Chupacabras twenty-eight
#1

looks with jeans, evening



It was Sara's birthday and no one knew about it. She hadn't reminded anyone at work, didn't get any cake for her lunch. Or dinner, for that matter. She may have had a missed call or text from her mom (likely) and dad (quite unlikely), but her phone had been turned off yesterday and remained dead to the world in her bag.

Nothing good ever happened on her birthday. It was the worst day in the year for breaking her favorite mugs, losing her keys, ruining clothes and all these merry occurrences.

She had gotten two paper cuts at work, curtesy of cursed day and cursed speed. At least no one had seen her fall on her face between two shelves, waiting somewhat patiently for her paralysis side effect to lift.

Sara was convinced that if she stayed home, she would accidentally set fire to her whole book collection. Nevermind that she didn't own candles or a lighter right now.

She hadn't told Lydia about her birthday either, because Lydia was a good thing and as previously mentioned, no good things on birthdays. What if she set Lydia on fire with the books.

So here she was with a few crumpled pages of poetry in her sweaty hand. Maybe she'd take the stage and read it. If it went badly, it was because of birthday curse. If it went well, it meant that maybe she would be allowed to be happy starting right now.

A lot of stakes over such a small thing. So for now she just drank her wine and waited.
#2

Look



Sigfrid would not be going on stage tonight, but she did enjoy hearing the words of others learning what their imaginations and their experiences brought to the stage. It was not often enough that she made it out here though, be it her own writing keeping her busy or just a lack of drive to actually make it out here.

She would be taking stock of the patrons this evening when she noticed a particularly perturbed looking girl a few stools down from her. It did not take a mind reader to know that something was on her mind, but luckily Sigfrid had the ability to tell exactly what it was that was causing this clear anxiety.

A birthday curse it seemed.

Sigfrid was not one to believe in curses, not anymore, though when she had been human she had believed in them fully. She had made her sacrifices, and she had prayed to her gods, and still, it had not saved her from her fate with Sigurd.

Only she had been able to do that, and it had taken her years, even after becoming a vampire to realize that she controlled her own fate. Not the gods.

Perhaps she could help this human see that as well? Rising from her spot, wine in hand, Sigfrid would make her way towards the human, sitting herself at her side as she offered a pleasant smile.

”Will you be going up there tonight?”
#3
It would take a few more seconds than a regular person for Sara to realize someone was talking to her. She wasn't used to people starting conversations... except when she ran into them.

But she did give a look to her right and ah-

PRETTY LADY ALERT.

"I, uh, don't know." She replied sheepishly.

This was coincidently a possible answer to the question she hadn't really paid attention to ah ah ah...

She shouldn't be let out in public.
#4
Sigfrids smile would widen further for the thoughts that erupted from the girl, flattered for the compliment and amused with answer that she supplied.

”What makes you hesitate?” She’d ask, and because she was feeling kind tonight she would add, ”I’m sure whatever you have written there is worthy of the stage.” A nod towards the crumbled piece that still lay within her hands.
#5
The smile she received made her feel warm inside (or maybe it was the wine) and she felt bad. Did that count as cheating? Was she cheating on Lydia by staring at pretty ladies??

The need to focus on the conversation saved her from overthinking this for now.

What made her hesitate? Everything, except sales on books. She might have been the first to perform if the manager handed coupons.

"I..." She flattened the pages on her thigh. "It's naive, and freeform. You could probably get better poetry from the sign language chimpanzees."

Probably something poignant about living in an imitation of nature, or something.
#6
Sigfrid’s brows would twitch downward for the briefest of seconds at that, eyes blinking curiously as her head gave a slight tilt. She had lived for many years, and this was the first that she was hearing someone refer to their work as something lesser than a… Chimpanzee?

This one certainly lacked confidence, and not something that she could build up in a night. But perhaps they could make some progress with the right push?

”From what I’ve seen, an artist is always their harshest critique.” She chided gently, ”I once sat in your exact place, and now I am an award-winning author. We all start somewhere, its up to you to take that first step.”
#7
An author.

The nice, pretty lady was an AUTHOR. Her brain put a broken record of ohmygodohmygodohmygod as the soundtrack to the chaos in her skull.

"I love books. What's your pen name? Maybe I read some of your work." She asked a bit breathlessly, eyes wide and hungry.

Self-deprecating thoughts thrown out the window because HELLO AUTHOR.
#8
The eagerness was endearing, and Sigfrid found herself chuckling as she held a calming hand, more so for the humans thoughts than the words that had been said aloud. It was rare for anyone to be excited to meet Sigfrid these days, and so it offered a nice change of pace.

”Lauren Stout.” She answered, ”I typically write historical fiction, but I’ve attempted other genres here and there, but none quite sang to me the same way.”
#9
AAAAAHHHHH.

Sara's own hand went to her mouth so that the scream would stay inside her mind.

"I have The Secrets of Yesterday at home." She replied with an imitation of a calm tone. "It's in my Keep Forever shelf."

She lived in the same county as an author she liked! Maybe she would have known with just a little research.

But now, oh my god, there was no way she could read her crummy poem in front of Lauren Stout.
#10
The surprise would be clear on Sigfrids face at the recognition of her name, recognition that accompanied the title of one of her books. A book that was apparently on this young human’s ‘keep forever shelf’.

It warmed her to some degree to meet a fan out in the wild, to meet one of the many people that enjoyed her writing, especially one as young as the one sitting beside her.

It only had her wishing to encourage her more, a grateful smile returning to Sigfrid’s lifts as she looked to the human warmly.

”I appreciate your support,” truly. ”And this should encourage you to go up on that stage, not discourage.” Because already the humans thoughts were going south.

”I’ve been around many authors, and I like to think I have a bit of an eye for sorting out those with potential and those who do not.” And while she hadn’t heard the writing that lay in the humans hands, it was clear she had great taste. ”And I believe I spot potential within you, which is why I felt I had to come over and speak with you.”
#11
Maybe this was a birthday miracle after all the bad luck. Or she was getting pranked big time.

Maybe Lydia's luck had hitched a ride of her shoulder. Lydia! She would need to tell Lydia. She would be soooooo jealous.

Well, if Lauren Stout herself thought she looked like she was worth her time, then, maybe there was something there.

"Okay." She agreed and finished her drink. "Okay." A little louder. "After this one, I go up there."

And then feel good about herself, or order something stronger.
#12
The human listened well, and be it through the compliments that had been laid upon her through her thoughts, or through their similar interests, Sigfrid saw potential in her. A potential that she had seen in Edvin so many centuries ago, and a potential that was lacking in most of the vampires that she had encountered over the years.

Especially recently.

She had nothing for her here currently, but what if she made something of relevance here? What if she attempted to do the same thing that she had done with Edvin, and create a vampire worth something? It was a thought, and one that Sigfrid would not linger on for long.

The human was still young, had much to experience as the living. It would be cruel to take the sun from her so early, and from what Sigfrid had seen so far, there were already too many vampires that had their youth taken from them. Forced into a life that required a maturity that they did not yet have, she would not make the same mistake.

”I’m glad to here it.” She smiled, placing her own wine down upon the bar. ”You will do wonderful up there.”
#13
No more stalling, Sara. She got up as the last performer left the stage and made her way to it, slowly. The last thing she needed was to fall on her face again.

She stared at the mike. Cleared her throat.

"Good evening. My-my name is Sara, and I will read a little something I called 'Mourning Rest'."

Deep breath. Little smile at Lauren. Then she dove.

"A new morning
Dawns on me
The vicious sun
My enemy

Why don’t you
Let me cocoon
In the eternal night
Of oblivion?

Blankets are wet
From nocturnal tears
I stretch them on the balcony
To make the sun useful

This is a new morning
Possibly a new step
On the mourning road
That seems endless

But the sun
Sets and rises
And with him
My heart is laid to rest
"


Her voice had been clear, maybe just a little too hurried. She closed her eyes, proud of herself even if she expected booing.
#14
There would be a stumble in the beginning, but the girl gained her footing and the poem went well. The crowd clapped, and Sigfrid clapped along with them, a proud smile upon her lips as she once again noticed the potential in this human.

Regardless if she ever became a vampire, if Sigfrid ever followed through with this whim, the human side of her was sure to accomplish things throughout her life. She only needed to gain the confidence to allow herself to reach those new heights.

It was tempting, so tempting to give the human the privilege of time to overcome this obstacle. Tempting to offer her all the time in the world to get what she wanted done, and to accomplish the great things that Sigfrid could see.

So so tempting…
#15
The crowd was clapping. Lauren was smiling. Sara smiled too, like a deer in headlights who realized this wasn't a threat but a surprise party.

Except she had caused her own surprise. Her words were good. They were. They were!

She took a little bow and got off the stage (without incident) then regained her seat, feeling like she was a foot taller than before.

"Thanks. For the pep talk." She told Lauren, a look of near adoration as she looked her right in the eyes.

It didn't occur to her that the author could be anything other than that. "Author". No species, only job.
#16
The debate would rage on until the human was back in her seat, Sigfrid deciding then and there that tonight would not be the night that she would be doing anything. It was this humans birthday, and she deserved to have more, deserved to enjoy the sun just a bit longer.

It did not stop her from taking advantage of the human’s eyes though, especially not know that she had garnered Sigfrid’s interest.

”You did wonderful.” Sigfrid praised, ”call me anytime you are in trouble or need help.” The magic would stick to the fullest degree, Sigfrid smiling in satisfaction as she slid over a card with her contact information.

”I am always happy to offer pep talks to fellow authors.”


Perma hit

#17
Was she dreaming? Maybe? Lauren Stout was praising her and offering help in the future?

She would normally have politely declined, mortified at the idea of wasting anyone's time. But this was such an obvious, natural thing! Of course she would call Lauren, with absolutely no hesitation!

"I will!" She agreed with more energy than usual, and proceed to send a text to the number on the card. "Same to you, if you need, uh, a beta reader!"

This skill of hers she was fully confident in.
#18
There were no alarming thoughts coming from the human, which had any tension left over from the typical nerves of a suggestion possibly failing leaving her. Shoulders relaxing as she reached for her wine glass once more.

”I will keep that in mind.” She answered, feeling the buzz of her phone against her thigh. She would be sure to add the contact later that night, which brought her to a sudden realization.

”You know, I don’t believe I have even gotten your name yet.”
#19
"Sara without an H Moran." She delivered with the quick manner of someone who was used to misspellings and wanted to prevent them.

This also made her think of names.

"Should I call you Ms Stout? Lauren? Or... something else?"

In case the pen name was only that.
#20
Sara, it was an easy name to remember, and Sigfrid would commit it to memory. If she had not held so much interest in this human, she might have kept her name to Lauren, but if they were to likely see one another again, and if that interest resulted in other things, it was best to clear the air now. Save herself from possible resentment later down the road and start down a path of honesty.

”You can call me Sigfrid, Lauren is only a pen name.” She answered, ”most people do not know how to pronounce the name correctly, so I simplified it in hopes of avoiding any misinterpretations.”
#21
Oh that was exotic! Scandinavian if she wasn't mistaken, though which country, she wouldn't bet on it.

"Sigfrid." She repeated, more to show she could pronounce it than to commit it to memory, as it was already saved, instantly. "I'm glad I got out of my book mountain tonight."

Great things came to those who pushed the boundaries of their comfort zone.
#22
Sigfrid nodded in confirmation for the pronunciation, smile small but full of parental pride. Sigfrid was sure her intuition regarding this human was not wrong, but time would solidify if she would be fit for the life Sigfrid saw her leading.

"Me too." Sigfrid agreed, and she meant it. Truly.
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