Colin's posts

The man behind the bar looked at her with curious eyes, and she could tell he was a new hire. He didn't recognise her, but he didn't look like he was ready to just shoo her away immediately.

"Mr. McCormick?" he asked, confirming 100% he was new. "I... yeah, he is." he told her. "Who's... who shall I say is calling?" he asked.

"Desiree." she responded.

"One moment." the man said, stepping away from the bar and disappearing into the back for a few seconds. He then came back and looked at her.

"He says he needs to finish something up, and it'll be about 15 to 20 minutes." he informed her. "He also stated that you are obviously free to wait, and can have whatever you want, on the house." he said further.

"So. What'll it be?" he asked with a smile.

Jaden scratched his chin lightly, before nodding.

"I'll make a note to answer Winnipeg calls then." he told her.

"Don't need to miss it or anything." he reasoned.

"Still, this is a very exciting chapter in your life, to understate it." he then said to her. "Seriously, a LOT has changed in a very short amount of time for you." he reasoned.

"But I'm still here. I will always be a constant for you." he assured her.

Jaden looked at the coat, and she immediately saw the light in his eyes.

"Daaaaaaaamn." he said.

"That looks... RIGHT up my alley." he told her. "Looks like something I'd way to ALL my shows, and appearances, and... well, just wear." he told her further, looking it over.

"And a day and a half? Damn, some talented folks working here." he then commented.

"Hood looks good, too." he added.

"It'll be removeable, too." Desiree told him.

"...sold." was all Jaden replied with.

Jaden watched her go, and followed, all the way to the desk where she started to use the computer.

"Eh?" he muttered.

"A coat? For me?" he asked her.

"And as long as it looks and feels good, I don't care about having my name attached to the company in an official manner." he then said. "Seriously. I've done the odd sponsorship before, and my act has long since grown out of being the edgy underground counterculture icon." he went on.

"So yeah, I'll probably get a little backlash because 'big corporations' and all that blah blah blah, but lemme see it." he said further.

"I'll give anything a shot if it looks good enough."

"Guess karma is a real thing." Jaden shrugged.

"And... things I want to change or update?" he asked. "I... uh..." he stammered. "I never really thought about it, admittedly." he said. "Always been happy with what I have and stuff." he went on.

"I'll think about it, though." he told her.

"Also, I admit, having some clothing from here WOULD be amazing." he then admitted.

"This suit feels AMAZING." he continued.

"Seriously, it feels so damn luxurious and comfortable."

"Hey!" Jaden said as he followed, after a moment.

"I only went after harlots, whores, and ladies of the night!" he told her. "I was doing a public service!" he went on, pausing a moment. "...for the time period!" he continued, pausing again. "...is how I rationalised it to myself afterwards..." he added, sounding a little more defeated.

"I had mommy issues, okay!?" he then said, as Desiree looked at him and raised her eyebrow. A lot.

"...and saying THAT to you was like trying to defend myself against a flamethrower with a napalm shield..." he realised, shaking his head and following her outside.

"Woah." he stammered, looking around, and down. "THIS is... really something else." he commented. "Desiree, you... this... just... man..." he stammered, smirking.

"Talk about livin' the 'high life'..." he snickered.

"...yeah." Jaden mumbled. "It's going to be a bit of a precarious balancing act for you, I would think, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it." he then assured her with a smile.

"I believe in you." he added.

"Also, yeah, maybe a view of the city." he then said as he got up, and then helped Desiree to her feet as well.

"I DO like seeing things from high up." he admitted.

"Seeing the ants for what they are... crawling below me... beneath me... blissfully unaware of the GODS that look down on them... could END them at any moment..." he went on, almost in a snarl, and rubbing his hands together, before stopping suddenly and clearing her throat.

"...is... what I'd say if I were a villain in a cartoon or movie or something..." he added quickly, feigning some panic and poorly-disguised innocence. He wasn't really like that, just trying to make Desiree laugh. Or chuckle. Or roll her eyes.

Jaden draped an arm around her shoulders as she said the last part, and smiled.

"For what it's worth, I don't see you any different." he told her.

"And our real friends shouldn't, either." he went on. "We'll know JUST who our real friends are if they start asking for favours and such suddenly." he went on, before thinking about it.

"...assuming it ever reaches that level." he clarified.

"Look, just continue to be you, but never give out any money or anything if you're asked to." he shrugged.

"Best we can do, sadly."

Jaden paused, again.

"All very good points." he said.

"...uh... should tell Mom, though." he then said further. "Firstly, it's her right to know as Mom, a future Grandmother, and one of the Heads of the Triad." he reasoned. "Secondly, she'll go ballistic if I hide it from her, mostly due to how traumatic it is..." he went on.

"And... well, Dad deserves to know as well. Being... my father and all." he added.

"If that's all right with you." he said further.

"But with Mom, the longer we wait, the worse."

Jaden sighed heavily.

"...well... medical science HAS advanced in leaps and bounds since I was born..." he admitted.

"And... you are right. If you didn't want this, then this would have been a secret to all." he went on, as he looked around, his eyes resting on the moon outside one of the large windows.

"Desiree." he said.

"If you wish to go through with this... then so it shall be." he told her.

"And I will try everything I know to make sure our child has a family when they are born. And not... just a father..." he finished.

Jaden paused again.

"...oh..." he mumbled. "Oh... oh, oh... ohhhhhhhh..." he muttered further, as his eyes widened, and she saw the little colour he had in his face drain away suddenly.

"Birthing..." he said.

"Mom's going to KILL me..." he said quietly. "Or... or she will at very least, NOT be thrilled with this." he went on.

"You're right. Vampiric childbirth is... traumatic. VERY traumatic." he continued.

"Are... are you sure you want to go through with it...?"

"..." Jaden was silent for a moment.

"No comment." he then said.

"But I'll ask Mom about here in Canada or somewhere in Europe." he told her. "I think she has a place or two somewhere in Scotland, but I'll have to doublecheck on that." he continued.

"Still. I'll limit it to those two areas for now." he said further.

"And you... well, can obviously tell Vincent whatever you want." he chuckled.

"Want me to keep this a little hush-hush as well?" he asked. "Or tell people if they ask? Or what?"

Jaden thought again for a moment.

"Know what? Go ahead and ask Vincent, still." he told her. "I'll still ask Mom as well." he said. "Having multiple pairs of eyes out there looking is always more beneficial." he reasoned.

"And yes, while she may be willing to give up one of her places for family, we don't know where it'll be, and we may not want to live in that area or location." he then said further.

"Vincent probably knows a LOT more places than my Mom. He was quite nomadic. Then again, my Mom's travelled a lot, as well, but... dunno how much you pay attention to real estate when you're... well... on a hunt." he admitted.

"Regardless, we'll talk to them ASAP." he said.

"I assume you'd like to stay in Canada, though?" he asked.

Jaden nodded.

"Yes." he said. "I'm perfectly fine." he said further. "And yes, I am very interested in moving." he told her. "In fact, I am now insisting that we move and find a bigger place." he then stated in a firm tone of voice.

"I love the suite as well, it's comfortable, it's a good size, good area, pretty safe overall... but it is NOT the place to raise a child." he admitted. "So we'll need to see if we can find a new place... decently quickly." he went on. "I know what you said about you being early along, but finding a place and getting it can still take several months, even if everything goes 100% smoothly." he reasoned.

"Still, we'll need to cast that net out within a day or so." he continued. "Maybe see if Mom or Kalin or Rene knows of any places." he said. "You have an area you'd prefer?" he asked.

And all of this told Desiree that, at least right now, he was more than happy with what was happening. He was happy she was pregnant, and 100% willing to move.