"The Ellis Winter Memorial Library will be closing in five minutes." Came an automated voice over the intercom system. "Please take any books you wish to check out up to the front desk and make sure you have all your personal belongings with you. Have a nice afternoon."

A man, apparently in his thrities or so, an old world regality and manner about him sat alone at a table, ignoring the page to the patrons. His raven hair was pulled back at the base of his neck, a leather tie keeping it in place He was dressed in a dark blue suit, a white shirt, dark blue dress shoes. Books were piled and scattered over the table he was at

His head and shoulders were bent over rather large book, Lucian was doing somethign he should have done long ago. Reaquainting himself with the human world. He was using his foavorite method, reading. The current book he was reding was one about a human invention that had not been around last he checked... Automobiles. Or at least not those of today... Trucks like wagons, bigger. Cars that could go faster than a horse at full gallop. It was amazing to him really and he was absorbin all the information like a sponge.

The closing employes of the library ignored his presance as if he were just a shadow in the dark rows of books as the lights went off. His eyes adjusted immediatly, unhindered by the darkness.

He had so much to learn now, so much to relive and remember. So much had happened in the years he had cut himself off from humanity. But he wasn't alone. He could sence another presence in the large building as well. But he would wait for them to approach.

It was like seeing in black and shades of grey. Seeing in dark that is. For all the years he has been turned, Reiel has never truly gotten used to it; he loved color too much to be able to.

He had been watching the man for quite some time while he was in the library. He infatuated him. Although he hadn't recognized Reiel's pressense during the evening, as far as he knew, Reiel knew the man would recognize it now that they were the only two there.

Reiel stood in a corner, hands behind his back, top hat still on, a smile spread on his face. His blonde hair swept slightly past his shoulders and his black bangs on either side of his face lay on either side of his face. Reiel's unique eyes, his left ice blue, his right light hazel, scanned over the man's concentrated face searching the book, taking in everything he could, as if he were an infant.

Slowly emerging from the shadows, Reiel strode up to the man, unsure of how he would react to another being there, but still sure that the man knew he was there.

'Well... It seems you have chosen to come out of hiding young one... His voice was soft as always, but still haeld the air of propiety as he spoke into the mans mind. He did not bother to look up, no. Why should he bother really, he would have to see this man sooner or later anyways, so why bother interupting his reading at this point in time.

He was marveling over the artistry of the paintings in the book of the different vehicals. They seemed so real... Like they were taken from life and put into the book. It was absolutly amazing. Even with his colorless eyes he could be awed by them. He could not see the colors of course, that would have dazzled him even more truth be told. He had not seen in colors in centuries and had all but forgotten what they even looked like.

"So... What is that calls you to me this night young one?" He was still speaking into the vampires mind. No need to alert the guards of noise. Granted he could make them forget he was even in here.

As the thoughts of the other vampire entered his mind, Reiel was slightly shocked. He flinched slightly at first, but finally realised what was happening and quickly regained himself, the smile still on his face. Reiel did not know how to speak through minds, it was a trick he didn't even know existed up until now. He kept his voice in the lowest but still audible whisper though, just barely loud enough for the man to hear it, but soft enough for the guards to not notice. "Yes, I do come out of hiding... I was getting lonely. And I'm not sure what brought me to you on this night... I guess you just sort of, caught my attention," Reiel walked around from in front of the vampire to standing behind him. He stepped even more lightly than before, as to make no noise from the tapping of the heels of his shoes.

"I noticed you much earlier in the evening," he continued, "Followed you here. Then waited, till now," he leaned in, closer to the other vampire's head, looking over his shoulders at the book he was reading. It suddenly struck Reiel that this other vampire, however older than himself he was, knew nearly nothing, of anything of the current world. Reiel was still getting used to the technological advances of computers, but he did know what an automobile was, what a photograph was.

Even with his realization, Reiel felt the need to ask him, just to verify. "Do you not know what a car is?" He quirked his head to the side as he asked, looking at the side of the seemingly older vampire's face. It was gruff, his five o'clock shadow unshaved. His eyes were stern, yet caring, or at least that's what he could tell from his own observations.

"Lonelyness... Yes." He responded, this time his words came from his mouth. "That feeling does not escape me for a moment even I dare say." He said matter of factly. Not untill he found the other half of his soul would that word be forgien to him.

"So, you were the one who was watching as I fed..." He mused, his black eyes still tracing along the pages. He had felt eyes on him as he fed from the scum of the earth, one who he had judged his first night in town. This city was full of scum, vampire and human alike... It was his duty to clear them as he waited for the light to his darkness to be revealed to him.

"Yes, I have seen them recently. The last time I imerced myself in human affairs, they were a figment of fancy." His old world accent ringing slightly, clearly, dispite the softness of his voice. "And it is interesting that these paintings so life like... But I am so unsure of the medium..." He concitered himself an art expert... But as he ran his hands over the smooth pages he truely was at a loss.

Reiel smiled, happy he could inform such an ancient as this one. It was as if he'd been sleeping for all this time. "It's not a painting, it's called a photograph," he said, taking a chair and carefully, silently pulling it out. It was this time that Reiel had formally joined the vampire. "I myself am still unsure of how it works completely, but a device captures the look of something, turns it into a still image forever..." Reiel trailled off, thinking for a moment, "Kind of like that which happens with us... unchanged forever."

Reiel removed his top hat and placed it lightly on the table. His bleach blonde hair remained still as he did so, though his black bangs swayed slightly.

"That's just the tip of it though," he continued with a smile, "There are moving images... you can capture a moment not just in a still image, but in movement, and watch it happen over and over. It's amazing what the mortals have invented..." Reiel pondered for a moment the things he's seen as far as new types of inventions go.

"Unchanged?" He echoed. "Do you really think you do not change in your years as a vampire?" He asked curiously as he looked up at the man for the first time. The first thing he noticed of the man was his old fashion dress... Now, Lucian might look old fashion, but he wore modern buisness suites, impecibly taylored. One could not truly fit in without knowing the fashion of the eras after all. Technology however was a different matter entirely.

"Being what I am for over two millenia have surely change who I am... Maybe not how I appeare, but I have learned, experianced many things that have all changed me from who I had been to who I am now." He was not arguing no, but this vampire was still much too young to realize that 'forever' was a very long time.

Reiel thought about it before responding. "I suppose you are right. We do change in the mental and intellectual state, but a photograph has no state of the mind, and therefore, in a sense, in our physical bodies, we are unchanged." The room became eerily quite as they sat in the darkness. Reiel was trying to think of something to bring them off the topic, on to happier things.

"But enough about the burdens of a vampire and our silly philisophical talks," he started up with a light smile, "How has it been that one of your age--over two millenia did you say?--knows near to nothing it seems about our current society and technologies? I myself am still adapting, but I do know some things." Reiel could tell this would become an interesting conversation between the two of them, maybe turn into more; but for now, it was at the level of a light chat.

"Oh, and please pardon myself for not introducing myself," there was a young, light chuckle in his voice, yet he tried to keep his voice low, "My name is Reiel," he left it to his first name. As he introduced himself, he placed a hand on his chest and lowered his upper body in a sort of bow.

"I assure you our physical forms can change as well though." His dark eyes flashed a warning. "Though I am unsure you would like to see the changes That I could make." His mental voice held the same soft time, but with a hidden edge.

His face did not regester the shock as the young vampire questioned, even insulted him. Did this man not sence the power he held? How he could set the immortal alight with a mere touch?

Standing up with a liquid gace and power he straighened up as he shut the book. He was not much taller than this man, but he was more solid and sturdy. "It is not wise to mock me." He advised. "Or even make the apperance of doing such. If you must know young one, I have spent the last few centuries in a state of near oblivion, hunting, killing rogue vampires to clean up the covens." He said as he looked down at the man. "I am a hunter. Lucian Dratrazanov is my chosen name. I do not remember my given name."

Waving his hand he sent the book back to where he had taken it from, a show of power, but also a conveniance for him.

His eyes had followed the book return to the empty spot on the shelf form which it was pulled. Reiel was shocked at the older vampire's, Lucian's, response, though he showed no sign of it. "I'm sorry if I offended you Lucian, I meant no harm. I simply interpretted what I saw, your fascination with the car and photograph, as knowledge not yet gained. I truly am honored to be speaking with such an ancient as yourself though, my first encounter with such a vampire. I myself after being bitten was left for death, accidentally turned really, and was left to fend and figure things out by mistake, so I only know what I know now, and not so much what I can know." Reiel was slightly more hesitant now, knowing that he was in the room with a hunter. Reiel had not belonged to a coven until a few days ago, the Enashe now, but he was sure of himself that he could not be considered 'rogue'.

"Is there anything for you, Lucian, that I could do to show my apologies, besides me saying in all sincerety, that I am sorry." Obviously there was much more to being a vampire than Reiel knew. Even now, older than 350, it became quite apparent that he knew nothing of the true powers and life of a vampire.

If he could feel true emotions he woudl have probably smiled. Not a warm one, but an amused smile. "Obvously not. Photograps are indeed new, as last I knew of human culture, still lifes must be taken on canvase with mediums of the artist's chosing." He said simply. "Many of the artists that are concitered masters of the craft... We alive and well when I was already old. What they know of the Roman empire... I lived. Though in a secluded section of the Carpathian Mountians, protecting the humans whom I used to belong to. I was taken in my prime obviously, a hunter among my village, I was then trained to hunt the undead and the evil alike. and I have done so ever since."

His mouth curved slightly, a shadow of a smile that never reached his eyes as the fledgling ask if he was indebted for an appology. "That will not be nessicary. Reiel." Though his voice was expressionless, there was an assurance in it. "You are but a fledgling in comparison. And if this is yoru first time meeting an Ancient, you best learn quick. Most do not tollerate incompitance and incivility that this era has sprung in the recent times. I have dispatched many fledglings for sunch crimes."

Reiel grinned in agreement at Lucian's comment about the incompitance of the new era. Although only, as Lucian called him, a fledgling in comparison to the Ancient, Reiel did know of the vast difference in attitude and intelligence from when he truly lived. He did feel, or would feel if still technically alive, a sadness towards Lucian for having to live through all those years, see all he knew die. Although that was the case with Reiel as well, he never actually witnessed the deaths. He was gone when his home had burned to a cinder, leaving only him an his father, who later committed suicide. Unfortunately it was himself who found his father's bloody body.

"Well, from what you say I am hoping I can assume how great a hunter you truly are. I hope to not get on your worse side in the near future or ever," Reiel really, truly meant that, and could only hope that Lucian did not take it as another instance of mockery.

"I kindly request though, that we get off the topic of the depressing stupidity that surrounds this new time, and get on to a more joyous conversation. Maybe on one that would involve digging into some of these books and going through the newer technologies of the years?" He had a hand out towards the books, as in to welcome them into the conversation and situation the night had presented.

"Then that is your first step to wisdom." He said, his tone just as neutral as it had always been.

"But that is what I had planned for tonight. Becomming aquainted to this new world and it's many many oddities. I have seen this city enough I dare say," And had feed on the varioius scum of society. "And though I have not found any true disturbances in this place... That in and of itself is a disturbance..." He murmured.

"So I have figured biding my time, waiting to see what has called me here, would be a wise choice... I do not move unless I feel compeled too, and not much can draw me to a place is it has done with this city..." He turned his head slightly to streach his neck.

"But I figure not to waist my time, and perhaps catch up with all that I have missed these past years in solitude."

"True, very true. Perfection is indeed erie in itself. Perhaps because we are so used to the flaws of life and the planet."

Reiel thought about Lucian's statement about catching up, "Tis a good idea indeed," Reiel said chirpilly, still keeping his voice low. It didn't even matter if the guards had heard them, there was nothing they could really do. "I remember the first time I saw a car at night, I thought I would die from it's blaring lights. Thought the sun had come up early," again he chuckled as he spoke. It was good to keep things light and more joyous in his opinion. Too much seriousity and gloom can really hurt a person.

"But come. Let us end our dwellings of the past and look forward from what was. Although I do prefer it so, a library and its books are for gaining knowledge, and we cannot do that by talking about what we already know. Or at least not so much as if we were to switch to new information."

"Ah... The sun..." He mused. He had not seen the sun the longest of anything... He had not lived in darkenss all his life, though most of it was bleak and colorless, there were still shades of grey... As there were in life. "It was once my friend, and others of my era had feared the comming of the night, though I always knew the protector was watching over me. I feared it not. And for that I suppose I have been rewarded in a way, with eternal strenght, power and youth." He said as he started towards a section where they kept the books relating to history.

So much had happened while he was seperated fro humanity in his greif. But where to start? "Well, what would you reccomend I start with?" He disagreed with the fledgling about learning from the past, but there was nothing to be gained by debating it further.

Reiel had a thinking face on, "Hmm... what to start with...," He got out of the chair and headed in Lucian's direction. There was a certain elegance in his stride; he did his best to keep from the slouch the mortals of this time walked with. As he walked, he ran his gloved fingers ove the books, as if trying to absorb the information out of them.

"I would say to start with that of the early 20th century. You could work your way back from then, but this is just my suggestion. The 1900s have lots of technical leaps, it's quite fascinating really." He walked up behind Lucian and looked over the Ancient's shoulder towards the shelf at the book titles. Reiel loved that Lucian was taller than him; a lot of guys were this day in age. It was nice since when he was mortal, and even some time after that, he was considered slightly tall.

Lucian frowned curiously. "I have never been one to love technology..." He said matter of factly. "For years now.. Since I have come to see this era, it has been threataning my homeland. My wolves, my old way of life." He stated, his voice remaining oddly nuetral as he spoke of such a touchy subject. "Though if by technology you mean computers, I have quite a knack for those. He had picked the minds of various students and people who made the same habit of comming here as he had. Consiquently he had learned and had learned a great deal from them. As well as watching them over their shoulders without him knowing.

He had made this almost routine for the past month... Feed at rising, then make his way here for the night untill he must head to his flat

"I am more of... An art... History... Liturature person myself." He stated as he turned to look at the other shelf. "Culture and the likes... Not Mechanics. The question of 'how' is no where near as important as the question of 'why'. " At least not in his colorless eyes.