A/N: Okay. I didn't put a disclaimer at the end of the last chapter like I thought, so here it is. I own nothing. Also, I should mention that this is both a romance and an action/adventure. Or it will be soon. Also, let it be known that I'm not a fan of the whole Cash/Sasha thing. However, I will not be bashing Sasha. I just portray her from the Gangrel point of view once in a while. Another thing is that the title of this story can be a bit missleading as it is usually from everybody's POV but Charlie's. But I'm sure you guys can cope.:~) There's my shpeal. On to the show. Enjoy and R&R.
Chapter Two
Charlie and Cash sat at the bar talking for hours. They talked mostly about motorcycles at first. Then, they really started to tell each other about themselves.
Cash was surprised to find out that Charlie was about as much of a gypsy as he was. She had spent most of her life, from age eight, moving around the country, and later, the world. Charlie told him how she had lost her parents at an early age and had been taken in by the Kohaneks. From the way she described it, Cash gathered that she had been almost as closely knit with Frank and his family as the Gangrel was with his brood-siblings. Charlie described Frank and his friends as "surrogate big brothers." To Cash, this was very reminiscent of his own childhood and, later, his relationship with his clan.
The great thing about Charlie was that she'd had many of the same experiences as Cash. The two had a chemistry that the Gangrel Primogen hadn't ever had with any other person, not even Sasha or Stevie-Ray. It seemed to both that they had known each other all their lives, not just the past few hours. Not only was there an emotional and intellectual familiarity between them, not to mention physical attraction, but also the two seemed to be "kindred spirits." No pun intended. They understood all parts of each other's personalities and humors.
Neither Charlie nor Cash noticed the amount of attention that was being payed them by various patrons of The Haven. The members of Gangrel Clan had taken huge interest in their Primogen's conversation with the woman. The Kindred preternatural hearing ability allowed any of them with the inclination to eavesdrop on the proceedings. In fact, most of the Gangrel were quite pleased with what they heard.
It was widely known and lamented among Gangrel Clan that Cash had been fauning over Sasha Luna almost from the moment he'd become Primogen. The tightly knit Gangrels worried that Cash's relationship with the "Brujah Bitch" would compromise their leader's loyalties. Those who knew Cash the best, like his brood-sister Lorraina, worried that he was losing his identity by being in the relationship.
Lorraina, also Cash's second in command, had been listening avidly to the conversation between Cash and Charlie. She very excited by what she heard. If, she hadn't known better, Lorraina could have sworn that Charlie was Gangrel. The redhead just looked the part. Her untamed hair and tough look just cried out "wild child." And from what Lorrainahad heard, Charlie had the loyal nature and pentient for wanderlust that characterized the clan. Above all, Charlie had one optimum quality going for her in Lorraina's estimation: SHE WAS NOT SASHA!
Charlie seemed the perfect remedy for the situation with the "Brujah Bitch", as Sasha Luna was known among Gangrel Clan. Cash was definitely attracted to her and it din't seem to matter to him that Charlie was human. Later, Lorraina decided, she'd speak to Cash about possibly Embracing Charlie into Gangrel Clan.
The conversation hadn't totally lost on The Haven's owner either. Lillie had been listening in on Cash and Charlie isnce the girl had arrived. You see, Lillie also had designs on the lovely Miss McCall for the Toreador Clan. Charlie was quite beautiful as well as eloquent and graceful. However, it wasn't until she mentioned to Cash that she was a singer as well as a painter and that she had studied various forms of dance, that Lillie really took an interest.
As far as the Toreador was concerned, Charlie had the air of her clan and that needed looking into. Since the Conclave meeting when Free Embrace had been granted to Gangrel Clan, the Prince had called a meeting for recommendation on Free Embrace for the Toreador. As Lillie had expected, she'd been turned down flat. This ment that if she wanted to Embrace Charlie, she'd have to ask Julian's permission. That would be tricky but the Toreador Primogen had every confidence she could cajole permission from the Prince. This was assuming that Charlie had what it took to be Toreador. Lillie decided to approach the pair to find out more.
"...if you'll give me my dog back,'he says." Charlie retorted, finishing off the joke she'd been telling. Cash snickered before suddenly staring past Charlie. She turned in the direction Cash was staring only to be confronted with the most striking woman she'd ever seen.
"Hello." Lillie greeted her warmly. "My name is Lillie Langtry. I own The Haven."
Charlie extended her hand to shake Lillie's outstreched one. "Charlie McCall. It's a nice place you've got here."
"Why, thank you." Lillie smiled. She glanced at Cash and noted the annoyed look on his face. He was seething. *Okay, what the hell is she up to now* he thought. Lillie just gave him a sugar-coated grin. "You know, I couldn't hepl but overhear that you're a singer. The Haven showcases up-and-coming artists all the time. I like to think I have an eye for raw talent. We'd could to audition you and see how you sound." Lillie suggested.
Charlie shot a nervous glance over to Cash. "Actually, I don't really sing in public. It's just kind of a hobby of mine. My real buisness is a gallery I've opened not far from here. I work out of my studio and I've requisitioned some pieces from other artists I know." Charlie handed Lillie a buisness card. It read: Firebird Gallery of Fine Art, Proprietor- Charlene McCall, Phone# 555-6234, Buisness Hours- 11:00am-7:30pm
"You're welcome to stop by anytime." Charlie suggested.
"I'll do that." Lillie watched Charlie's eyebrow arch as she slipped the card into the bodice of her dress. *Is this chick for real?* Charlie wondered.*I didn't think anyone actually did that.*
Before Lillie could say another word, Charlie got up. The girl had just noticed the sets of eyes that had returned her when Lillie had approached. *I'm so outta here. This place just got way creepy.* she thought.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It's getting awfully late. I have to do inventory all tomorrow." Charlie rose from her seat and motioned to the bartender to get her check. When he came over, Cash shook his head and snatched the piece of paper from Charlie's hand. "It's my treat." he said with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Cash." Lillie gave him another cake-eating grin. She turned to the bartender. "Both Cash's and Miss McCall's drinks are on the house for the night, Nicoli."
"Okay." Cash shrugged, wondering once again what the Toreador was up to.
"Well, thank you both. It was nice meeting you Lillie." Charlie waved goodbye and took the arm Cash offered as they walked out into the night air.
Chapter Two
Charlie and Cash sat at the bar talking for hours. They talked mostly about motorcycles at first. Then, they really started to tell each other about themselves.
Cash was surprised to find out that Charlie was about as much of a gypsy as he was. She had spent most of her life, from age eight, moving around the country, and later, the world. Charlie told him how she had lost her parents at an early age and had been taken in by the Kohaneks. From the way she described it, Cash gathered that she had been almost as closely knit with Frank and his family as the Gangrel was with his brood-siblings. Charlie described Frank and his friends as "surrogate big brothers." To Cash, this was very reminiscent of his own childhood and, later, his relationship with his clan.
The great thing about Charlie was that she'd had many of the same experiences as Cash. The two had a chemistry that the Gangrel Primogen hadn't ever had with any other person, not even Sasha or Stevie-Ray. It seemed to both that they had known each other all their lives, not just the past few hours. Not only was there an emotional and intellectual familiarity between them, not to mention physical attraction, but also the two seemed to be "kindred spirits." No pun intended. They understood all parts of each other's personalities and humors.
Neither Charlie nor Cash noticed the amount of attention that was being payed them by various patrons of The Haven. The members of Gangrel Clan had taken huge interest in their Primogen's conversation with the woman. The Kindred preternatural hearing ability allowed any of them with the inclination to eavesdrop on the proceedings. In fact, most of the Gangrel were quite pleased with what they heard.
It was widely known and lamented among Gangrel Clan that Cash had been fauning over Sasha Luna almost from the moment he'd become Primogen. The tightly knit Gangrels worried that Cash's relationship with the "Brujah Bitch" would compromise their leader's loyalties. Those who knew Cash the best, like his brood-sister Lorraina, worried that he was losing his identity by being in the relationship.
Lorraina, also Cash's second in command, had been listening avidly to the conversation between Cash and Charlie. She very excited by what she heard. If, she hadn't known better, Lorraina could have sworn that Charlie was Gangrel. The redhead just looked the part. Her untamed hair and tough look just cried out "wild child." And from what Lorrainahad heard, Charlie had the loyal nature and pentient for wanderlust that characterized the clan. Above all, Charlie had one optimum quality going for her in Lorraina's estimation: SHE WAS NOT SASHA!
Charlie seemed the perfect remedy for the situation with the "Brujah Bitch", as Sasha Luna was known among Gangrel Clan. Cash was definitely attracted to her and it din't seem to matter to him that Charlie was human. Later, Lorraina decided, she'd speak to Cash about possibly Embracing Charlie into Gangrel Clan.
The conversation hadn't totally lost on The Haven's owner either. Lillie had been listening in on Cash and Charlie isnce the girl had arrived. You see, Lillie also had designs on the lovely Miss McCall for the Toreador Clan. Charlie was quite beautiful as well as eloquent and graceful. However, it wasn't until she mentioned to Cash that she was a singer as well as a painter and that she had studied various forms of dance, that Lillie really took an interest.
As far as the Toreador was concerned, Charlie had the air of her clan and that needed looking into. Since the Conclave meeting when Free Embrace had been granted to Gangrel Clan, the Prince had called a meeting for recommendation on Free Embrace for the Toreador. As Lillie had expected, she'd been turned down flat. This ment that if she wanted to Embrace Charlie, she'd have to ask Julian's permission. That would be tricky but the Toreador Primogen had every confidence she could cajole permission from the Prince. This was assuming that Charlie had what it took to be Toreador. Lillie decided to approach the pair to find out more.
"...if you'll give me my dog back,'he says." Charlie retorted, finishing off the joke she'd been telling. Cash snickered before suddenly staring past Charlie. She turned in the direction Cash was staring only to be confronted with the most striking woman she'd ever seen.
"Hello." Lillie greeted her warmly. "My name is Lillie Langtry. I own The Haven."
Charlie extended her hand to shake Lillie's outstreched one. "Charlie McCall. It's a nice place you've got here."
"Why, thank you." Lillie smiled. She glanced at Cash and noted the annoyed look on his face. He was seething. *Okay, what the hell is she up to now* he thought. Lillie just gave him a sugar-coated grin. "You know, I couldn't hepl but overhear that you're a singer. The Haven showcases up-and-coming artists all the time. I like to think I have an eye for raw talent. We'd could to audition you and see how you sound." Lillie suggested.
Charlie shot a nervous glance over to Cash. "Actually, I don't really sing in public. It's just kind of a hobby of mine. My real buisness is a gallery I've opened not far from here. I work out of my studio and I've requisitioned some pieces from other artists I know." Charlie handed Lillie a buisness card. It read: Firebird Gallery of Fine Art, Proprietor- Charlene McCall, Phone# 555-6234, Buisness Hours- 11:00am-7:30pm
"You're welcome to stop by anytime." Charlie suggested.
"I'll do that." Lillie watched Charlie's eyebrow arch as she slipped the card into the bodice of her dress. *Is this chick for real?* Charlie wondered.*I didn't think anyone actually did that.*
Before Lillie could say another word, Charlie got up. The girl had just noticed the sets of eyes that had returned her when Lillie had approached. *I'm so outta here. This place just got way creepy.* she thought.
"I'm sorry," she said. "It's getting awfully late. I have to do inventory all tomorrow." Charlie rose from her seat and motioned to the bartender to get her check. When he came over, Cash shook his head and snatched the piece of paper from Charlie's hand. "It's my treat." he said with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Cash." Lillie gave him another cake-eating grin. She turned to the bartender. "Both Cash's and Miss McCall's drinks are on the house for the night, Nicoli."
"Okay." Cash shrugged, wondering once again what the Toreador was up to.
"Well, thank you both. It was nice meeting you Lillie." Charlie waved goodbye and took the arm Cash offered as they walked out into the night air.