Judith
*Listening to the rain patter against the old window panes was comforting, and added to the cryptic atmosphere of the doll shop she resided in. She loved them all... Hanging from their marionette handles or sitting with their porcelain expressions and glass eyes. Her favorite dolls were the ball jointed wooden ones which were on display in dramatic or quaint poses scattered about the shop. She knew the owner fairly well, and they had a mutual understanding that she could linger and lounge in exchange for the doll's clothing. She sewed dresses for them... And her work was astonishing. She was content in doing so, and the shop keep was able to profit fairly nicely with her work so it was a mutual relationship.

By the soft glow of a lanterns light, she had finished the hem on her latest dress and stood with a long stretch. Adding more wood to the black stove that heated up the shop very nicely, she picked up one of her favorite dolls and wandered over to the window. The wooden sign hung by brown twine on the door reflected 'open' to the public, but the store didn't get very much foot traffic on rainy days. Peering outwards into the streets, one could hardly discern the difference between her and the very doll she was holding. She could see faint traces of her reflection in the glass... But what caught her attention more so was the people. Far be it for her to ignore her biology, as the simple matter of food became apparent.

She watched person after person... Devising a plan for her next meal however, there were no suitable candidates to be found. This happened sometimes. That was just the way it went but when the night fell completely and the shop closed down for the evening, she would have more free range to search.*
Tom
*With each step the rains water was flung from his shoes he had allied himself and employed himself under the adventurers guild in this big city however as of late there were not that many jobs coming from a small town where he had little to no money here it would be another day in the street instead of a warm bed in the local tavern.

A deep long winded sigh escaped his lips as a cold breeze shifted the direction of the rain into his face each drop feeling cold as if nature had gotten angry at his presence lowering his head turning it away from the rain to protect his pale face this was futile as mother nature was the only force no one could conquer the weather didn't seem like it would be letting up any time soon. The boys two emerald pink orbs would pierce through the rain to any who saw his pale cheeks rosey red along with the bridge of his nose coming across the shops in the streets surprisingly enough some were open.

Upon this new discovery the young male lumbered along each step causing a gently splash in the puddles scattered across the stone pathways. A shop caught his eye one that was still open in the weather it had some cover by the side of the building plunging his left hand desperately trying to find any silver or bronze coins to see if there was a chance he could enter buy something to get some cover from mother nature's wraith, desperately his fingers moved about only to come out empty hopelessness set in as he looked into the window from a distance longing for the warmth of a lantern he made his way to the other side of the street and sat down his pants getting soaked in water, he must conserve his energy and his warmth his back pressed against the cold stone wall of another shop that had closed shivering each breath leaving a cloud of misty grey fog lowering his head to ponder where could he go.*
Judith
*She exhaled a soft sigh of dissatisfaction as she lowered her gaze to the pavement. She supposed she cou- wait. Just as she was about to turn away she could feel a tugging, a very slight yearning. Where? Where was it coming from? Just across the street was a man sitting down, slumped over in his misfortune no less. It wasn't ideal, like settling for fast food when you had plans to eat at a french cafe but she didn't know how long he would be there for and if she'd run into anyone else that met the bare minimum requirements.

Unfortunately for her the down trodden were often times drunks, homeless men, or widowed women but he seemed relatively clean despite his circumstances. Another sigh, this time one of acceptance surpased her lips as she returned the doll she carried to its previous resting place. Heading towards the door she reached for the handle yet stopped. Oh great. Another roadblock in her pavement to sustenance... It was still too bright out for her, she had another hour at best. Curses... Perhaps she could lure him to the door.

It was a doll shop, they wouldn't particularly have anything to his fancy lest he had a wife or daughter... But she did have one method in mind. From his point of view, the door to the shop would creek open inwards... And a little doll would walk forward with a broom. It was just a little wooden handmaiden lady with painted details rather than glass eyes and fair, pale skin. She began to sweep the outside of the shop... The scene itself would be particularly peculiar to anyone who noticed because as said before... It was a doll. No handler in sight.*
Tom
*Rose his head as his hands clutched his shirt under the cloak lifting himself up hearing the loud creek of the door cut through the howling wind like a knife. Both emerald pink orbs focused on a doll? A small doll probably the size of a child or a little smaller? With a Brooke as it began to sweep the outside of the shop he thought for a few moments before coming to the conclusion that dark arts plagued the little shop, not only that why sweep the outside of the shop in the midst of a storm where rain could do the job just as well.

He felt a strange aura whether there was actually one or not this set the seed for doubts and fear, as he looked upon the eerie door and doll, he thought it best to keep watch for a little while longer as the rain kept beating on his cloak, and pool around his figure. The handler of such a doll should come to claim it as they can't be to far from the tether of magic could this possibly be some dark creature trying to tempt him into the shop and steal his soul! Or to tempt him into going into the place where it was warm away from the outside elements he opted to patiently watch his teeth chattering slightly.*
Judith
*She was balanced on a wooden stool, some books, and a crate behind the door. Leaning over just far enough she stood on one foot as she manuvered the mechanisms of the strings via the handle. Gosh, this was taking forever, and her bait wasn't working. She was losing patience, and didn't think any amount of food was worth the effort. She'd retreat the doll, and slowly close the door. Once she put everything away, she moved over to the counter and slumped over it... Pouting, as it were.

She had a vicious little black cloud over her head filled with malice as her annoyance with the situation began to irk her. Oh well. Once the street lights would flicker on she'd be able to go out and obtain food properly. Nothing to do until then but kill time, to which she would try to focus on her work but the focus wasn't there anymore. Instead, she'd take the feather duster and tidy up atound the shop... Dusting the shelvs and lighting fixtures. She actually enjoyed this kind of work because it was simple, and the efforts of her labor could actually be seen.*
Tom
*Had closed his eyes as he seen the little doll move about he closed his eyes as he was just about to get up to check it out the doll had went back into the shop maybe it was fate... The torches in the city began to become lit as nightfall came over the city he slowly leans back down and contemplates taking a nap hopefully the rain will not be so heavy... In a few hours the rain however only let up it did only into a slow drizzle. The torches being lit were used with magic spells so the rain didn't put them out however he couldn't take it anymore he was going to freeze to death, if he stood outside. Slowly standing up his bones felt frozen his legs numb along with his face a soft sneeze escaped as he walked slowly to the shop keeps door and rose his hand with a gentle knock hoping he could convince whoever was in the shop to let him in his face was extremely red along with his knuckles*
Judith
*Finishing up here, she turned her head to the darkened streets outside and was rejoiced to find that it was her time. Just as she had gone to open the door to switch the open sign to closed, she heard the knock. Was it the shop keeper? Low and behold the person that stood before her was the very gentleman who was across the street. She smiled a cordial smile and bowed her head... Opening the door onto the cryptic atmosphere of the doll shop.* 

"Welcome. Please come in"

*Placing a hand across her chest she would move back to let him pass, shortly after she would close the door. Holding her hands neatly down in front of her, she'd smile softly and cast her gaze to the floor. The inside was exactly what you would expect when met with the dim lighting. A little creepy, a little mysterious, a little... Curious. She wouldn't speak, not yet, but she did position herself between him and the door.* "Was there something I could assist you with?"
Tom
*Stood at the door shivering but as the door opened he felt the warmth it called to him he looked extremely pale and was covered from head to toe in water his boots making a squish sound with each step as the door opened he didn't step inside just her as his eyes looked forward last the little women*

`"I just wish to find some warmth if it isn't to much trouble..."`

*His teeth were chattering as his breaths were shaky before he spoke again.*

`"I'll work for free if you grant me this one request I'll do what you ask."`

*He says gently his voice sounded soft and young he was well groomed and always clean he had a soft fragrance of roses lingering off of him*
Judith
*Oh. So it was more of a buisness proposition... Quid pro quo as it were. She could honor this, as she would give a slight wave of her hand in agreement.* "We expect to be closing soon, but I can prolong this for a little while longer.." *She would omit what she would be taking in return, but she would gestures to the black stove that radiated warmth throughout the store. They didn't have much when it came to food as they weren't a restaurant nor a cafe, but she could make him a cup of tea. Vampires prided themselves on their hospitality, no doubt about that, and she would slowly glide across the room to fetch him some.

It wouldn't be served on fine china as it was a doll shop, but it was as good a teacup as any.* "Here you are.." *Her voice was soft, but cold. Void of anything that could be an adjective to describe human. It was melodic, but just above a whisper. Holding out the cup balanced quaintly on a saucer, a coiling spiral ofnsteam rose from the top. It was a little sweet, but slightly bitter. Oolong tea mixed with green... It held a honey aroma and should do the trick to warm his fingers as well as his stomach.*
Tom
*As he was invited in as he took it by the wave of her hand he followed along in with the occasional 'Drip... Drip... Drip...' followed by the squish in his step he would make it over to the black stove and slowly kneel beside it before sitting down taking his wet cloak off and folding it quietly besides it he didn't speak much nor did he know how to express gratitude or most emotions his young face looked numb.*

*As the tea was being brought to him he forced a smile as he seen many people before do to others it would appear genuine however he felt no emotion behind it only glad to be out of the cold to survive... As his opened his hands and it was placed in it he felt the hot tea warming them unthawing the icy cold that set in he the nice smell of honey filling his nostrils his white hair fell across his face soaked in water under his hood*

`"Thank you..."`

*He took a long quiet sip of the tea it would help the hunger for now at least and as it went down he felt the warmth travel down his body it felt euphoric and a calm expression appeared in his previously troubled look he looked away slowly then down*

`"I apologize for the inconvenience of me knocking at such late an hour."`
Judith
*Returning to her work, she would take up her needle and thread to repair one of the buttons on a Pierrot clown doll. They only had two of them in the shop, and they were a very aquired taste but she liked to keep all the clothing presentable.* "Not at all.." *Little did he know he was doing her a favor as well. The rain had let up a bit, so it would be a little easier to travel through whenever he did decide to depart.* "What do they call you?" *She asked this in place of his name, as people preferred different titles and name's apart from the birthright ones they were given.

She wasn't one for small talk or friendly banter, so after a while she'd fall quiet. Soon the hour would be upon them to where he would feel confortable enough to settle and thats what she was waiting for. As soon as she was done with one task she would glide to the other. Detangling strings, putting back various bobbys and pins as well as wrapping ribbon. A lot of fathers came in buying dolls for their daugthers so ribbon, string and twine were still strewn about from the rush hour.*