Greetings, dear readers, and welcome back to 'The Blonde at the Bar'. Now, my biggest apologies for taking so long with this update. I was dealing with some personal issues this time, these issues being health-related (I don't exactly feel like going into detail here, so if anyone may want to know, I can always elaborate privately). *clears my throat before clapping my hands together* But, let's move on past this. We've got a story to get back to!

So, it looks like last time, Mike had a fairly nice chat with Maryse as the two even had a drink (aww, how nice of Matyse to order Mike a drink safe for human consumption...that was mighty nice and considerate of her). And it would appear as though their drinks led Mike to asking Maryse something pretty surprising, that something being him being her first live drink. Will she take him up on that offer? Read on to find out, and I hope you all enjoy, my dolls. =)

"Why all the questions about my feeding habits? Is there something you're trying to ask me?" the platinum blonde asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, I-I," Mike began before scratching the back of his head. "Fuck, this is hard to ask."

"What is?"

"I, uhh…. …OK, don't think this is weird, but …how about I be your first? Y'know, the first person you've ever bitten?"

This was something that came as a huge surprise to the platinum blonde. Was this really happening? Was Mike actually asking her if she wanted to bite him? Sure, he was quite attractive for a human, but that didn't automatically make him prime drink material. …Maybe that could happen in the future. But for now, she decided to go with what was currently on her mind. Her voice dropping a bit, the platinum blonde leaned in a bit before saying "Sure, Mr. Mizanin, why not? Besides. I can't think of a more handsome person to be my first."

Hearing this almost made Mike fall off of the stool he was sitting on. Was she serious? Was this actually going to happen? Was he seriously about to get bitten by this beautiful vampire in a bite bar of all places? Swallowing around a sudden dryness in his mouth, Mike said "O-OK. So, w-where are you gonna bite me?"

"Well, since it's your first time, how about I go for that beautiful neck of yours?" Maryse asked as she slid off of the stool she sat on and traced up and down the side of Mike's neck with her fingertips.

All Mike could do was nod at that suggestion as he shivered a bit at the vampire's feather light touch. He still wasn't even sure what to expect from this, but …hey. At least he'd be able to get a taste of what John's told him about a lot in the past. Bracing himself, Mike closed his eyes and said "OK, Maryse. Whenever you're ready to bite me, do it."

A grin tugging at the corners of her mouth, the platinum blonde leaned in close to the brunette as she got a closer look at his neck. But, instead of biting Mike's neck, she instead planted a few kisses in the area of where his carotid artery was, something that got a few laughs from the brunette. Seeing the way Mike almost leapt back, Maryse couldn't help the laughs that escaped her.

Rubbing where he just got kissed, Mike said "The hell was that for?"

Managing to calm down from her laughter, the platinum blonde said "That was just my way of having a bit of fun. Not every day I've met a human that seemed bold enough to ask me about being my first live drink" as she took her seat.

"Hey, I was just trying to be nice. I mean, I don't know how big of a deal it is to vampires to bite a human, so I just wanted to maybe help you out with that."

"Don't worry, Mike, I understand what you mean. It's just another one of those bizarre things I was talking about earlier."

"I thought you were only saying that about a lot of idiot humans," Mike said.

"Well, in a way, yes, but I also mean that when it comes to some other vampires," the platinum blonde responded before reaching for her almost empty cup. Picking up the glass vessel and swirling it around, causing what remained of her drink to go with that flow, she couldn't help but fight back a sudden rush of memories, these all sending her back to days she thought she had long since put behind her. 'No. No! That connerie (shit) is behind me! I am nothing like how I was after I was first turned! I have changed, and much for the better!' she thought as she felt her grip slightly tighten on her glass and a low growl escaped her.

Mike had taken notice of this, and honestly, …he wasn't sure what to do. He could tell that Maryse seemed to be getting upset about something. He just wasn't sure what exactly. So, with a slightly nervous swallow, he raised a hand and let it rest on the platinum blonde's shoulder, something that he saw drew a slight flinch and immediately drew her gaze to him, something that made him flinch a bit himself when he saw the color of her eyes. Her eyes were originally a brownish almost hazel color, so seeing the shade of red they had taken on, …Mike swallowed again before asking "I-Is everything o-okay, Maryse?"

Ruh-roh! *nervously gulps* It would appear as though Mike's caught Maryse at a bit of a bad time. Just what could have brought about such a change in the platinum blonde? Could it have been something she was thinking about? If so, then what? It seems we'll find this out...next time! Until then, don't forget to RR please. =)

(*snickers a bit* I couldn't resist including the bit where Maryse played around with Mike instead of biting him. Just felt like something nice and light-hearted after the slight bits of drama from last time.)

(Stay safe, warm, and healthy out there, lovelies. *sends much love and positive vibes out to you all*)