cat and mouse, are we the same?, --open

[rosette christophe]

am i supposed to be happy
when all i've ever wanted comes with a price?

Venom green eyes stared out from under choppy black bangs, going over the chipping paint of the seemingly decades old playground in the middle of Forks Park. A petite girl stood in the middle of the grass, a couple yard from the decaying play set. She scrunched up her nose, not in disgust, but in thought. It had been years since she had played on a swing set. And the thought of doing so now was so ludicrous to her. It had been more than years since she'd even touched one. Not since she was a very small girl. She loved the swings back then. She would sit on the uncomfortable wooden seat and swing back and forth, eyes closed, throwing caution to the wind as she swung about. It always felt like she was flying. She would even sometimes let go of the swings bindings to make the sensation even more real. Humming quietly to herself. A bitter smile disrupted her statue-esque features. She didn't move an inch, but the birds in the park seemed to feel the mental shift. Crows lifted off the grass, cawing at each other in a frantic frenzy to leave. The girl didn't move. She didn't say a word. Her eyes stayed locked on that swing set.

When she was very little, she remembered dreaming about flying. Or being some wonderful magnificent creature other than herself. To be swift, stealthy, beautiful. She always thought that they were super heroes. People who could do those things. But she was wrong. Rosette Mara looked upon these things and spat on them now. To be that...you were a monster. Everything comes with a price. And to be a super hero... that came with quite the hefty one. Her blood. Her ability to be around people. Her laugh, her smile. All gone to have those amazing abilities. They always say that the grass is greener on the other side. Nothing could be more true when looking at this situation. She had always hoped to be one of those magnificent super heroes. She never knew that you had to specify your wishes. Be careful what you wish for. She got her wish though. To be magnificent, beautiful, graceful, swift. But, the cost was her monstrous cravings. Her boyfriend. Her life. It was weird waking up to a cold patch of nothingness in her chest. Her heart served her no purpose anymore. It just sat there, dormant. Not even the echoes of what it used to create pulsed through her anymore. Veins were just as useless.

With a humorless quiet laugh to herself, Rosette started forward. She adjusted the ankle length coat she wore. It was cloudy enough. She could take it off. Rosette slipped her pale thin arms out of the sleeves of the coat, dropping it into the damp grass. It didn't matter if it was summer. Of course it was still rainy. The pale girl played with the beige tight knit sweater she wore. She was at least trying to appear normal. Even though normal people didn't wear sweaters in the dead of summer. That was her problem though. Not like she could get hot anyways. She approached the swings slowly, reaching out a hand almost hesitantly to grasp the metal chain link bindings that held the plastic seat in the air. And within in an instant, Rosette was sitting on the swing. She didn't really move at all yet. She rocked back and forth on her feet from heels to toes. Just barely moving. She was enjoying it in the slightest. Just sitting on the swings took her back to the days when she only had to worry about scraping her knees. Rosette put her black curls against the chains and rested her head as she swung just barely. It was an odd day for her. Never had she been this reminiscent. Or wanting of company.

[tanya whelan]

Tanya walked slowly to the park, her head hung low. Her hair wasn't in it's more usual tight curls; they were more like soft, wavy curls and that suited her just fine. She had just about given up on the idea of ever finding herself a mate and it made her incredibly sad, beyond normal. She prevented her body from following the dry sobs her body wanted to shake with. She wasn't that weak. She just hoped Irina was fairing better than she was. Irina had lost her mate to the overly big, looking for trouble werewolves down here. At least Irina knew what it felt like to have a mate that loved her back. Edward Cullen was the one that held her interest but he was getting married to a mortal, Bella Swan. Very soon.

She decided to see if she could pull her happier, bubbly child out by going to the park and messing around.

She had no idea she would have company. Her head snapped up when she realized there was someone already there - but it was a fellow golden-eyed vampire. Maybe she could relate. The girl had shed what Tanya assumed was her jacket - it tried to cover every inch of possible exposed skin from the sun on sunny days. Very vampire.

She joined her on the swings, her sad mood not completely gone. "Hi, I'm Tanya," she introduced herself, not sure if the girl would want to shake her hand or not so didn't offer it. "What brings you out here?" It looked like the girl was going through a similar mood and decided against prying unless the girl wanted to open up. She followed the girl's small swinging movements. She looked about seventeen; she wondered exactly how long the girl had walked the earth, human and vampire. But, again, she wouldn't pry. It wasn't right for someone who hardly knew her to begin prying. She didn't want to start a fight with this girl. She was probably the only company she'd get for awhile until most of the Cullens got back from their hunting trip. Speaking of which, she would have to ask them where they went. She was close to needing a trip. It wouldn't be the same"menu" as at home but she would deal with it easily. It didn't matter too much to her as long as it wasn't human. Red eyes didn't suit her at all. She turned her sad eyes to her company, awaiting her response.

[rosette christophe]

Rosette's swinging continued for awhile longer. She felt the need to escape from herself for a few moments. If only she could it do it for a lot longer. It wasnt that she didnt like herself. Oh no. Rosette had no problem with her personality. Or being her. It was just what she had become. The monster she was. She didnt see vampires as super heroes. How she used to see them if only because of their abilities. Things changed. Could you blame her? Her childhood dreams were turned into the most frightening adult nightmare. There was always that saying 'be careful what you wish for'. It might as well be the girls slogan. She seemed to repeat it a lot as well. Rosette just shook her head, trying to get the strange thoughts out. She didnt want to dwell on that right now. In fact, it was one of the last things she wanted to think about.

And she got exactly what she wanted. Something else to think about. Before Tanya's foot even stepped onto the grass of the park, Rosette's eyes snapped open and flicked up, finding the source. A woman. Rosette quirked an eyebrow and watched her as she walked. She didnt recognize her at all. But she was curious. Who was she? And why did she... Some strange form of realization lit up Rosette's features. A vampire. Rosette's defenses instantly went up. She had encountered other vampires before this one, none of the Cullens just yet, but she had come across Victoria. That wasnt a fun meeting. Rosette had fled that unfortunate meeting. But this woman seemed different. Less...feral. A vegetarian vampire, maybe?

Her eyes followed the girl as she came and sat down on the next swing beside Rosette. Her green eyes studied the girl. Not with the same scrutiny she had with the swing set. But with an odd form of curiosity. Rosette offered her a small smile, not going too overboard. "I'm Rosette. Its a pleasure to meet you." Her voice was quiet, but the Romanian accent still held. Even after three hundred years she had managed to keep it up. No idea how. You'd think America would have snatched it away from her. But, it held. Thankfully. Rosette thought over her next question. "Boredom mostly. Looking for some company." Her eyes flicked back to the woman next to her. "What about you?" She was in an odd enough mood today. Her social skill were zero to none though. Those she had lost with her pulse. But she could be somewhat friendly. And hey, someone to talk to was a plus. Being alone for so long could make you crave any sort of friendship.

[tanya whelan]

Now that the girl seemed friendly and wasn't about to ask her to leave, she gracefully got up, went to where the girl had shed her jacket, and shed her cloak, placing it next to the jacket. She quickly returned to the swing.

She was surprised by the Romanian accent. Not that she should be, necessarily. She wondered if it would pull out her own, long unused Irish accent. That usually came out when she was mad and not any other time. "Trust me," Tanya smiled brightly at her, glad she hadn't pushed her away but she hadn't made eye contact. She wasn't even looking at the girl, but, instead, taking in her surroundings. But she somehow managed to seem friendly and all her words were sincere and she knew the girl wouldn't second guess them. "The pleasure is all mine." Then she made eye contact. "Perfect. Looking for company myself. I don't suppose you know the local vampires - the Cullens? Most of them are away on a hunting trip - they are vegetarians so they go a long ways off. But they do keep a promise not to hunt around here and I'm trying to abid by that." Her eyes crinkled, half pain, half loyalty. "I'd appreciate it if you did the same." With that statement, she broke her eye contact, looking at her feet to try and hide the full blown pain and sadness that caused her.

She recovered slightly, enough to continue speaking like nothing was wrong. "So, what brings you around here? If you don't know the Cullens chances are you're new." She couldn't think of anything else to say and hoped Rosette would.

[rosette christophe]

Rosette liked company for today. Other than that, she was a very solitary person. She didnt like to be around big crowds unless it was a concert. People usually irritated her. And she was one to tell them if they were. She kept very much to herself and wouldnt go out of her way to make friends. But, today she had been in an odd mood. Any other day, Rosette probably would have ignored Tanya or shot back a few snarky remarks. She wasnt a nice person really. She was very bitter, and very cold. That would explain why she didnt really have any friends. Plus, she had it in her head that if they didn't make the effort to be friends, they werent worth it. But that theory always had a knack of coming back to bite her in the ass. Mostly because, she didnt show any effort so it was a double standard. Rosette watched as the girl got up and dropped her cloak beside Rosette's trench coat. Her eyes didnt follow her to the swing though.

Somehow, Rosette had managed to keep her Romanian accent. Probably because she didn't try to hide it. Only when she had to speak with people inside the school, which wasnt very often. Any other time she spoke, the Romanian accent came out thick and full. Why hide it? She had her reasons at the school. Mostly because the kids already thought she was creepy. And she could agree. Rosette found herself to be a bit intimidating. To humans anyways. Any other vampires...no. Werewolves? No. Just humans. She didnt try to intimidate though. Rosette was pulled out of her own thoughts as Tanya began speaking once more. Her eyes drifted over to the girl and focused on her. She shook her head. "I've heard of them and have seen them around, but I have never spoken to them." Again, Rosette didn't go out of her way to talk to people. She could have guessed they were vegetarians. The population in the area seemed to stay at a steady number. Rosette quirked an eyebrow at her feeding comment. "I don't feed off humans to begin with. You are not asking much."

Noticing the extra emotion behind the girls statements, Rosette said nothing. She didn't pry. She didn't want to know the girls history. If she did, she might get attached. Rosette didn't much like getting attached to people. It was much easier to be alone. Because when you got attached, there was a chance of loss. And honestly, the girl still, not even after three hundred years, was not able to handle loss. Not even the slightest form. Someone drifting away would destroy her. Rosette shook her head in response to Tanya's next statement. "I've been here for about a decade, actually. I just dont socialize much. And for your previous question, its much easier to live here than any other area. I tried Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon. But there were too many people. It was much too difficult."

[tanya whelan]

The smile that spread across her face was slightly pained but as if that easy response was predictable. "No, sweetie, the Cullens don't feed on humans." Otherwise they wouldn't have been able to be around Bella. Otherwise it would have been easier to convince Edward that I am the one to spend his eternity with. I already know I want to spend my eternity with him. She, for some reason, felt compelled not to think "and no one else." Why she wouldn't she didn't know but she didn't like to not keep her word. She didn't want, when she promised or gave her word on something, that it would mean precisely nothing. She wanted it to mean everything. "What I mean is please don't feed off the local wildlife. If something goes wrong with one of your hunting trips, they would be the first one they'd turn to just because they're so big and, I guess, in that since, more prone to mistakes. They are, actually, almost pros."

Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. "About a decade? How have you managed that? Do you have anyone to pass off as a mother or a foster mother or something? Anyone to live with?" The length of time astonished Tanya. She wasn't even sure the Cullens were able to pull that much time off and they were practically experts at hiding in areas like this. Besides, some school things needed a parent or guardian and it didn't seem Rosette had one.

"Yeah, around here it seems a bit easier - the town is more laid back or something. Easier to slip in but not always at first." Being new in a town where generations have grown up wouldn't have been easy but, after time, it would have.