly smile on his lips. He honestly believed every vampire should try being a maker, at least once.

"I remember you asking me for a job. Still looking for one?" Eric asked casually. Truthfully, it had only been a few hours since she had asked for one so it was unlikely she would have changed her mind.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

Anouk nodded as she finished her drink, shaking her head when the barkeep went to fill her another one. She pulled out some money, enough to pay for her drinks and set it on the bar.
"I would love a job. Despite the fact I still have money in a few banks, I don't think it'll last long when I pay for my new apartment and seeing how expensive Tru Blood I'll need all the money I can get.
Think I could talk to Pam for a spot?"

[Eric Northman]

"You do that. She's much better at the actual job of running the bar. She handles most day to day stuff. Just tell her that I sent you with my wish that she finds something for you to do around here. I'm sure she'll think of something," Eric said politely. It was true that Pam made a lot of the daily decision regarding the place. He was in charge and all but couldn't have done it without her.

[Anoushka bint Amir]

((OOC: not much left to say, wanna close it?))